Discussion: Camping at US Champs

In case anyone's interested in camping and hasn't made arrangements (or has but there's potential to consolidate into fewer sites), I'll be camping in the Fallen Leaf Campground from the night before the model event to the morning of Day 2. Up to five more people are allowed per site and I've yet to round up any of them - QOC's attendees seem to be mostly non-campers.

Also, I'm going to be flying in to San Francisco on the 11th (would have picked somewhere closer but I'm using a voucher with US Airways) so car pooling with anyone else in the Bay Area so intent on being able to sleep in before the model event (or otherwise motivated) that they'd like to head up on the 11th would help assuage my environmental guilt over renting a car just to move my carcass. Anyone need a ride or want to fill a seat?

Jon Torrance

Hi Jon,

I'm planning to camp (Friday and Saturday nights) and would be happy to join you at your site. Please sign me up for one (small) tent spot. I haven't booked flights yet, but intend to fly into Reno, so no help on car-pooling.

Brian May

Hey Brian.
You may consider flying to Sacramento if you intend to rent a car. God only knows what happens in Reno on that particular weekend, but the cheapest rate that you can get for even an economy car runs around $180-$220 versus in Sacramento $65-$75, not sure about airfare now.
Sergei.

Reno is a PITA. I have had problems there in the past. It is a smallish airport and the city and surrounding areas always seem to be holding some sort of an event. I made my travel arrangements in July and had a terrible choice of schedule and fares. Cheap hotels were hard to find on Thursday evening when my wife and I are arriving. I hope you have better luck but I'd recommend getting on it.

As of this writing, it appears I'll be hosting two Brians - May and Moore - both of them planning on flying into Reno on Friday (it sounded as though Brian Moore had already made flight arrangements). I may still have to despoil the global commons but the two of them can team up and take some of the sting out of Reno car rental fees if they like.

Jon

Sergei, thanks for the info ... if only I had read attackpoint before booking my ticket :-(. Brian

Hey Thomas Carr, thanks so much for sharing your opinion of my home. Want to know what I think of Dallas (where I actually lived for a year)? Except for Miki and Peter that is--they're great.

If you can't find cheap accommodations in Reno on that Thursday night, you're not trying very hard. It took me about 15 seconds after seeing that comment to get a quote of $35.99 from motel6.com.

And I have no idea what you're talking about regarding the airport--in my opinion, "smallish" airports are much preferable to, say, DFW! You're right about the events though. That weekend is the National Championship Air Races, which I would probably go watch if not for our competition. Events like that are one of the things that make this such a fun place to live.

You also appear to be right about the rental cars. I don't know if that's just due to the Air Races, or if that's normal for the weekend here. Maybe I should get into the car rental business!

Ouch! Sorry. I didn't mean to slight all of Reno. I have not ever had any troubles at Reno airport. It is true that a small airport is easy to get in and out of by car and baggage is often quicker. However, for me, and I don't mean to speak for anyone else, making arrangements to fly into Reno the couple of times I have visited, a small sample size to be sure, have been difficult. By difficult I mean a smaller number of expensive flights and expensive cars.

Reno is in close proximity to a number of worderful outdoor destinations, pretty towns with festivals, and of course gambling. Because of that, it is perhaps understandable that a long lead time is needed is to get good flights.

And Dallas is no mecca to be sure (I'm not a native) but I actually find DFW quite easy to manage.

So can we call a truce?