Camp Scholler Blues

[Kiwi ZK-CKE]

I've finally made the visit across half a world to attend Oshkosh. Loving the show and the selection of aircraft to admire. I am however totally hating camp Scholler and finding my time is a misery. Not blaming EAA, but there are some factors I wasn't aware of.

flying in buy commercial airline, I couldn't bring much with me. I picked up a tent etc locally and arrived Tuesday evening. The camp was pretty full then so was directed to a spot far away in the SW corner. Far away from showers or wifi shack (have to drive to get there) and no sign of any of the famous socialising. There are other tents around but I've never seen the occupants. I certainly feel very lonely and isolated. The buses to the show are good, but the queues to get back after the Wed night show were huge and intimidating to a Kiwi who isn't used to such crowds. I therefore walked back to my tent, 45minutes. In the process I developed a number of very painful blisters on my feet, and walking any distance is impossible. Even with pain killers I couldn't manage more than this morning on site. This has completely ruined my Oshkosh experience.
the final straw is the absence of anywhere to get a proper meal for dinner in the camp area. Pizza and snack foods just don't fill the gap, and without cooking gear there's nothing. I certainly don't want to have to walk more miles to find somewhere that serves suitable stuff and is actually open.
So, isolated, lonely, in pain and starving... The true gulag experience.

[I_FLY_LOW]

They have popcorn at the Ford outdoor theatre...

[Joe Delene]

I'd like to help, but I vacated & go back to work tomorrow. Some large 'band aids'(or wraps) would help with the blisters, more than painkillers. Have you tried the 'international tent'? Go check out that 'Beech to OSH Tent', they are friendly folk from all over(row 530 in the camping section), tell them your predicament. There are better food options out the North gates, up by the Hilton, should be a bus running til fairly late.

[Janet Davidson]

That sucks, I'm really sorry to read of your woes.

I feel like I'm always saying this, but I guess its because I believe in it - I know you've only arrived, but have you considered signing up as a volunteer? It won't cure the blisters or the tent location, but it may help you find some like-minded folks? Just don't sign up for anything which involves walking long distances!

Did you have time to sign in at the International Visitors tent? And sign up for the International party? Or sign up as a volunteer at that tent? They always like to have folks helping out for a few hours. Oops - I see Joe just wrote about it too.

Is this your plane? http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/5295 It looks pretty cool. What's it like to fly?

[martymayes]

Yup, that is life in the back 40 at Camp Scholler, fend for yourself.

I kinda like the back 40, but I always bring a bicycle, having given up on local transportation several yrs ago. I really don't understand why a bike rental outfit is not invited to come out and set up shop during the show. Or maybe they could set up one of those bike rentals like Wash. DC has now. Every other street corner has bikes for rent, vending machine style.

I wonder of Jimmy Johns or a local pizza joint would deliver to Scholler?

[martymayes]

They have popcorn at the Ford outdoor theatre...

FREE popcorn. They make up for it in drink sales, lol.

[turbopilot]

... The true gulag experience.

I posted about my concern with the "first come first serve policy" in Camp Scholler in this thread. I am now in Camp Scholler after traveling from California. While my experience in much better than the person who started this thread, my first visit to Camp Schuller confirms my suspicion, first come first serve only serves the locals who begin to stake out all the prime spots beginning on June 28th.

I rolled into Camp Scholler last Saturday afternoon. The campground was already getting very full. Of course there were no spots available with 1/2 mile of the entrance gates. All those spots were all ready occupied by the locals who staked out early or otherwise reserved for VIPS.

As clearly demonstrated by this poor fellow coming all the way from New Zealand, the first come first serve policy only serves the locals. This policy must end.

On a positive note other than the issue of first come first serve I was very impressed with how Camp Schuller is being served. Trash is picked up promptly and the port-a-poty's are cleaned regularly.

[I_FLY_LOW]

Hmmmm Do the ones that go there and stake out spots, pay for them, from June 28th until the show is over, and they leave? Speaking of which, I peruse the good spots the whole time I'm there. You'd be surprised how early some people pack up and leave from the good spots. I'm not afraid to pack my stuff up, and move closer to the flight line...

[turbopilot]

Hmmmm Do the ones that go there and stake out spots, pay for them, from June 28th until the show is over, and they leave? Speaking of which, I peruse the good spots the whole time I'm there. You'd be surprised how early some people pack up and leave from the good spots. I'm not afraid to pack my stuff up, and move closer to the flight line...

Not really sure what is going on about early stake outs, but you can be sure no one from New Zealand is here staking out a site early.

I did notice that a bunch of people who arrived last weekend in my area left this morning. Right now there are a number of open sites around me. By last Sunday night my area was full. I am not in a place that is particularly desirable. It is pretty far from the gates.

[martymayes]

Hmmmm Do the ones that go there and stake out spots, pay for them, from June 28th until the show is over, and they leave?

That's what I understand.