The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #83976 Message #1552674
Posted By: JohnInKansas
30-Aug-05 - 02:19 AM
Thread Name: Winfield (WVA) 2005
Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005
Sorcha -
The fairgrounds have been subject to flooding for years, but there have been no more than two times since I started going that any part of the fairgrounds or campgrounds have been flooded during the festival. Since new dikes were added/elevated, and parts of the river were channelized 5 or six years ago, there has been no water above the top of the RV area boat ramp, which is approximately at the 18 foot "flood stage" level.
At noon yesterday, the river was at 26 feet. If reports are accurate, this means that ALL of the RV area and Pecan Grove were full of water, with the possible exception of part of the one paved road through the Pecan Grove and the paved roads in the fairground. The grandstand itself should have been approximately 3 or 4 feet above the high water level two days ago.
The WVA organization has provided NO INFORMATION, but based on the Weather Service report that the roads in and out of the fairground were officially closed, not to reopen until Tuesday noon, we decided to delay going down to get in line so as not to contribute to problems there.
We are informed Monday night, by a friend who went down to look, that there are already about 200 camping units in line. The friend, who volunteers for his ticket and has access we don't have to WVA "officials," reports that they have decided there will be no lineup, and that those already there will have priority at Landrush. Last year, when I went down earlier, we were told that being there before lineup "didn't count," and if fact they attempted to PREVENT those who arrived before the lineup date from being first in for the lineup.
IF HIS REPORT IS ACCURATE, that there are already 200 units "lined up," then we have NO CHANCE even of getting a parking space with needed hookups to be able to park for the week remaining before Landrush; and especially if there is no Lineup, we have NO CHANCE of being in position to get our customary camp site for the festival itself. Based on past experience, of the 200 units "lined up," fewer than 5 will be occupied, or even visited, prior to Landrush. At least 30 percent of the junkers parked to "get in line" won't even be the same vehicles the owners plan to take in at Landrush.
The possibility of getting a campsite remotely close to where we have camped in the Pecan Grove for the past 20 consecutive years is negligible, and the odds on getting even one electric hookup for our group of 20 campers anywhere in the Pecan Grove after Landrush is ZERO.
The Association has published NOTHING on its website to indicate anything other than "business as usual," and has made NO ATTEMPT to release any information to any news media to allow campers to plan for safe attendance at the festival. This year will not be very safe for many who are likely to try to attend.
But next year, all the "rules" for Landrush, Lineup, and pre-lineup will again be different than in any previous year. Always have been, always will be.
But we'll all have fun when we get there, and the survivors will have great memories in future years.
John