Hemlock Hole, conveniently cropped


I'm still over the moon from campout this year. This was probably my favorite year, though I think I say that every year. This year, we had managed to convince (e:mike) and (e:libertad) to join us, despite Mike's strict anti-camping stance. I'll leave it to him to say if we changed his mind or not.

Just like the first time we went to Campout (e:joe,60626), 8 years ago in West Viriginia, the fur, butts and human soup still exists, only on a scale 5 times as big. I actually had two people this year tell me they came across this blog searching it. So if you come across this and are on the fence, go. It's life changing.



We went down early for us, 10am on Wednesday the 14th. 219, Twisty Pennsylvanian roads, annual Chipotle and Sheetz, and we were there. Setting up in the light for once, in the Central camp. It was so crowded already, I think I want to move to the festival suburbs next year.

Wednesday night is very chill with no music. Just sort of people drifting around and catching up. Thursday, being the first full day of camp is a bit of the same.

By Friday it picks up. The day gets going at Hemlock Hole, people get down into the creek. Those with the closets start cycling through their dozens of looks. I'm wearing the dirty cargo shorts I will wear all weekend.

Mike and Dave finally arrived in the afternoon when the music was really getting going at Hemlock Hole (but so was the rain). We stayed up until about 4 or 5 (who can tell what time it is) with the pong crew at the grove.

Saturday everything continues building up for the big night. I always intend to stay up until the sunrises on the Grove set, this year I successfully did that. zi! and Leonce blew my mind.

Sunday might be my favorite day. At that point it seems like anything goes. Social barriers are removed, small talk is dead, everyone seems so happy and ready to bond with their new friends. At one point, Carrieondisco sampled "This must be the place" during their set and I felt like I could fly away.

The things I loved most about this year was getting to know some of the Pittsburgh pack and friends better. I love that scene, they are so freaking nice. There were times dancing where things went feral and I was in another world. I introduced Paul's new camp name for me, I don't know if it will stick lol.

It's a phoneless place for me, with the exception of a quick hour on Sunday. I wanted to try and grab some pictures to remember in the future since I never post anymore, and elderly me is going to want to remember this.

Dom and Nick



New buddy Chord



Teo from Brookyn. I really enjoyed meeting him

Tev from Minneapolis. An excellent DJ and very good guy


Absolutely love this guy Smoko


The Grove, a rare photo in the light

A weekend of buddy buddy, followed by the parade and festival with the family. My favorite weekend of the year.

So we didn't get the 6+ feet the south towns got but we definitely got 3 feet between pong night Thursday night and today. I spent most of yesterday clearing all the snow from our house down to North since the Ascension for the Arts group doesn't shovel or snowblow.

I felt sore but pretty buff by the end.

My favorite place ever. Probably our fifth time down this summer, the water is so low.

Another birthday weekend. This time for our friend's Shane and Alex. Igloos were constructed, a whole snow neighborhood was gentrified and I fell in love with Jan Magnuson, sporty-short dog trainer.

A chicken finger restaurant by the owners of Bacchus in the old Mighty Taco. They had a fried vegan sandwich - could use some more flavor, but otherwise nice to be out for lunch like it's 2017.

Late but a few weekends ago we went away to Seneca Lake for (e:uchina)'s birthday.

The house was nice with an overly hot hot tub, a short hike away at the tallest falls in New York(!) and we were treated to an impromptu Sara McLaughlin concert!

(e:terry) and I took a walk to pick up the car from getting the exhaust repaired at Forest Automotive. Side note, they are the only auto repair people that haven't felt like a complete scam. Pretty honest assessments, they give you estimates for the short-term cheap fix and the long-term real fix.

So after picking up the car we stopped at the West Side Bazaar for Abyssinia Ethiopian and a Sudanese stand I hadn't tried before. The veggie platter is so good.

I miss going to Fast and Tasty on Allen multiple times a week.