Roughing it for Dave

Look at all the people!

For one reason or another, I've been thinking a lot about my annual summer camping trip for DMB weekend. For those unfamiliar, every summer, Dave Matthews Band tours the country and they always do a two-night show at Alpine Valley in Fort Atkinson. Last summer was the exception, though...they did four regional shows across America. I wish I would have caught them in Chicago, but it was just not in the budget. I should probably mention that Alpine Valley is considered to be one of the "DMB Trifecta" venues. Along with Alpine, there's the Gorge in Washington and Red Rocks in Colorado. And yes, seeing DMB at those two locations are on my Bucket List. I can't explain how amazing it is to see DMB. Dave fans are a breed all their own. Alpine Valley is also kind of in the middle of nowhere; you're basically in the middle of the woods. So...you're watching this incredible band jam-out on stage, surrounded by 50,000 of your closest friends (because that's how Dave people are), having the time of your life dancing like fools, and then you look up and see the beautiful night sky. It's almost spiritual.

This summer is definitely going to be different. If they tour - and I hope they do, of course - I'll be going with an entirely different group of people. So...now I'm kind of...starting over.

Campsite from 2010

I've been putting together a list of items I'm going to need...I created a folder in my bookmarks and everything. In years previous, we had a great system down...I paid for the tickets and groceries and brought the tent and air mattress, and my camping buddy paid for the gas to get there, the alcohol, and brought the coolers. He also paid for our campsite. And now...I have a feeling I'm going to have to do a lot of purchasing...coolers, an air mattress (the last one had a leak, as we discovered the hard way), and probably a tent because the one we had used previously was borrowed from a family friend and it's starting to get pretty worn. Besides that, I would just like to own a tent. And that's not even all the small stuff...you don't realize how much you need when you plan a camping trip. Tiki torches, citronella candles, Off!, first aid kit, tiki torch fuel, ice, pillows, blankets, lawn chairs...ugh...the list goes on and on.

Over the years (I've seen DMB 4 times now), I've definitely learned food-wise what works when camping and what doesn't. In preparing meals, simplicity is key. I've seen stupid college boys try and make spaghetti at their campsite. No joke. And then like clockwork, there were piles of thrown-up spaghetti all over the place because pasta is not a good base when you drink as heavily as most people do while camping. For breakfast, we do yogurt and fruit. For lunch, sandwiches. For dinner, burgers cooked on a grate over the fire pit. Yeah, it's mundane, but it works like a charm every time. We bring granola bars and chips, too. The menu is basic, but it also keeps the grocery bill low.

Despite all the preparation that will ensue, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't totally excited for this summer (even though it's only February...shut up). We've gone to the same campground every year...it's this mom & pop place with a hole-in-the-wall bar just a short walk away and one of the owners of the campground plays in an awesome jazz/blues band. So at night, they get together and play and a lot of the people at the campground go to watch.

Trusty #15

This year, I'm keeping the tradition going and will probably take site #15 again. Why change now? Summer can't come soon enough...