bahahahahaha....

Sorry, 8 time walker, but haven't tented once. It looks like a fun time, but I just can't bring myself to. Now, if I crew next year for the bike I will.

OK... I'm going to share my "No Tell Motel" story with you guys... it should make for a someone humorous read if nothing else. It is actually what drove me to the little blue tents that I have now stayed in for three consecutive PHM events.

In 2008 I did the RTCC event for the first time. I had not been camping since university days, so I jumped at the offer that my team captain made to have his office arrange for anyone who was interested to stay in a hotel in Hamilton. So at the end of Day 1, five of us piled into a taxi to head to the "hotel". When we arrived and I saw the Hooters and the Comedy Club attached to the "hotel" I was a little bit concerned. However, the lobby seemed ok, and off we went to our rooms. The three guys had been assigned to two rooms that were accessible from the inside of the building, and the two girls were told our rooms were accessible from a staircase on the outside of the building... so... off we went.

My teammate led the way up the outside stairs. At the top of the stairs was an open door... it was impossible not to look inside. The occupant was reclining on the bed, wearing naught but his b-day suit, and he appeared to be waiting for someone... he actually looked at us as though we were the "someones" he was waiting for . We both raced by the room and down the outdoor hall to my teammate's room (it was first up), got inside and slammed the door

The room itself was very small (just barely room for one double bed) and cheerless. Not the cleanest I have ever seen, but somewhat passable... My teammate was in full Project Manager mode at this point, and started calling every hotel in Hamilton... she vowed she would not stay in this place with the scary man down the hall... In the end we were faced with the sad truth... there were no available hotel rooms anywhere in Hamilton... between the RTCC riders and some sporting event, every room in town was sold out

At this point we decided we had no choice but to try to put up with the horrible place, so off I went (I was two doors further down). I closed my door... turned the deadbolt... no deadbolt... it was shaved right off! There was a clear 1/4 inch gap between door and door frame. So, I made the decision that without a proper lock I was not about to remain in the room alone. So out I went, back down the hall to my teammate's room... only to find her deadbolt was in the same condition.

So, both of us decided no way we were staying in our assigned rooms, and off we went at a run, past the scary man's room, down the stairs and back to the front desk to talk to the manager and insist on a relocation to an interior room that we could share. Back in the lobby we met up with two of the other members of our team who had been assigned a filthy room that they had deemed unacceptable. Finally, after another half an hour of running around the place, we settled into an acceptable interior room. This one also had a dead bolt issue, so we dragged a chair over and wedged it under the door for protection

We spent a somewhat restless night with the sounds of the comedy club carrying on in the background for all hours.

To add insult to injury, my credit card was double charged (they tried to get me to pay for both rooms!), and I had to dispute the charges to get them to reverse them.

In 2009 I decided to give the camping thing a shot. I went all out and bought myself some decent sleeping gear, and I found it a rather fun and different experience... definitely a lot less drama than my "no tell motel" adventure of the first year! The best thing about it is that I find you stay in a kind of uninterrupted weekend mode since you never leave the site of the event. So, I'm planning to stick with my Little Blue Tent... at least I know what I am in for

Yes ear plugs. Last year when I tented it was quiet where I was....however, word around camp was that an overly energetic  female had lots of energy and a friend in her tent all night  The tents near her apparently were awake all night due to the festivities. It was some of the chatter around the showers the next morning.

I am walking with my hubby this year and I agree with the above post, not enough space for two in one of those lil tents.

But my experience last year was 100% positive

However, we are booked at the Holiday Inn this year and after reading the horror story above, wowza! 

I would add a sleep mask to your list. As there is a VERY bright spot that shone on a line of tents last year and it was like being on the sun bright all night in that section.
enjoy

To Tent or Not!!

I tent always have always will. To me it is part of the experience and by not tenting you are missing a lot. I don't mean the random shootings, rain, cold, snoring. But other than the elements which you can deal with the other items can be there either way, tent or motel! We are after all in Toronto. You can hear gun shots anywhere in the GTAA at any given time!!

I have had some great experiences while walking in many cities and tenting. One that comes to mind was in 2008 when I accompanied Chad on the double 60. Toronto and Vancouver on the same weekend. We were sitting up in the dining tent as he was walking all nite on a tread mill and all off a sudden we hear screaming, not scared screaming but surprised screaming. The park we were in had an in ground sprinkler system and someone had failed to shut it off. Around 2 am it came on, under tents, thru doors, etc. It was hilarious to us, but we were dry!!

Yes tenting can be a little uncomfortable but isn't that what this walk is all about? Otherwise why do 60k? Why not just take a stroll for 5K and call it done?? It's about putting up with a little pain as its nothing compared to what those fighting cancer are dealing with. Having one night sleeping on a hard ground or not if you have the super inflatable mattress, is nothing compared to lying in a hospital bed for days or weeks on end. And personally I feel spending over $100.00 for hotel room even if shared is wasteful when that money could be going towards the cause. Just think that could be your first donation for next years walk!!

BTW, those that get into camp and then take off to the hotel/home to have a hot bath and go to bed are the ones moving the least the next day. They put their feet up and proceed to seize up. Those that stay at camp, dance a bit, continue to move around until 9:30 - 10 pm are in the best shape the next day. I have seen this over the past 5 years in 17 events.

Now don't get me wrong, if there is a physical reason not to camp then I agree, ie. age (97 year young Kitty comes to mind) but failing that, if its just for the sake of luxury then I disagree.

Oh one last thing to add to the list above. A bottle of your fav. wine. Helps you to relax and sleep better!

Well that's my 2cents worth, see you all in 2 sleeps!! And yes I will be tenting, with my husband this year!!

I think she meant Shooting!! LOL

why is it that when folks post their responses to threads or begin their own about the walk, some take that as an opportunity to post a flame to the posts. When we are on the boards we are venting, sharing, crying, laughing and most of all committed to an important cause that many of us have dealt with personally, family member, best friend or all kinds of other connections.  It is disappointing to me that I feel that I have been berated for not staying in a tent this year but at a hotel. I am not wasting money, I have reasons that are my own and no need to share here. So, please if you are a tenter great, but if you are not you are still no less of a walker than the tenters...
my two coppers

I agree with Naamphong - the boards are for everyone - all opinions and ideas. I usually like posts from Tolou but I found this particular one a bit judgemental. My walking partner and I do not tent for many reasons some valid some vain. We do not pay for a hotel we use points - which again is our choice. We do hang out at camp for a while, we do participate. By going to a hotel we are not abandoning the cause - we are just as committed - we do not have to sleep in a tent to prove it.

Having said that I do feel we miss out on some of the camaraderie that is forged by facing the elements together - that I do miss.

Walkers that choose a hotel over tenting are walking just as much, raising as much and involved as much as those that stay in tents.

Kudos to all that participate - tent or hotel.

I've tented 3 times, and gone home once. This year will be twice. The one year I went home I was living about 10 minutes (by car, with a boyfriend who was meeting me at camp anyway) from downsview and I'm in the same situation again now. It's really hard to sleep in a tent when you know that your cuddly cats, shower without a line up, and own warm bed are so close! I do stay at camp though until the time I would normally sleep, but even when I stay in the tents I never make it to the end of the entertainment.

... and then my insomnia kicks in and I lay awake until 1 am texting (with my phone on silent!) and listening jealously to other people snore.

And when I go home my teammates get a starbucks delivery in the morning :)

I don't really agree with you about being in worse shape in the AM, tolou, but we will just have to agree to disagree, I guess :) I wonder if maybe these people staying in hotels have health problems and that's why they're slower.  Who knows!

Your story about the sprinklers is HILARIOUS.

-- Edited by Didds on Thursday 9th of September 2010 09:55:03 AM

CarolynCL  - I totally agree with you about really checking out the hotels because I did have a bad experience (not as bad as yours though) but a very dirty Ramada in  Buffalo so I always make sure to check every possible website and review about such a hotel before booking and staying in one.

2 more sleeps and a long day and then a night of tons of fun regardless where you sleep stay as long as you can enjoy all that is offered, get a good night sleep and off for the second half of a great fundraiser for a very important cause!

Many thanks for the sleep mask tip! I was under a light a few years ago &  it was hard to ignore.

I love the tenting part, but I've camped my whole life so this is sort of normal to me, except I only have to worry about myself. For me, the key to happier blue-tenting is to arrange to have a tent to yourself, easier in a tent that size.

An Ipod with meditation or dreamy music is a good thing to have available if you are beside loud snorers or people with the giggles. 

My other tip is if you drink beer, drink it early in the evening, as an extra trip to the sancuaries at 2 am is too high a price to pay for free beer! 

Carolyn, loved your motel story.
I am a camper. It's what I prefer to do. It's not always easy, though. Last year both my team mate and myself suffered with plantar faciatis, so when we woke up in the morning, our feet felt, and acted, like blocks of wood. Both of us are over 50, and I am carrying a bit too much of me around. Anyway, when we tried to get out of the tent in the morning to hit the porta potties, we could hardly make our feet work. We were both wallowing around, and then got the giggles so badly that we almost wet ourselves. Eventually our feet co-operated and we barely made it in time, but no accidents along the way!
This year I may just have to pack some Poise pads in case of another such incident. I'm not as young as I once was!! There is just no graceful way to exit those tents!!
Only two more sleeps to go!!!

Doreen from Ajax :
6th Weekend
4th time Walker

Anyone know where I can go to buy an eye mask? I cannot seem to find mine anywhere

My bag is otherwise packed and ready to go! Just four more hours and the Crew will be at the All Crew Meeting... it's getting so close now!!!

Yes, try anywhere that sells pjs.. usually they have them in that area too.

I saw several of them at the dollarama today.....hope that helps

how did the sleep mask idea and other suggestions work for you?

-- Edited by Naamphong on Tuesday 14th of September 2010 08:08:01 AM