Multiple trips back to the car

[DeejayDawn]

Had a read around, can't really find much info on this from any long serving Glasto residents.

One of our group mentioned about just taking what we can without a struggle first time round, setting up tent, etc - then heading back to the car for the more heavier stuff, beers, etc.

I'm not too convinced if this really would be worthwhile, thinking between the 4 of us wouldn't it be easier so we do it all in one trip? Is it pretty hard work to actually prove you're re-entering site & use another queue, etc? We're planning on trying to camp around big ground/row mead area. Any advice appreciated!

[Madam V]

We always do more than one trip. Its not worth getting broken to lug stuff...

Its nice to take the tent and whatever you can easily carry. Mooch on site, look about, find your pitch and tent up. Grab a beer and read your bumpf that you get when you enter the site and relax. Wander back later and grab the rest of your bits.

Easy Ozy...

[StoneCircle]

We always did 2 trips when we camped as space in Williams was hard to come by so 1st trip was tent, bedding on the trolley and whatever we could carry. Then we would go back again later, however Wednesday was very quiet even in 2008 compared to how it has been the last couple of years.

We certainly spotted loads doing just a beer run last year as we were quite close to the path in the campervan fields.

Personally I think I would leave trip 2 until either early evening on Wednesday or even Thursday when the gates are less busy.

[halfpint]

I always do at least 2 trips - have killed myself before trying to carry stuff in one go. And also, 1st trip might not just be carrying - it might be standing for a while if in a que for entry. If you go in and set up, leave it a couple of hours then go back ques have gone down and getting in and out is a piece of cake.

[grumpyhack]

Even with a big trolley and five of us fully loaded it would need two trips to get all of our festival essentials on site. Worth the effort to have all the things that make for a comfortable week.

[cejx]

ah. we have the other train of thought! One trip only! Invariably you only make one trip OFF site too at the end of the festival, and anything more than a single trip shows you've over packed!

[p.pete]

If you're going back to the car definitely wait a few hours til the queues die down a bit.

I've never needed a second trip but queueing for hours last year I think we may just bring the basics this time and head back to the car a bit later.

You can get parked miles and miles away, and taking trips to the car will hurt, but obviously if you're that far trying to do a huge load in one go is also going to be pain. Best plan is to try to pack light!

[Lilmiz]

We always do two trips, first one with essentials (tent, sleeping bags, clothes for the evening, a few beers/ciders, toiletries) then next trip Wednesday evening/Thursday morning to get the rest (rest of clothes, wet weather stuff, camping chairs for camp site, more alcohol) then maybe a further trip for some more alcohol(we always bring a little more than anticipated and leave some in the car just in case)or wet weather gear if we were slightly optimistic during the second trip! Really don't want to carry all of that stuff in one go with potential of large queues.

[muddyslingbax]

We always do two trips, first one with essentials (tent, sleeping bags, clothes for the evening, a few beers/ciders, toiletries) then next trip Wednesday evening/Thursday morning to get the rest (rest of clothes, wet weather stuff, camping chairs for camp site, more alcohol) then maybe a further trip for some more alcohol(we always bring a little more than anticipated and leave some in the car just in case)or wet weather gear if we were slightly optimistic during the second trip! Really don't want to carry all of that stuff in one go with potential of large queues.

[Lilmiz]

What is this wet weather gear you speak of?...

[guypjfreak]

some times the trips back to the car can become one great adventure in its self .im always up for a car run

i remember years ago before the fence trying to get back to the car that was parked in the travelers site took ALL night great laugh great night long walk

aahh back in the day

so to answer your question if its worth doing one or more trips yea get yourself sorted then go and get the rest

[dawlishmonkey]

we take enough in the first go to last the night.then as I'm the first up every morning I walk to the car evry morning.I enjoy the walk and watching glasto wake up.have a bit of craic with people early on then stock up,have a beer on the way back. saves a lot of backache and gives me an excuse to walk off the booze from the previous day

[Karmann]

We camp in a campervan so don't have that problem but I have seen and felt sorry for many a person who has struggled with ALL their gear and end up in a collapsed state.

2 trips is advisable I would say.

[coma girl]

We did one trip back to the van on the Wednesday evening last year to grab more beer, having taken in the essentials earlier. No queues at all so its what I'd recomend

[bambina]

My issue with more than one trip is that I find that when I have returned from the second one that my tent has now been blocked in and I can't get my trolley through!!

I always do at least two trips on the way back, one at some point on the Sunday with everything but the tent, my sleeping stuff and clothing for the next day.

[posthuman]

Each trip to your car will cost you maybe 2-3 hours of your time, depending on the weather (rain=mud=slower journey), where you're camped, and where you're parked.

Ultimately your choice as to whether or not you think it's worth it!

[IamChappu]

I have done both the one trip and the two trip option in the past & think I prefer the one trip approach...

Yes it means we take less with us & so have to do without some creature comforts but I like the fact that once I'm in, I'm in! Have always resented the couple of hours out of my Glastonbury time that a trip back to the car takes up.

[redmosquito]

We're in a camper now so trips aren't an issue but I was always a break myself trying to get everything in in one go. Yes it was a pain in the arse but once it's done it's done and you can pitch the tent and relax without the thought of having a 2 mile trek back to the car for the rest of your stuff.

The other option is to do it in shorter stages so take a load of stuff, leave it in the lockups somewhere, go back to the car for tent etc. Get that pitched then when you want your stuff you don't have the hassle of going off site and walking all the way back to the car.

[gillmacca]

Is there a time when we don't have access to the car parks (except in an emergency)?

Going to get there Tuesday night, so thinking of just taking the essentials, and then the early hours of Thursday morning (between 1am-6am) or very late Wednesday (10pm-2am), and get the rest of the stuff.

[eodsi]

Is there a time when we don't have access to the car parks (except in an emergency)?

Going to get there Tuesday night, so thinking of just taking the essentials, and then the early hours of Thursday morning (between 1am-6am) or very late Wednesday (10pm-2am), and get the rest of the stuff.

[LusciousLucy]

Depending on your trolley/wheeled assistance can depend on how many trips. Overloading a trolley just to do one trip might seem like a great idea but when the tyres go pop or an axle shears because of too much weight and you will seriously regret trying to be clever.

It really is just 2 hours or so turnaround with a second trip, a faff yes but as everyone has said, its better than getting broken in body or your trolley.

As for getting in and out, there is rarely a lengthy queue on re-entry just DONT lose that passout pass.

I dont recommend second trips if you have managed to blag in on someone elses ticket though (from experience).

[gillmacca]

you are free to come and go as you please, but the way i see it is, if you cant carry it you dont need it. once im in, then im in until monday.

[simes]

Two trips in means two trips out. Unless of course your second trip is purely for consumables that will be gone by Monday. Or your one of the those selfish c-units that leave half their stuff on site for someone else to deal with.

[gillmacca]

You can always take some of the stuff back to the car late Sunday night (stuff you will not need overnight), leaving less to take back Monday

[SoCalMusicLover]

I am not coming by car, rather by bus to Gate A, but I intend to drop half our stuff at the first lockup I come to once inside. I believe there is one just inside Gate A.

I'll take the tent, and all the campsite stuff with me, set everything up, and be able to relax, because it looks like quite a trek from Gate A to . Then several hours later, or even late Wednesday night when the oncoming entry traffic is lighter, we'll walk back and get the 2-3 remaining pieces of luggage.

Might even do it in reverse on Sunday, dropping some items at the exit gate lockup, and just leaving what I need for the final 24 hours. I'm the type who thinks that sometimes you need to make a tradeoff, to gain a benefit. In this case, the tradeoff is a little more walking and time to retrieve some luggage, while the benefit is a likely quicker initial journey, with less strain or chance for crash/tipover of too many items.

I don't know how long it is from the carpark to the entrance, but for me, this likely cuts down considerably the amount of time I have to carry the entirety of my stuff, which really started our prior and 1st Glastonbury trip off on a bit of a sour note in 2009.