Campsite 1973
These are the high school buddies I started out with in 1971. In 1976 Kate, Colleen and Carol joined me, forming the "motherlode" of what would become the Talentsuckers.
Camping 2000
Over my 30 years at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, I think the camping rituals have changed and improved the most of anything. There are probably hundreds of established campsites with a 20+ year history like ours. Each one of these groups tries to get their same real estate year after year. For Fest2000 we got our spot, and trucked in most of the tents for our entire campsite. The early crew sets up everyone's tents to ensure common space for all. Most of us have families now, so the tents are larger and can accomodate air mattresses, separate sleeping space for kids, and a personal port-a-pottie. We camp near friends with a shower tent. We bring a tarp that could be someone's year round carport. And tables, stoves, food, chairs, pillows, raingear, multiply gear by the number of children we bring and you get the idea that the days of simplicity are long gone.
The early crew erects the tarp. Note the tents in the background.
