Any tips or specific rules we should know while preparing for our first weekend rally? How are the food choices and prices for that matter? Any opinions on the best/quietest/private camping areas? I can't even begin to imagine what I will pack for such a thing. The Hubby says all we need is a tarp and a sleeping bag, that sounds a little to rugged for me, it is possible to do better than that! I think we have the tent and clothes handled but how do we charge cell phones, cameras, etc? Is there even cell service? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

Hey Guys, Glad to hear you are going to the Redwood Run... Hope to see you there.

Just so you know you are more than welcome to camp with us at the CycleFish camp (see the map here... http://www.cyclefish.com/event/193/). But you mentioned private/quite and that in not the CycleFish camp.  We are right in the middle of everything.

If you want a campsite that is a little quieter, I would recommend the upper camping areas.  Those are out of walking distance to the vendors and stage area, but you can always ride you bike down or they even have a shuttle that runs from the upper area to the main area in case you have drank too much to ride.

Food choices at the rally itself are pretty good for rally food.  There are booths with the standard hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, etc.  If you do decide to come camp at the CycleFish camp you can make your own.  We don't cook for everyone at the camp, but we do have a couple of camp stoves and cooking utensils and you are welcome to use them if you want to run to town and grab some food to cook up.  There is also the option of running to Garberville (about 10 miles) to eat.  Lots of people go into town for breakfast.

For camping I would recommend more than a tarp and sleeping bag.  I see you are from Shasta so you know even in June you can see low 50s at night.  The good thing is in over 10 years it has never rained on us!!!

There is no electricity in the camping area.  If you do need to charge a camera or phone I normally just ask one of the vendors if I can plug it in at their booth and leave it for an hour or so.  Cell phone reception is very iffy at best at the actual site - depending on your carrier.  I have AT&T and get no service unless I go to town.

You can see some pictures here... http://www.cyclefish.com/PhotoMan/albums/ and on the Redwood Run FB page... www.facebook.com/TheRedwoodRun to get an idea of the camping area.

Thanks Lucky (which is our 4 yr old son's name BTW). We are super excited, started researching sleeping bags last night and buying our big sissy bar bag this weekend. Good to know about the cell reception, with kids at home it will be nice to let them know we aren't readily available. Thanks for the invite to the CycleFish camp as well, we should be pulling in Friday morning after a night spent in Mad River. Hopefully we make it in time for the Meet and Greet.

Basically the entire weekend is a Meet & Greet, so stop by the camp anytime. We will most likely have a group ride and group photo sometime on Saturday... we'll let you know the times for those.

Sounds like a good time. I've got to make it there one year!

One day I will make the Redwood Run CycleFish party. But that is a real long ride from the GA coast!

You should.  It is looking like this will be the BIGGEST CycleFish get together EVER!  Right now I have a count of just over 50 people joining us (members, partners and friends).  Our CycleFish camp will be in the same place as always (you can see a map here... http://www.cyclefish.com/event/193/ style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">).

Everyone is welcome to come camp at the CycleFish camp.  We will get in early and set up the tables, shade, etc, and try to hold as much space as possible for our friends to camp.  Our area has become a VERY popular camp spot meaning when the gate opens and the crowds rush in, it is really hard to hold the spaces... so I recommend that you get in early (as close to the gate opening as possible) and head straight for the CycleFish Camp.  The more people that get there early, the easier it is to hold space for more of our friends who couldn't get there early.

We will also have cook stoves, pots, pans and utensils available at camp for all CF members to use anytime they want.  I am not cooking for everyone (mainly because I will be partying), but you are more than welcome to run to the store for food and use our "kitchen".

We will also be planning our usual Saturday morning day ride through the Redwoods and a group picture.  More info on those to come.

We look forward to seeing all of our old Redwood Friends and meeting lots of new ones!!!