Land Rush was a little more Exciting this year

Here is my camper, all set up after the landrush

The land rush at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, is an exciting and nerve-wracking time anyway. This year it was a little extra as rain was forecast, with the most predicted to fall during the land rush itself.

For those who may not know, landrush is when they let campers into the campground. There is a lineup phase, but then they open the gates, and it’s every camper for themselves. First come, first served. It doesn’t matter if you have been camping in that spot for 20 years; if someone beats you to it, it’s theirs this year.

Like most folks, I had my place in line marked, and showed up Wednesday night before landrush, which was to start at 7 a.m. There was a sprinkling of rain all night, and it did rain during landrush. I tried to sleep some, but woke up about 6 a.m. with an hour to go before landrush started.

I did panic when I went to my truck and realized I had left the keys in the ignition and my battery was dead. I had visions of being left behind in the rapture of the land rush. People already have their rigs set up, and probably no one is going to want to unhook their camper and come over and give me a jump start with the starting gun bearing down on us all.

I happened to see someone arriving to hook up to his camper, so I asked for his help, and he gave me a jump start. With just over half an hour left my truck was running, and I was set to go. I left my truck running until landrush and was able to roll when the gun sounded. I also had a little voice in my head telling me I should do a walk-around one last time, about 10 minutes before the landrush started. I did so and found that I had not put my blocks that the camper stand rests on in the truck. That could have caused some damage if I had not noticed that.

I like to think the Good Lord was looking out for me. Having someone come by at the right moment, and a little inner tug to check the camper out one more time before I rolled. Theologically, I am not sure. In the overall scheme of things, me getting left behind in landrush is not much of a priority. Still, I thanked God for having things go well and for getting some breaks at the last minute. I would not have cursed God or felt let down if things had not gone well.

Once we were cleared to enter I made a straight line for the area I like. It’s close to the power poles and close enough to the port a potties, and I know some people who camp in this area. Ironically enough, I ended up beside a camper I was beside last year.

It was wet, but the rain was not falling too hard. I got electricity hooked up, set up the camper, and laid down to take a nap.

Landrush is always scary, and this year was even a little moreso at crunch time. Still it always works out somehow and is always worth it.

This is my first story about the music festival. I will try to do a daily update.