Rockfest Early Camping and South Campground

After I got done with Bluesfest in Canada, I decided to head straight for Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin. Instead of going back to my parents' house in Marshfield, I figured I'd save the three hour round trip and camp early. I found out you could win some stuff for camping early so I thought, "what the heck"? Maybe I'd run into people to party with and pass the time or at least get a little time to work on the blog.

I drove into the campground and then tried to find my spot.

Rural two-lane highway with white car in oncoming lane, farm buildings and large tree on right side under partly cloudy sky Rural two-lane highway approaching brown directional sign, with farm structures visible in distance Airstrip or camping area behind chain-link fence with blue porta-potties and RVs visible in background Security gate entrance with chain-link fence and warning sign listing entry requirements including wristbands and vehicle inspections Gravel road leading to fenced facility with buildings and camping area visible through chain-link fence Gravel road with vintage Airstream trailer on left and small utility building on right, camping area visible in distance

Seeing there weren't any campsite markers, I went back to the main area. I found out I should have flagged someone on a four-wheeler down. I did that and they showed me by spot.

Open airstrip area with multiple RVs and campers parked along treeline in background Gravel road through green field leading to single RV camper with wooded area in background

I then filled out the clean campsite form and started setting up in the hot sun. I see the rest of the place was pretty empty. Most of the campers that appeared to be there were just dropped off and nobody was around.

Hand wearing yellow wristband holding registration forms and release documents against car window White painted marking or base embedded in grass with clover and weeds Silver Ford Focus sedan parked on grass field with tree line in background Wide view of camping area with dirt roads, small utility building, and RVs scattered across grassy field under dramatic cloudy sky Wide view of camping area with dirt roads, small utility building, and RVs scattered across grassy field under dramatic cloudy sky Large mature trees in foreground with RVs and campers visible across open field in background Expansive grass airstrip or camping field with distant tree line and campers visible on horizon Dense tree line creating dark silhouette against sky, viewed across maintained grass field

I checked the cellular data in the area and it was really good. It would get worse as more people showed up. It did give me plenty of time to sync Dropbox and backup my phone while setting up.

Mobile speedtest results showing 78.7 Mbps download and 20.2 Mbps upload speeds on AT&T Internet at 3:32 PM

Now I thought I'd outsmart Mother Nature by putting up a canopy tent over my tent. I figured the sun wouldn't directly beat on my tent and keep me cooler. I also put up a sidewall. This is where Mother Nature got the best of me. The wind eventually ripped the sidewall off later on.

Blue and white pop-up canopy tent with mesh screen room set up on grass field near wooded area Silver Ford Focus parked next to blue pop-up canopy tent on grass field with forest background

The day I settled in was Monday July 9th. I'd have until Wednesday before anything was going on. It was hot, but I had nothing better to do than walk around. That's what I did to see how full the campground was.

Weather app displaying Eau Claire, Wisconsin conditions: 88°F, feels like 92°, mostly sunny at 5:17 PM Weather app showing radar map of Upper Midwest with Eau Claire, Wisconsin marked, displaying mixed weather at 5:15 PM Wide grass airstrip field with dirt road on left and RVs visible near tree line in distance View across grass and wheat fields toward distant RV camping area with blue sky and scattered clouds Camping area with RVs and tents scattered across grass field under dramatic cloudy sky with gravel road in foreground Gravel road through RV camping area with vintage motorhomes and modern campers visible on both sides Wide view of RV camping area showing multiple campers and motorhomes spread across grass field with tree line in background View through chain-link fence of airstrip with "ROCK FEST" sign visible on grass field with RVs in background Pop-up camper, green canopy tent, and U-Haul truck parked on grass camping area with other RVs in background Chain-link fence with utility pole separating grass field from corn field with RVs visible in distance Camping area with scattered RVs under dramatic cloudy sky with bright sunlight breaking through clouds Equipment trailer with American flag and blue canopy near porta-potties at camping area entrance Wide grass airstrip or field with RVs parked in distance under partly cloudy sky Gravel road leading across open grass field toward tree line with dramatic clouds overhead Single RV camper parked on grass field near tree line with gravel road under dramatic cloudy sky Long gravel road stretching across grass field with RVs parked on both sides under dramatic cloudy sky Distant view of person with camping gear walking across grass field with RVs and tents in background Gravel road leading through camping area with utility building on left under dramatic cloudy sky Gravel road marked with "0" sign leading into camping area with porta-potties and numerous RVs visible Distant RV camper visible on grass hillslope near dark tree line Wide view of grass and wheat fields with school bus converted to camper and RVs visible on horizon Gravel road leading through camping area with scattered RVs, large trees on right side, and grass fields under partly cloudy sky

The Rock Fest grounds are in the middle of nowhere. There's farmer's fields and woods on the border of it. You may have noticed this by the pictures. It's kind of a haul to Cadott to buy anything, so I packed all non-perishables. I pretty much lived off of ramen, jerky, chips, and gallons upon gallons of water. I had a warm Hamm's to celebrate.

Camping setup on grass with camp stove on propane canister, black pot, water jug, red folding chair, and camping supplies Overhead view of black camping pot with boiling water or food bubbling inside on camp stove Hand holding can of Hamm's beer outdoors at camping area with grass field in background

Tuesday July 10th I woke up and it was kind of warm. I had my Folgers instant coffee with pickled quail eggs and Jack Link's breakfast bacon.

Weather app displaying Eau Claire, Wisconsin conditions: 72°F, feels like 72°, partly cloudy at 9:28 AM Weather radar map showing storm systems approaching Wisconsin with Eau Claire marked at 9:25 AM Overcast camping area with small utility building, mature trees, and RVs visible across grass field Hand holding large container of Folger's Classic Roast instant coffee crystals outdoors on grass Hand wearing yellow Rock Fest wristband holding stainless steel travel mug filled with coffee Hand holding jar of Buc-ee's pickled quail eggs with camping area and trees in background Package of Jack Link's AM breakfast bacon in brown sugar and maple flavor, fully cooked and ready to eat

The rest of my day involved watching the workers get the porta potties ready and also filling up swimming pools. I continued to eat my ramen and did my daily walk around.

Camping pot on propane stove with food actively boiling and foaming inside Vintage travel trailer parked on grass field with other RVs visible in distance under overcast sky Chain-link fenced enclosure with fresh water station sign and RVs visible across grass field in background Large water tanker truck with "WATER" lettering parked near white canopy tent at camping area Wide gravel road through camping area with RVs and campers scattered on grass fields under clear blue sky Long straight gravel road stretching across camping area with RVs visible on both sides in distance Gravel road with cluster of camping tents and RVs grouped together on left side under clear sky Gravel road through camping area with pop-up campers, motorhomes, and vehicles parked on both sides Intersection of gravel roads in camping area with RVs and campers scattered across grass fields Gravel road with vintage horse trailer on left and travel trailers parked along grass field on right under clear blue sky Wide gravel road stretching into distance with sparse RVs parked on both sides of grass field under clear blue sky Gravel road with porta-potties on left and camping area with bright sun flare creating backlit view of field Gravel road through camping area with RVs and blue canopy tent visible alongside bare dead tree under clear sky Wide grass field with dark vehicle and RVs visible in middle distance under blue sky with cloud bank Gravel road leading to camping area with numerous RVs, tents including orange tent visible along horizon line Single RV with truck parked on grass field, white tent structures and other campers visible in distance Large white RV with extended awning and outdoor furniture setup on grass field with other campers in background Camping area with white tent structures on left, RVs spread across grass field, orange utility box in foreground Gravel road intersection in camping area with scattered RVs and white grain silo visible in distance Corner of gravel road with utility building and tree line, sparse camping activity visible in distance View of grassy hillside rising to tree line at top with gravel road edge visible at bottom Gravel road leading through camping area with large mature trees on right and scattered RVs in distance Sunset view with silhouetted trees in foreground and RVs visible on distant field under orange-pink sky Nighttime photo of hand holding Hamm's beer can at camping area with lights glowing in background

Finally Wednesday had come! Two nights of sleeping on the ground and trying to keep my tent organized was tiring. There was supposed to be an early show for just the three day pass holders. What I was more concerned with initially was the showers opening up. I did my walk around and then appeared to be the only one thrilled the showers were open. There was no line and I had them all to myself!

One thing I did notice throughout the day was the insane amount of mowing. I couldn't care less if my campsite was mowed but it appears people were very particular about it.

Interior of camping tent showing sleeping bags, gear, sunscreen, cookware, and camping supplies organized inside Weather app displaying Eau Claire, Wisconsin conditions: 75°F, feels like 75°, mostly cloudy with 7 mph wind at 9:34 AM Person in blue shirt walking small dog on gravel path at camping area with trees and utility building in background Camping setup with large motorhome, red tent, and blue canopy tent on grass with dense tree line in background Camping scene with travel trailer, white pickup truck, and campers setting up gear with other RVs visible in background Camping area with blue sedan, green tent, bicycle, and campers setup along gravel road with tree line in background Multiple camping tents including red and green tents with vehicles and campers visible across grass field Gravel road with two brown utility buildings and RVs parked along both sides under overcast sky Large blue inflatable pool with people inside at camping area surrounded by tents and RVs Gravel road with red pickup truck and RVs parked along right side, chain-link fence visible on left Row of RVs with American flags displayed on motorhome roof along gravel camping road Camping area with people walking near purple canopy and utility trailer, chain-link fence on right side Wide dirt road with chain-link fence on left and buildings in distance, traffic cones marking path Long gravel road through camping area with densely parked RVs and campers on both sides Gravel road intersection in camping area with RVs on left and people visible in distance near fence Wide dirt area with scattered RVs and camping setup, people visible near chain-link fence on right Camping area with large evergreen tree and row of motorhomes parked with vehicles under partly cloudy sky Chain-link fence with "HANDICAP CAR PARKING ONLY" sign, RVs and vehicles visible through fence Camping area with tall red inflatable tube man decoration and striped tent visible among RVs Gravel road with camping area featuring red inflatable tube man and evergreen tree among RVs Row of motorhomes parked along gravel road with delivery truck visible, tree line in background Chain-link fence with U-Haul truck and RVs visible behind fence at camping area Camping setup with large motorhome, red tent, and pickup trucks parked on grass under partly cloudy sky Gravel road curving through camping area with RVs parked on both sides under partly cloudy sky Gravel road with densely parked RVs and pickup trucks on both sides under partly cloudy sky Wide view of camping area with RVs, trailers, and tents scattered across green grass field under blue sky RVs and camping trailers arranged along dirt road with green grass and trees in background Dirt road running through camping area with RV and vehicles visible, green grass on both sides Line of vehicles and tents along dirt road on grassy hill against blue sky Various RVs and camping trailers parked along dirt road with trees in background Large RV trailer parked along dirt road with dumpster nearby and other campers in background Open red trailer converted to vendor booth displaying numerous electric guitars on walls Close-up of guitar vendor display showing multiple electric guitars hanging on walls with price tags Interior view of guitar vendor trailer showing extensive collection of electric guitars and accessories White Toyota Tundra pickup truck with bicycle mounted on front, parked in camping area Multiple colorful camping tents set up in grass field with RVs and people in background RVs, trailers and tents arranged along dirt road on grassy hillside Elevated view of camping area showing RVs and trailers spread across rolling grassy hills Dirt road intersection in camping area with few campers visible and unmowed grass field Open grass field with camping area and vehicles visible in distance, trees on left Wide view of camping area across open field with RVs and tents on hillside Gray metal building with peaked roof, facility building at campground with yellow truck parked outside Long concrete hallway with black curtained shower stalls on both sides Interior of concrete shower stall with white shelf and curtain Concrete wall with copper plumbing pipes and fixtures mounted vertically

I took my shower and then I went inside the festival grounds and took a bunch of pictures.

Event venue entrance with Gate 10 sign, chain link fence, and dumpster with people walking on gravel path Green and black UTVs on display surrounded by orange traffic cones with white tent and Mosinee Fire District truck in background Gravel roadway with white fence and forklift, event buildings and tents visible along path Open grass field with tall lighting tower, vendor tents, and Monster Energy banners at event venue John Deere utility vehicle with Sheriff markings in green and yellow parked on grass at event Mobile command center trailer with American flag and orange safety fencing in foreground Large white peaked tent with Sheriff branding next to metal building with white fence White metal building exterior wall with "Concert Grounds" and "Medical" signs featuring red cross symbol, flag flying above Tall cellular communications tower with equipment panels and guy-wire support system White building exterior wall with CenturyLink logo and "Gate 9" entrance door Long row of portable toilets on grass field with people walking and house visible in background Large covered open-air pavilion with Marten Intermodal semi-trailer parked on gravel lot White peaked tent with flag, red pickup truck, and buildings on gravel surface Covered pavilion with picnic table seating and blue coolers in foreground, view looking outward Interior view of covered pavilion showing crowd of people with 21+ age restriction sign posted Outdoor bar concession stand with beer brand banners and Bud Light branding, staff serving customers Event grounds walkway with green dumpsters, people walking between covered structures Gravel area with decorative windmill tower and people gathered, event venue in background "Refuel & Rehydrate" food concession stand with Pepsi branding and customers waiting in line Concession area with small building and ATM sign, people in line with vendor tents visible in distance People walking on gravel near covered shirt shop structure with mist or smoke visible in background Event attendees walking on gravel path with tall decorative windmill tower in background Expansive green field with scattered hay bales, people walking, and event buildings in distance Green grass area with red canopy tent, picnic table, and event buildings across field Backlit covered pavilion with Shirt Shop sign silhouetted against bright sky Dark trailer with RZFR lettering, green banners, and ladder propped against side Wide view of green field with scattered hay bales, vendor tents and colorful flags in distance Large grass field with windmill tower and hay bales spread across grounds Windmill tower with decorative wooden barrier at base on green field Covered vendor structure with Bacardi branding and white barrier fencing on grass Black Grizzly Garage structure with elevated deck and viewing platform Green field with multiple event tents, white peaked tent, and windmill tower People walking across grass field with hay bales and black barrier panel visible Inferno food vendor trailer advertising grilled foods with picnic table in front Row of food vendor trailers with oversized lemonade cup decoration and colorful flags Picnic area with wooden tables on grass and carnival food stands in background Carnival food vendor row with colorful signs for Cotton Candy, Cheese Curds, and other treats Green field with hay bales arranged near black barrier wall and windmill tower Wooden picnic tables on grass with white arch structure visible in distance, event venue in background Gravel area with Refuel & Rehydrate building and white peaked tent, event grounds visible Wide gravel pathway through green field with scattered hay bales and event buildings in distance Wooden picnic table on grass field with black barrier panels and windmill tower in background White double-arch decorative structure on grass with black platform and plants at base Information sign on post reading "Renew your vows right here at Rock Fest" with logo Rock Fest branded floor mat and small equipment on grass near white arch structure Side Stage Lineups banner displaying multiple stage schedules against green field backdrop "Who's On Top" schedule banner showing daily lineup with times and band names Venue map display showing aerial layout of Rock Fest grounds with color-coded areas Main Stage Lineup banner on grass showing three-day festival schedule with band names Gravel path with hay bales on grass, people walking toward event buildings View along gravel path with windmill tower, scattered hay bales and event pavilion Gravel walkway leading to white arch and vendor area with people walking Wide grass field with single hay bale and event structures with windmill tower Gravel road beside grass hill with hay bale, covered pavilion and event tents visible Green field with hay bale and tall light towers, white tents and Rock Fest signage Long covered pavilion structure on grass field with hay bale in foreground Wide grass field view with white building and Rock Fest branding, pathways visible Gravel pathway with people walking, hay bales and white arch structure along route Wide gravel roadway leading through event grounds with picnic table on grass and festival structures in distance Gravel path beside grass field with hay bales and large tent pavilion with flags in background Expansive green field with carnival rides and white vendor tents visible across grounds Tall white light tower structures on grass with modern Rock Fest building and pathways Gravel road junction with people walking toward distant event structures on horizon Colorful orange and yellow shade canopies with checkered barrel marker and carnival structures behind People walking on grass near long covered pavilion with hay bale and windmill tower visible Backlit white peaked tents with vertical flags silhouetted against bright sky, hay bales on grass Hammock relaxation area with colorful striped hammocks hanging under yellow, orange and black shade canopies Gravel parking area with covered trailers and RVs, red dumpster in foreground White tent and blue covered structure with elevated viewing platform, colorful flags in background People walking on gravel road past vendor trailers with colorful flags and event grounds Gravel pathway with hammock lounge area under shade canopies, people and hay bales on grass field Large rectangular hay bale formation on grass with covered pavilion and tower in background Big Dog Corndogs food stand with red and yellow striped flags, people walking on gravel Long wooden picnic table structure on grass with Rock Fest venue buildings in background Bloomin' Onions food vendor display with large griddle full of prepared food items and colorful decorations Food vendor area with Fajita Quesadilla banner and Bloomin' Onions stand beneath Close-up of large flat-top griddle cooking sausages, onions, peppers and mixed vegetables Outdoor food stand with large griddle cooking noodles and other dishes, workers in red and white shirts preparing food under tent with menu photos displayed above White event tents set up on gravel path at outdoor festival venue with grass field and buildings in background Wide grassy festival grounds with Jack Daniel's branded tent structure, picnic tables, and industrial buildings in distance under blue sky Festival attendees playing casual sports on open grass field with tent structures and facilities visible in background Panoramic view of festival grounds showing grassy area, picnic tables, and large covered stage or shelter structure in distance Festival venue with Jack Daniel's tent, wooden safety barriers, picnic tables on grass, and stage building in background Jack Daniel's branded covered bar area with barrels and seating on gravel surface, white tent visible to the side Wide view of festival grounds at dusk showing open grass field, tents, stage structures, and carnival rides in distance Two people walking across grass field toward tall vertical ride or tower structures at outdoor festival Small ATM building with "Rockfest" branding on gravel lot, open grass field and festival structures in background Wooden amphitheater-style seating facing large stage structure with "ROCK FEST" and "BUD LIGHT" signage, safety barrier in foreground Tiered wooden bench seating area facing modern stage building with sponsor logos including Rock Fest and Bud Light Blue shipping containers stacked two high behind wooden safety barrier, festival grounds visible beyond Expansive view of festival grounds showing grass field, stage structures, carnival rides, and tents under partly cloudy sky Gravel path and grass field with festival facilities and covered structures visible in distance Festival grounds entrance area with sponsor signage board, trash receptacle, and gravel pathways leading to grass field Two-story metal observation or media tower structure with open sides, blue containers and festival grounds visible around it Stage building with wooden bench seating area in foreground, Rock Fest and Bud Light branding visible on structure Long single-story building with multiple food vendor stalls including visible "Triple XXX" signage, festival grounds in foreground Wide view of main festival venue buildings and facilities across grassy field with attendees visible near structures Wide view of festival grounds with grass field, vendor buildings, carnival rides, and stage structures visible across the venue Festival attendees gathered on gravel area near Budweiser "This Bud's For You Stage" building with bottle-shaped decoration Backstage crew area with black trailer, equipment cases, and people setting up technical gear near white building Dark interior view under covered stage area with crew members, equipment, lighting truss, and open side showing daylight Interior of covered concession area with people queuing at wooden bar counter, sponsor signage above, blue cooler in foreground Large hay bale on grass field with gravel path, festival stage buildings and tall vertical ride structure in background Motion-blurred image of grass and vegetation taken while moving Festival attendee jumping on trampoline-like attraction with black and white checkered backdrop, stage building visible behind Wide view of festival grounds showing grass field, white tents, stage building with Rock Fest branding, and facilities Close-up of main stage with American flag flying above, Rock Fest signage, sponsor logos, wooden bench seating in foreground Large "25" anniversary display sculpture on grass with metal windmill tower and festival buildings in background Festival grounds with gravel paths, grass field, hay bales, tall flag pole, and stage structures in distance

On one end of things, it was kind of peaceful camping out before the place packed up. On another end, sleeping on the ground got old fast and was kind of uncomfortable. I slept alright, but I definitely wasn't 100% coming into Wednesday and Thursday when my friends showed up. Driving from Canada didn't help either.

I didn't win anything, so I guess that incentive was thrown out. I tried working on the blog but found the limited electricity I had wasn't enough to do what I wanted. Overall, it was an enlightening experience. I did get more in touch with nature's rhythms and it did put things into perspective in terms of resource usage.

I think next time I do this, I'll wait for some friends to arrive or maybe bring a camper so I can sleep better. I'm sure if it was cooler the experience would have been a lot more pleasant. Sitting in a field by yourself for two days fully off the grid can get old fast. I guess it did add to the story and I did get to see the place fill up.

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