The Journal of the Wandering Engineer
The core days are Saturday and Sunday. We’ll have meals, activities, and workshops planned all day Saturday and Sunday.
Arrive up to a week in advance and stick around for a week after for informal hangout time, but be advised that meals won’t be provided except Friday evening through Monday morning.. Come early but come prepared!
The RSVP info goes to a google spreadsheets form that only I have access to. Your contact details won’t be shared with anyone else. If you elect to include your number to join the signal chat group, other attendees will be able to see your name and number.
EREfest is a long weekend dedicated to celebrating cooperative self-sufficiency. It is an annual get-together for people who are interested in post-consumer praxis, freedom-to, frugality, the Renaissance lifestyle (as in polymathy, not as in Renfaire), and systems thinking.
We camp out, share meals, share conversation, and share skills and knowledge. Fest is a low-key, introvert-friendly gathering in the beautiful southern sierra nevadas.
In 2023 we had workshops on improv, how to start a youtube channel, night photography, chainsaw maintenance, how to make a zine, how to draw a Web-of-Goals, how to make authentic corn tortillas, and more.
Workshop topics will be announced/communicated ahead of time this year.
No, none of the activities are mandatory. If you want to come and just chill around the hearth, or meditate on a rock all weekend, that’s fine. The only thing I’m strict on is respecting people’s autonomy and not setting the desert on fire. Do whatchuwanna, as long as it isn’t harshing anyone else’s flow.
Expect to chip in $20 or so for food.
September 2023.
Vegetarian with vegan options. BYOMeat, there are grilles available. (We didn’t quite nail this in ‘23, but I’m committed to making it happen this year.)
Arrive as early as the weekend before, and leave as late as the weekend after. But be self-sufficient in terms of shelter, food, and entertaining yourself except for the core days of Friday Evening - Monday Morning.
Arrival, orientation, setup camp, informal evening meal and campfire.
0600 writers, journalers, sitspotters, and sketchers quiet circle.
0700 light breakfast fare and coffee
0730 Welcome Orientation Chat
0830 Walk
1000 Workshop 1
1200 Midday Meal
1330 Workshop 2
1530 Workshop 3
Evening Meal, Campfire
0600 writers, journalers, sitspotters, and sketchers quiet circle.
0700 light breakfast fare and coffee
0830 Walk
1000 Workshop 1
1200 Midday Meal
1330 Workshop 2
1530 Workshop 3
Evening Meal, Fest Debrief, Campfire
Pancake breakfast
Packup, departure
Hugs
Quail Haven is in the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California, about two hours south of Bishop and three hours north of LAX. There are many ways to get here. The following information will get you close, but you need to contact me/the crew privately to get the details for the final leg.
Do your research/ask for advice and know how you’re getting here before you leave home. Some shuttles don’t run every day. Do not assume you can stitch together public transportation the day you travel - it might be literally impossible.
If you fly in to LAX, you can rent a car and drive to Quail Haven in about 3 hours. Time your flight well: if you land at 3pm on a Friday, expect to sit in traffic for 4-5 hours. LA traffic is next level.
If driving from LAX, go North on the 405, merge onto 5 North, and then get on to 14 North. Keep driving through Lancaster.
If taking public transportation from LAX:
There is a Flyaway shuttle between LAX and LA union station.
From there get a Flixbus to Bakersfield Amtrak (book this ahead of time online).
There are local Kern Transit shuttles from Bakersfield Amtrak to within walking distance of Quail Haven. These are the shuttles that don’t run every day. Ask me for details.
From the Bay Area, take the Amtrak from Oakland Jack London Square Station to Bakersfield Amtrak Station, and then the Kern Transit from there.
From Reno, there is a bus that goes all the way down the 395.
From AZ, NM, Chicago, other points east, get to the Amtrak and arrange a pickup from Barstow or continue on to the Bakersfield Amtrak.
If on bicycle, I recommend coming South on the 395 from the Tahoe/Reno direction. The shoulder is wide almost the whole way and there is a rumble strip. I don’t recommend attempting a crossing of Death Valley in September nor any travel in the Central Valley.
Our driveway is 0.25miles long and dirt but you can make it in a SmartCar.
Arrange carpooling in the Signal chat with other attendees ahead of time.
Tent or van camping. There’s plenty of space.
If you don’t have a tent or sleeping gear, reach out. The group will almost certainly be able to provide.
There is a dry campground 4 miles up the highway. It isn’t much different than camping at Quail Haven.
The nearest hotel is 20+ miles away, and I assume it is expensive because they mostly caters to gov contractors on per diem.