Tent Surf 2010

Tent Surf is back! Last year Trip Hopping helped people all over North America car pool and find hitchhiking partners to get there way to Colorado where all the action was. This year we've gotten more involved, heading down to Rocky Point to scope out the area, and we'll also be heading the caravan from Arizona down to the campsite.

Don't know what Tent Surf is all about? 

Get ready to Camp with CSers and THers! This is going to be a four-day three-night camping extravaganza on the beach in Mexico. Wake up every morning to shake off the sand, walk over and jump into the 75 degree water of the Sea of Cortez. Rent a jet ski and explore the beaches of Mirador, Sandy and Cholla bay. Explore the Fish Market or many of the late night activities that are planned. Let’s celebrate not only each other’s company but also International CS day.

Travelers arriving in Phoenix, TripHopping.com will be guiding our caravan down into Mexico starting at 8am on the 10th Camping will begin when we arrive and will end at sunset on June 13th. Maps will be provided.
Here are just some of the activities you can expect at CS Camp.

- Bonfire
- Live DJ’s and Artists on stage
- Dancing
- JetSkiing
- Hiking
- Pillow Fight (Dayna B.)
- Camp Pot Luck
- Body Painting
- Fire Spinning
- Drum Circles
- Sky Diving
- Ultra Light Rides
- Charity event

Registration:
This year there will not be a registration process. We will have a table set up to get a wrist band that will be used throughout the weekend for out of camp activities.

Location:
The location of the camp will be on Sandy Beach just east of The Reef bar and restaurant. Please see map here:

http://www.thereefrvpark.com/location.jpg

We will have an organizer directing traffic and lining up tent rows as people arrive.

Elevation:
The best kind of elevation is Sea level

Terrain:
Terrain in the camp will be sandy. The spots closest to the entrance are harder and more suitable for 2 wheel vehicles. Other areas that are available for camping will require 4 wheel vehicles.

Weather:
June on the beach of Rocky Point is sunny and a stable mid 80° F/30°C during the day. Night time temperature can dip into the high 60° F/20°C. The Sea of Cortez water temperature is steady during this time of year at 75°F/23°C day or night!

Lodging:
You have options when it comes to lodging at the camp out! Of course you can bring your tent or RV (RV hookups available on the west side of the restaurant)That is what camping is all about. If you’re not into sleeping on the sand you can also rent one of the many condo’s that are in the area or stay at a local hotel in Puerto Penasco about 4 miles from Sandy Beach. Please contact any of the local resorts for pricing.

http://www.sandybeachresorts.net/

Getting There:
Travelers participating please understand the closest airports to Puerto Penasco is Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) and Tucson International (TUS). There is an operational international airport about 15 minutes away from Puerto Penasco that does not provide international service at this time. (PPE) Please arrive to Phoenix or Tucson on the 9th if possible to secure a ride-share to Mexico on the 10th. Please make your arrangements prior to your arrival.
We have partnered with www.triphopping.com Want to see all the options available to get to the camp, and partner with others that will be attending the camp out go to: www.triphopping.comPlanes Trains Hitchhiking and rideshares will be available on Trip Hopping. Also be sure to check the event page for other campers offering rides.

Fees:
Organizers will not be collecting any fees to cover this event. There will be charges for using local businesses and services. There is a fee to enter the campgrounds. This generally runs $5 - $10 per vehicle for the whole weekend and is collected by the guard. We will hold a raffle and an auction to cover some operating cost however these activities are completely voluntary.

What to Bring:
BRING YOUR PASSPORT or PASSPORT ID
I have made it back to the US using only my AZ ID however the wait and hassle of doing so will delay getting back into Arizona for everyone. Passport ID’s are cheaper and can be obtained in one day (Show this event information to the clerk with your application). More info here:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Pets are OK on a leash!
Please Bring your off road vehicle, ATV Boat or Jetski, we love rides!

Camping is fun and exciting but it doesn’t have to be a chore. This will be a self-sustainable camping experience. What this means is bring your own supplies. The standards are Tent, Sleeping bag or blankets (remember it will be cold at night) Propane Camp Stove, Flashlight or Lantern, Food and Water to last the amount of time you will stay and proper clothing. Extras would be Hibachi, portable shower, playing cards or games, fishing gear, radio, hammock…etc. Clean toilets and showers will be available to all at a small cost. Facilities and convenient store is managed by The Reef Bar and Restaurant. Most camping supplies can be purchased from Wal-Mart, Target or your local sporting goods store. There are local shops and markets not far from the campground if you will need additional supplies.

What NOT to bring:
Just like any good run campsite there are items that will not be allowed at the event. No Glass Bottles, NO DRUGS, No Weapons of any kind, No hazardous Chemicals, respect both the landowners and Mother Nature to assure a welcome return for the future. These rules will be handed out at registration

Services:
There are many amenities that will be available at the campout location here is a list.
- Showers and Bathrooms
- Wi-Fi (on the RV side)
- Restaurant and Buffet
- Convenience Store
- Bar and Nightclub

Activities:
We have a team of organizers working on daily activities to keep you busy in-between the relaxing times of your stay. Party Boat, Ultra light Rides, hikes, Pub Crawls and workshops are just a few of the activities that will take place. Tent decorating contests and musical acts on stage are among others. I heard a rumor about another attempt at a pillow fight may take place. Please feel free to dream up what you would like to contribute at the campout. Please keep in mind that we do not want to disrupt or destroy the beauty of our surroundings. Whatever is dreamed up in those wonderful minds of yours; please make sure that we can clean it up easily. If you would like to add a workshop or group activity please contact organizer April to get your idea on the event schedule.

Contacts:
Here are your Organizers (Camp Counselors)

Jon Cordoba - Organizer
http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=3HRAF60

April Menegazzo – In Camp Activities http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=64MYY8K

Larry Streech – Organizer / www.triphopping.com, Travel http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=JF0KFK

Mike Huang – Welcome Party and Website
http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/muchium/

Get Faq’s on twitter

https://twitter.com/TentSurf

Still on the fence? Come interact with the organizers and other campers?
Check out our group:

http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=16378

on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tentsurf


By attending this event you understand that traveling into another country and participation in is at your own risk. You or your guests will not hold couchsurfing.org, the organizers, affiliates and or sponsors liable under any circumstances. This is not a sanctioned CouchSurfing.org or TripHopping.com event.

For new info you can also check www.tentsurf.net

We will be leaving by Caravan from West Phoenix at 10 am. We are meeting at Walmart on Estrella and I-10: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Estrella+Pkwy&daddr=I-8+BUS+W%2FW+Pima+St+to:AZ-85+S+to:31.880582,-112.817101&hl=en&geocode=FXaK_gEdOQdN-Q%3BFeyt9gEdxtJH-Q%3BFV287gEdtrdF-Q%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=2&mrsp=3&sz=15&sll=31.887688,-112.801652&sspn=0.029515,0.055747&ie=UTF8&ll=33.454575,-112.383657&spn=0.029002,0.055747&z=15

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Estrella+Pkwy&daddr=I-8+BUS+W%2FW+Pima+St+to:AZ-85+S+to:31.880582,-112.817101&hl=en&geocode=FXaK_gEdOQdN-Q%3BFeyt9gEdxtJH-Q%3BFV287gEdtrdF-Q%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=2&mrsp=3&sz=15&sll=31.887688,-112.801652&sspn=0.029515,0.055747&ie=UTF8&ll=32.170963,-112.373657&spn=3.765896,7.13562&t=h&z=8

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Estrella+Pkwy&daddr=I-8+BUS+W%2FW+Pima+St+to:AZ-85+S+to:31.880582,-112.817101&hl=en&geocode=FXaK_gEdOQdN-Q%3BFeyt9gEdxtJH-Q%3BFV287gEdtrdF-Q%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=2&mrsp=3&sz=15&sll=31.887688,-112.801652&sspn=0.029515,0.055747&ie=UTF8&ll=32.170963,-112.373657&spn=3.765896,7.13562&z=8

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Estrella+Pkwy&daddr=I-8+BUS+W%2FW+Pima+St+to:AZ-85+S+to:AZ-85+S%2FN+Ajo+Sonoita+Hwy%2FN+Sonoita+Hwy&hl=en&geocode=FXaK_gEdOQdN-Q%3BFeyt9gEdxtJH-Q%3BFV287gEdtrdF-Q%3BFUx25gEdJI1G-Q&mra=ls&sll=33.454575,-112.383657&sspn=0.029002,0.055747&ie=UTF8&z=9

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101878008033279927742.00048774559cae91e2c69&ll=33.335118,-111.846313&spn=3.717026,7.13562&z=8&iwloc=000487745dc6010dde972

See you guys there !!!!!

New dashboard and speed improvements

We've made some updates! The most noticeable, for members, is the new dashboard showing useful information on where you are now and your next destination. This includes a preview of rideshare results, places to stay, friends nearby and the buzz from nearby couchsurfing groups.

Rideshare results are all around better, and will continue to improve on top of this. We're now searching more sources and gathering more information to better filter through rides to find the ones most useful for you.

The site has a cleaner look and things have sped up considerably. We've optimized our javascript and CSS so the files are more efficient, a lot smaller and will be run quicker once loaded. We've also upgraded other software on the server so things like our database run smoother, faster.

You'll notice some other small but cool changes, like seeing your friends pictures on the map in relation to where they are. We'll keep you posted as to other cool stuff you may like and more improvements we are continuing to make. As always, trip on!

Hopping Along

We've been quiet lately, as far as letting everyone knowing what we're up to, it's about time to clue everyone in.

I'm Kenny, the fingers behind the bulk of the code on Trip Hopping. In August I traveled though Mexico, mostly by thumb, in the few weeks I was there I didn't write a single line of code for Trip Hopping. I flew to Phoenix and stayed with Larry, also from Trip Hopping, and started getting cracking on code and operations again.

I've since gone up to California where I've been somewhat stationary for longer than I usually do (I've been living out of my backpack over 2 years spending an average of 3 or 4 days in one spot). Despite being along up here, as far as people working on Trip Hopping, I've brewed a beer in the spirit of Trip Hopping brews; a brew is what we call our concentrated efforts of improving our project, usually with volunteers. It's a porter, a week or so away from being drinkable.

Anyhow, I'm in California coding. Specifically, I've put a lot of hours into improving, and extending, our rideshare search algorithm, for one. I've been making it able to search more rideshare sites, and sort the information better. For example, we now search couchsurfing.org's local city groups for posting that we sense are people offering rides, and show these in our results, it's friggin' awesome. It's also now scalable, meaning we can easily start searching many of the premier rideshare sources, beyond just rides posted on our site.

Larry is the couchsurfing ambassador of Phoenix and Arizona, on the Trip Hopping team. He's taking care of our verification process. At the moment our hang up is finding a better provider for the patches and bumper stickers we want to send to every verified member, soon we'll be sending these out.

Besides this, a lot of general tweaks have been going out to increase speed, but also a design change that should make things more clear and easy to find. Keep on tripping all, enjoy!

End of the Brew, here's what's new

The first Trip Hopping Brew in Arizona was a success! We had fun meeting volunteers showing their interest in Trip Hopping and watching the number of rides and member sign ups continue to grow. We've added features, sped things up and improved our organization in general, we've also laid out some more ideas for going forward.

Here's what's new:

Search rides more efficiently, prepare for the weather

Visually, you'll notice highlighted lines on the map that follow the roads for people's ride posts, green for offers, orange for requests. This is an improvement from before when we showed straight as-the-crow-flies lines. You'll notice that the map in general has a cleaner look with things organized better, there's an updated Google search bar at the bottom too that let's you search anything from sushi to bike shops.

More rides are shown now, a search from St Louis to Denver will turn up more rides that may be relevant. This includes ride that may be passing through, like rides from New York to Utah, as someone may be willing to stop along the way and pick you up.

Weather is now on the map! You'll see little icons of the sun or storm clouds all along your route when you do a travel search. Clicking these icons gives you a more extensive look at the upcoming weather forecast. This is particularly useful for hitchhikers like myself, it may be sunny here in Phoenix, but it can be good to know that you'll be getting rained on come Utah.

After posting a ride, you'll be given an easy copy/paste option to embed your ride into other sites like Craigslist and Couchsurfing to improve your chances of connecting with someone.

Focus on the people

There's a new tab you may have seen already, "People". This is a look into the newest members, latest blogs and photos and even the most recent rides posted to Trip Hopping. It's got a simple lay out, you can also switch to "Friends" to see the same information, but just from your friends.

More pictures! We're not a photo site, nor do we want to be. At first we only allowed one photo upload per person to keep things simple. As more people joined we realized one was not enough, but at the same time, we didn't want to open the floodgates and have people uploading 60 odd pictures. We decided to let you upload a few more pictures, but we're making it fun by adding specific types of photos. One is of you clearly, a profile picture that people can identify you from. Then a picture of you with a cool background, a Hopping picture (you must be airborne, falling, jumping) and a picture of you traveling, so hitchhiking or in your car or whatever you can think of. This is already turning up some very cool results, upload your cool pictures! Of course, if you have 60 odd photos you want to show off, you can check out Google Picasa which lets you upload a ton of photos, when you upload photos you'll see how you can link to all of your photos there.

Profiles in general are looking a bit cleaner and more consistent. When you look at your own profile, you'll see some code you can embed on other sites to show off your Trip Hopping profile, look right below your "About Me" section. Put this on your blog, website, couchsurfing profile, anywhere you want people to notice your presence on Trip Hopping.

We're also working on a Community Forum where our members can talk with each other. Mark Ovaska flew all the way from New York to volunteer with us and got this started for us. It's still in testing so we're not linking to it directly on the site yet, but if you want to check it out and help us find any flaws with it, go to http://www.triphopping.com/community and the conversation started!

Hopping faster than ever!

We've made some significant speed improvements! Walter Heck, our database admin, has been squeezing in what little spare time he has to optimize our databases to make accessing data from them lightning quick. I've also been working with him to improve the queries to the database to be more efficient across the site. Mark came in and chopped 1000 lines of code off our CSS, and we've also improved our javascript to run more efficiently. Things are hopping along nicely.

Supporting Trip Hopping

We've decided to just about do away with advertisements on the site, and have stripped them off. Sometimes ads are useful and relevant, and sometimes it makes sense to show support for companies we know and trust. We don't want to say ads are gone for good, but we will say they won't come back unless it's truly awesome stuff. This means that donations and verifications from you will be what's keeping us hopping. It costs money to maintain our servers, cover business expenses and afford to spend our time improving the site. If you love the site and like where it's going, get verified or donate!

We've also made a volunteer page at http://www.triphopping.com/brew. If you're interested in offering your time and talents to make Trip Hopping better, check it out! We're looking for all kind of folks, from techies to fundraisers to communications to PR people and more.

Thanks!

We had a great time playing with the site, we even got a day off going tubing on the salt river which was awesome! We hope you enjoy all the updates we've mentioned, there's plenty more things we couldn't quite squeeze in here that you'll notice too. Thanks to all our volunteers that came and helped with techie stuff, artwork, data entry, design, donations and helping to get the word out, you guys make this work.

Follow the roads and find people

The Brew here in Arizona is starting to take off, I've personally been going around the clock non-stop pecking away at keys and making the site better. We've pushed an update releasing some new features as well as some bug fixes.

Follow the roads. Now when you do a search for rides, say Phoenix to Denver, you'll see icons on the map showing people requesting and offering rides. Only now, the lines between follow the road based on the best route, this is instead of the straight bee-lines we used to display. It's cool to see the slew of lines twist around!

People! We've added a "People" tab where you can see some of the latest members and the newest blogs and photos they've posted as well as the latest rides posted to Trip Hopping. You'll notice that you can filter that to see just your friends' action.

We've made some speed updates too, so you should notice things are a bit snappier. We'll be doing a lot more to increase performance over the next couple weeks while the Brew is going on, as well as sneaking a few more features in. If you're still interested in coming to the Brew in Arizona or helping from afar, check out the Arizona Brew page.

What's Brewing at Trip Hopping

Things at Trip Hopping are starting to take off, excitement's the word. With more people flooding the site every day, it's becoming that much more important that we keep up and continue making the site as good as it can be.

We can't do it alone, so we've organized a "Brew" to get people together who want to volunteer their time and talent to Trip Hopping. The first one will be in Arizona in the town of Avondale in the Phoenix metro area, May 29th to June 12th.

We're looking for techies, fundraisers, marketing/pr types and anyone else who loves the site and is willing to help. There's tasks like research and data entry that just about anyone can help with, so we're looking for all kinds of decent folks.

While it'll be two weeks of your good hard work, we'll be having some fun too. Of course we'll provide you with a place to stay and food for the time you're here, but we have a trip or two in mind as well.

And what's a Brew without... brew? We'll be home brewing some beer in celebration, call it a metaphor, when the right things come together at the right time it makes magic. I'll spare the "hoppy" jokes... for now.

If you're interested in getting involved, you can fill out a super short form to apply at http://www.triphopping.com/brew/arizona. Even if you can't make it out this time, apply anyhow, there's plenty of opportunities for volunteering remotely and at future Brews. Thanks everyone!

New Server is Hopping

Yesterday we upgraded to a new server to better handle everything, it went well! Thanks for dealing with the short amount of downtime it caused.