Now that I've had a couple of Silkwood showers and some time to rest a little, it's time to wrap a nice tie-dyed ribbon around Bonnarro 2009.

First, it's hard to explain to people how big this festival is. Big in every way. The 700-acre site is massive. The main What Stage is gargantuan. The music lineup is extensive and loaded with megastars.

What is hard for people to fathom is the amount of walking required during the weekend. I had a good campsite essentially next to the main activity area and still probably walked 6 to 8 miles a day. Some folks had four times the walk I did and spent an hour walking from Centeroo to their site at least once a day.

This fact alone intimidates some people, and it should be a consideration for people who might want to go, but it should not be a deterent.

The main factor should be whether you really like music. Spending four days at Bonnaroo is a commitment. There are some who stay off-site and drive back and forth, but that's not the best way. Some really cool things happen way into the morning.

At around $250 a ticket, going to Bonnaroo to see one or two favorite acts is expensive, and the real value is spending the day checking out new-to-you acts.

There is an expectation at Bonnaroo from the fans that they will see something new, even from old favorite acts. The Police set two years ago, for example, was tight and would have thrilled most audiences around the world. The Bonnaroo crowd was a tad bored. They demand more.

Sometimes more works, and sometimes it doesn't. I must confess to not "getting" a couple of things the Beastie Boys did Friday until a couple of days later. In keeping with the Bonnaroo spirit, they inserted some instrumental jams into their set. They weren't my favorite songs of the night, but it illustrates the point.

Bruce Springsteen's three-hour show Saturday came up a little short for fans who wanted hits but was praised by others who appreciated his "building a house of love through music" theme. It was only the second festival Springsteen and the E Street Band have ever done.

Camping seems to intimidate a lot of would-be attendees. If by camping, you are thinking a pup tent, a sleeping bag and cooking s'mores over a fire, you need to rethink. The air mattress alone has revolutionized outdoor living. Folks around me were dining on gourmet meals cooked over gas grills, brewing freshly ground coffee and sleeping in air-conditioned tents powered by generators.

Some of the larger, multi-room tents were furnished with area rugs, fans, chandeliers and love seats. Of course, RVs and campers are an option as well. Part of the fun is getting to know your neighbors and sharing.

Over the last three years, I've talked with several people who saw Bonnaroo as a once-in-a-lifetime, do-it-before-you-get-too-old event, and I've yet to meet one who regretted going.