Camping

metherer · 18 May 2006 at 6:48PM

Hi All

As mentioned on a couple of other threads (can you tell I'm excited:j ) I may well be going to the Big Green Gathering for my honeymoon.:A

Now, not only is this a great chance to find out more about living an eco friendly life, but it involves camping.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Now bear in mind I'm a camping novice. Haven't done it since I was 12.
Anyone got any tips?
Items they wouldn't be without?
Items they wish they hadn't bothered with?

Thanks in advance,

Metherer
x

bylromarha · 18 May 2006 at 6:54PM

Best advice...don't do it;)

I camped regularly as a lass and thought I'd enjoy it when I went recently with OH. Hated it with a passion...I guess it was an adventure when I was young, now it's just an endurance test.

metherer · 18 May 2006 at 7:03PM

Thanks, really looking forward to it now!!!

bylromarha · 18 May 2006 at 7:17PM

Sorry:o

You may be different to me though and really love it. I enjoy it so much, the tent went on freecycle last week.

I would recommend though that you use a tent you can stand up in...it'll make life far more bearable.

metherer · 18 May 2006 at 7:29PM

to be fair, we need a HUGE tent anyway.
My OH is disabled, so we need a four person tent so he has enough room for all his kit and to put his leg on in a morning. Not many folk can say that!

trying to find one we can stand up in may be a challenge, especially on a £100 budget. However, I like challenes. Goodd job really.

My problem is the spiders.

Metherer
x

Anastacia · 18 May 2006 at 7:31PM

I'm 43 & still love it (camping) ! We usually camp for a couple of weeks in the summer & we all enjoy it.

Best thing to take is a sense of adventure. Leave at home fear of spiders etc.
Camping for a couple of days is hard work because you dont get into the routines too quickly but after the fist few days then it feels like you could stay forever.
Dont forget the barbie, noodles for quick cooking & somewhere comfy to sleep/sit.

Enjoy!

Anastacia

in_my_wellies · 18 May 2006 at 9:41PM

There are always newish or 'used once' modern tents in the local paper. Try with one of those first. Lidl also do a 'camping week' sometime soon - they have done for the past few years I think.

I had never felt cold at night before but last summer we went to Northern Spain and we all felt cold at night. Old age setting in:o We bought camping mats to put under our sleeping bag and they made all the difference.

On thing I would not take next year -my teenage son!

tr3mor · 18 May 2006 at 9:44PM

Have a look on ebay for newish or ex-demo tents, there are some cheap big tents in lidl next week too.

Camping is great, whatever anyone else says

Take a disposable bbq and lots of beer and you're sorted!

metherer · 18 May 2006 at 9:45PM

Thanks for all your responses so far, and especially to the very nice PM I recieved.

One piece of advice I was given today is not to bother with inflatable matresses. Too bulky/heavy. Anyone any other views on them?

The way I'm thinking is go with the minimum, then if we want to camp in the future we can invest a bit more. But find out if we like it first. Would you agree?

Metherer
x

Kantankrus_Mare · 18 May 2006 at 10:20PM

We bagan camping last year and have had varying degrees of success.

We chose to take it up for the cost aspect. We cant afford expensive holidays and its a cheap way of getting away.

This year we took the kids to the Lake District at Easter ( only because i wanted to get the use out of tent and as I had got the weekend off)

The kids did nothing but moan and grumble and the weather was not brilliant!!

Not to be deterred we went at the last bank holiday to a country park in Lincoln with some friends who have kids and it was a different story!!

We made a real effort to entertain the kids......playing rounders and daft games at a night time with a few drinks to warm us before going to bed. (the adults not the kids!!) kids even asked when we were going again!!

Id agree with a previous poster that the height of the tent is very important and we should have got a higher one!! Hubby is 6 ft 3 and Im 6ft!!

Inflatable beds are fine when they stay up!! I would consider getting two singles for a couple to share instead of a double as ours is always flat by morning!!

Tenting is great for a couple of days and the weather sure helps!!

Hope this has been of help and you have a good time!!:o

Sallys_Savings · 18 May 2006 at 10:38PM

I loooove camping:j but my other half doesn't anymore

We've been camping over the last 22 years and now my oh has had enough and insists on a warm bed.
We have had some great times :beer: with the simple pleasures of the outdoor life....like kite flying, rounders matches, cricket, badminton etc. Even the memories of sitting in the tent on a cold blustery rainy night while playing cards and old fashioned games whilst huddled in sleeping bags.

I'd say the most essential items are warm clothes, warm sleeping bags and a bbq.
We have gone very basic camping (just a tent, sleeping bags and a torch)
to using
a 8 berth trailer tent and taking the car as well as oh's van full of items...a huge bbq, fishing equipment, gazebo, windbreaks, etc. etc.

Both ways we've had alot of fun over the years....I hope you do too

Camping

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