Guide to camping

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Guide to camping
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Will

Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 571
Location: Grenoside, Sheffield

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 9:32 am Post subject:

Our Thermarest chairs came from Field and Trek. I think they're available from most places that sell the mattresses.

Forgot to put on the list an elastic clothes line by Lifesystems - ideal for stringing between two tents, or the tent and the car, and it doesn't need clothes pegs.

Other things to do...

Don't wash stuff under the water tap - use a bowl. Especially if there isn't good drainage under the tap. Mud and water are the camper's worst enemy.

Pitch the tent end on to the wind, especially if it's a tunnel.

Go to the loo in the pub, then again at the campsite, then brush your teeth, then go to the loo again. Saves clambering in and out of the tent.

Play ball games somewhere other than where I'm cooking.

Put your rubbish in a bag immediately. Freak breezes seem more common on campsites than anywhere else.

Remember that people outside may not be able to see into a tent, but they can hear everything...

Remember that no matter how wet, cold and uncomfortable you are, you are still morally superior to a caravanner.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 9:35 am Post subject:
Alison, I don't know how you cope - if you made a million pounds profit you would deserve every penny of it

Mat S

Joined: 07 Nov 2004
Posts: 282
Location: Leicester

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 1:35 pm Post subject:

Will wrote:

Remember that no matter how wet, cold and uncomfortable you are, you are still morally superior to a caravanner.

Never a truer word spoke. Also, the smaller and lighter your vehicle the greater your moral superiority. Still waiting to see a camping unicyclist with panniers et al.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 3:21 pm Post subject:
Oh dear, Alison - you know what they say about children or animals (actually, they animals sound fine!) School holidays nearly over, now though - phew! I agree with bugs, whatever you make, you deserve more!

Will

Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 571
Location: Grenoside, Sheffield

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 3:30 pm Post subject:

Quote:

Also, the smaller and lighter your vehicle the greater your moral superiority.

We used to have a 1965 Mini estate, which we took all over France full of camping kit. Superb car, until some lowlife pinched it just after I'd finished restoring it.

If anyone sees a green mini, EDG 862C, let me know...

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 3:30 pm Post subject:

Just had a thought - we could have all had a downsizer week at Alisons (hmmn, yes, perhaps this would be too much for Alison to put up with).

I dont know whether to be proud or ashamed but Lundy and I bought a 4 man tent (granted they would have to be Ronnie Corbetts) at the weekend - from ASDA!!!!

In fairness, Lundy and I have never gone camping together and he is wanting to try it out. I have to say that we went to Hickleton Cricket Ground last night and set up camp to see how easy the bloomin thing would go up - I am impressed - it's actually quite good - for about �25.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 7:11 pm Post subject:
Actually, it is not that bad. We also meet a lot of nice interesting people too. (Simon!) If you did want a meet here I wouldn't mind at all.

Blacksmith

Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 5025
Location: Berkshire

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 8:12 pm Post subject:

I used to do a lot of light weight camping, hill walking, climbing. Did my training at Outward Bound mountain School Ullswater, (20 years ago this month, we were up in the hills, and was 3 days till we knew Elvis had died ! Remote!)
Want to go camping again with my kids and have started to assemble some basic gear, some great tips in these posts, ta !
Got a real bargain at the weekend, 2 chairs and a table �15 from millets,
Great idea............. Carry on camping meets Downsizer week !
Dave

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 9:23 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

If you did want a meet here I wouldn't mind at all.

We'd be a whole other class of guest, you know, Alison. On the bright side between the lot of us we'd probably feed the chickens and tuck them up safely for the night, walk the dog (and clean up!), admire the pigs from a respectable distance and try out an assortment of environmentally sustainable outdoor cooking methods (at an appropriate distance from others and anything flammable and before bedtime for the younger members like meself!)

On the other hand there'd be people crowding round the kitchen window going "Shall I show you my method" "She wants a bit less salt in that" "I can't believe you bought that in!" and inspecting the veg patch - you'd have a whole other set of do's and don't's after the descending of the Downsizers

sandra17

Joined: 05 Mar 2005
Posts: 17
Location: Gants Hill, Essex

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 9:54 pm Post subject:

It can be done!
We (2 adults, 1 toddler) have just been camping using public transport for a week in Kent. We like quiet, out of the way camping sites too, so lots of planning required.

We are fortunate in that we have been travelling for years and have good backpacks. We used to use oh's lightweight backpacker tent which drove me insane as there was just no room, for anything, ever. Last year we bought a 3 person Vango tent for about �70 which is just brilliant. It weighs 7 kg and goes on the canopy of our all terrain buggy. Our son (2.5 years) either travels in the buggy or walks. Then we have everything else in our backpacks. Lightweight sleeping bags, thermarest, clothes and cooking equipment.

Most useful item: a potty. Most important: planning - bus timetables and ordnance survey map especially.

Sandra

hils

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 10:18 pm Post subject:

Will wrote:

Remember that no matter how wet, cold and uncomfortable you are, you are still morally superior to a caravanner.

Just sold our caravan today

OH builds festival sites for 4 months of the year and isn't prepared to sleep on the floor in a tent for this amount of time!
I've just got back from Leeds festival site visiting him for a couple of days on the build. He's only got to sleep in it for another 2 weeks and then its to be handed over.
This is such a great feeling getting rid of the hateful thing. He's used it for 2 years and we've only lost �50 on it. Only cost �300 in the first place - listen to me justify it!

Anyhow...had to do a tesco run for the lads on sunday and they were selling a 2 bedroom tent with a single and double sleeping bad, and single ond double air mattress - �39.99.

Blacksmith

Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 5025
Location: Berkshire

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 05 9:12 pm Post subject:
I saw that too ! Millets were doing some "pack" deals too........ ended up spending �60, when i only went in to buy some replacement mantles for my gaz lamp. Could easily have spent 4X that, so think I did well ! Dave

otatop

Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 1425
Location: North London

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 05 10:23 pm Post subject:

Owing to building works here, and difficulties with the adolescent son, I've cancelled my camping holiday in Cornwall for the first time in 18 years. As it happens, I'm told that the weather was pretty foul, so I might well have made a wise choice. But I'm off to the Greenbelt Festival at Cheltenham shortly.

I will take my 3 person tent for me, my old 3 person ridge tent for a tentless friend, and the 2 person tent for the adolescent son.

A group of us are going, so we'll share the cooking - an evening meal and a breakfast each. Crucial to these arrangements are my camping stove and fridge. Being Anglicans we take the 5 o'clock gin & tonics pretty seriously. And the "nightcap" after compline.

A couple of days ago a friend of mine told me that camping has become fashionable. Oh bugger. (Or am I being selfish?)

Will

Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 571
Location: Grenoside, Sheffield

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 05 8:11 am Post subject:
See you at GB then! I'm not getting there until Sunday due to my brother-in-law being inconsiderate with his wedding date... We're in a group with four or five other couples, most of whom have kids. Most important item: gazebo for said G&Ts...

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46207
Location: yes

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 05 9:10 pm Post subject:
fire starter and whisky.

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