Guide to camping

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Guide to camping
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Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 05 11:54 am Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Northern_Lad wrote:

I'd had snow-pillow all night, on the inside of my sleeping bag

Eh? Or do I not want to know?

I went to 'bed' early and whilst drifting off, some amussing chaps decided to fill my bag with snow. Rather than fighting it, I just pulled the cord shut and went to sleep.

Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 05 11:55 am Post subject:

Twoscoops wrote:

[quote="Northern_Lad]

by bag's a 2 season.

No wonder you've got a cold.[/quote]

Bot du sayin'? I davn't bot a code.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 05 8:48 pm Post subject:

We watch a lot of camping here, on the camp site.

I am even thinking of writing an idiots guide to camping for people visiting here, so I am going to watch the suggestions with a great deal of interest.

Another tip is to put on a kettle of water, at the start of each meal, ready for washing up.

Use a flask for any un used boiled water, that can be used later for drinks or washing.

Buy extra skewers or pegs. They only cost 20 p each but make life much easier.

The pound shop sells plastic fold up buckets which make carrying water really easy for children.

I look forward to reading more.

hils

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 05 9:03 pm Post subject:
This thread inspired me to put up our 2 tents yesterday to check them - and one had developed a heafty tear and the other had lost a bit. Just goes to show how important it is to check ur equipment guys!

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 05 9:35 pm Post subject:
I haven't noticed anyone stressing the usefulness of plastic bags for keeping wet and dry stuff apart. Whether wet or dry in the bag may merely depend on how far in to the holiday you are. Hang it all, I say, bow to the inevitable and start off with everything in plastic bags - its likely to end up there anyway... (and at least you'll have enough bags).

alison
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 05 9:52 pm Post subject:
I've just thought of another one. Only wear shorts, not trousers on your legs. If it is wet your legs are easier to dry. If it is cold put on thick socks and plenty of jumpers. If your body is warm then your legs won't actually be too cold.

Bernie66

Joined: 14 Jan 2005
Posts: 13967
Location: Eastoft

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 05 10:42 pm Post subject:

Most of the camping I have done is carrying a tent and walking as far as we could during the day, but i guess it applys to anyone driving and setting up camp late in the evening. When you pack up, make sure the second to last thing to go in the back of the car is the tent(so its easy to get hold of quickly and without getting everything else out(cos it will be lashing it down

)And the last thing is a torch cos otherwise you will have to strip out everything and the aforementioned rule will also apply.

wellington womble

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

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 05 9:05 am Post subject:

I only do camping in the car, but the tent on top advice is sensible. Instead of freezing in shorts (Okay, I'm a wuss!) I take two pairs of trousers, so if one gets wet, theres another dry pair (and pyjamias, if its really cold!)

camping is one of the places I notice how many carrier bags we don't have any more - it's the only place I really use them!

I'm in two minds about 'proper' snobby gear. Most of the time, I haven't noticed any problem with millets stuff, but I bless the day I bought decent walking boots, and an expensive water proof jacket and trousers - and would replace them at twice the price tommorow. Must check they're insured! I baulked at the price, when the shop reccommended them, but all the guys in the shop were wearing them (clue!) and although we're not serious walkers, we do walk at least five miles, every day, in all weathers with the dogs, so it's quite a big part of our lives, I guess.

Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 05 4:14 pm Post subject:

dougal wrote:

I haven't noticed anyone stressing the usefulness of plastic bags for keeping wet and dry stuff apart.
Whether wet or dry *in* the bag may merely depend on how far in to the holiday you are. Hang it all, I say, bow to the inevitable and start off with everything in plastic bags - its likely to end up there anyway... (and at least you'll have enough bags).

Ahh yes, and never let it be forgotten that there is no such thing as a truly waterproof rucksack. Rucksack liners are ok, but I still like my wallet to have the additional protection of a placky bag.

Oh, and if camping you'll want yr dirties in a plastic bag.

Will

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

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 05 4:44 pm Post subject:

Keep it simple. If you haven't got to carry stuff on your back, cheap and robust kit is better than fancy lightweight. Army surplus places are good for cheap kit.

Introduce kids to camping at the earliest possible stage so they get used to it. I first went camping at the age of about 6 months, my wife at 3 months. Always have a reserve wet weather activity up your sleeve.

Don't take too much stuff. Decant things like washing up liquid into a small bottle rather than taking the whole thing.

Get some folding plastic crates to keep everything tidy in if you're in the car, and to stay in control in the tent.

Bring a warm hat and an umbrella if you can fit it in - much easier than struggling into a waterproof when going to the loo.

Take shoes off before going in the tent.

Pee bottles can be a godsend on cold nights. Nalgene plastic jars are a good piece of kit for this. Just make sure it's clearly labelled.

Thermarests in my experience are much more comfortable than an airbed. You can also get a strap system to convert them into chairs, which is handy for sitting up in a small tent.

With a combination of doing without luxuries and a few careful purchases, we manage camping in a Mazda MX-5 which has the smallest car boot in the world. We take:

2 man tent with big porch
1 or 2 collapsible stoves (Coleman Alpine)
Gas bottles for above
Gas lantern
headtorches
2 Thermarests
Double silk sheet sleeping bag
Duvet
Blanket
pillow cases (stuff a fleece inside - much less bulky than a pillow)
Thermarest chairs
3 nesting billy cans
omelette pan
kitchen box (1litre ice cream tub) containing matches, lighter, cutlery, chopping board, sharp knife, WU liquid, oil, teabags, coffee, scouring pad, fish slice, corkscrew
Collapsible washing up bowl
insulated mugs
2 plates, sometimes 2 bowls
Travel scrabble
Platypus water carriers
first aid kit
insect repellent
insect proof hat
pack of cards & crib board
pile of books
lots of plastic bags
squishy frisbee
toilet roll

All of this apart from the bedding packs down into two plastic crates from B&Q. Clothes and towels go in compression bags from a camping shop. I also have a Swiss Army knife and sometimes a Leatherman which are very useful.

Kinloch Rannoch is beautiful but is almost guaranteed to be midgey. Blacks and I think Millets, probably army surplus places too sell a silly looking wide brimmed hat with a mozzie net that is elasticated at the neck. The temporary loss of personal credibility is better than the permanent disfigurement of too many midge bites.

I'm honestly not sure that I could imagine not going camping.

wellington womble

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

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 12:19 pm Post subject:

Agree about decanting stuff, but label them. My FIL cleaned his teeth with gin (untentionally!). Also agree about kids - had to teach my OH to camp as an adult, and it took him a while to get used to it!

I've been camping in sports car, and Didn't take any food or cooking gear (had eating gear, but borrowed BBQ, as went en-masse) Had to keep the back seat free for dogs, and cart their stuff around too, but if we had a smaller sotve, instead of a box and no chairs, I think we'd have been Ok (had to go shopping when we arrive though!)

where do get the thermorest chair thingies?

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 12:33 pm Post subject:

Will wrote:

Keep it simple. ... Don't take too much stuff. ...

We take:
2 man tent with big porch
1 or 2 collapsible stoves (Coleman Alpine)
<...snip...>
pile of books
lots of plastic bags
squishy frisbee
toilet roll

Advice from an expert!

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 12:46 pm Post subject:

Totally agree about the fold-down crates - invaluable as are stuff bags - we use them for all the dirty washing and towels etc

Other stuff - If you are going for comfort camping invest in a roll top table - the kind that packs away into a bag like the canvas chairs - ours cost �60 4 or 5 years ago - best piece of kit we've ever bought - its used for all sorts of events - Now you can get them everywhere but ours is a really big one.

Make sure the tent you buy is Outer first - our first tent you put the poles into the inner and stretched the cover over the top - Very wet tent if its raining (which it usually is!!!) - Outer first means you can atleast get the kids inside the tent putting up the inners out of the rain.

Also the best sorts of bags for getting folded up tents back into are the ones that are like big carryalls where the zip is along the length of the bag rather than at one end - means alot less swearing in the rain!!!

We like those single burner stoves that use a cartridge - they come in a case, fit nicely into a corner in the car and are nearly as hot as a normal gas cooker - downside of them is that the cartridges are quite small but do last longer than you'd think.

Always try and take a BIG pan or wok for making stews and stuff - the little camping saucepan kits are really good and we take them as well but a BIG pan is invaluable for a hot stew on a chilly evening - Its amazing how much stuff can be made using a one pot method.

The insulated cups are very useful as well.

Lastly try and camp as near to the loos as you can especially if you have small children but not too near otherwise you'll never get any sleep - Don't do what we always seem to do, park as far away from the toilets as possible (grrrgh Husbands!!!!)

Joanne

alison
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 8:55 pm Post subject:

Here are a few thoughts as a camp site owner too!!!

Pick it up. Whether it is dog poo or rubbish, if your family dropped it it is your responsibility to dispose of it.

Keep noise to a minimum at a reasonable time. We say 10.30 here, as we trade on being a family site.

Bring a washing up bowl, do not do it in the toilet basins.

Leave all your shampoo and shower gel after the first shower, then we don't have to buy any all year (Oh that's what people do already!

)

Do not throw stones at the pigs, or spit at them. (Yes I have really stopped children doing this this week

)

If your child is told to cycle on the field, and not on the main track, it is for a safety reason, not because we want lots of rules and regulations.

If the door to the chicks is closed when you go to look at them close it once you leave them, not leave them all open letting a bigger hen kill one. ( This happened last wee)

Do not pitch on a hook up, if you haven't booked one, and then moan when you are asked to move. Hook ups all look the same, it is obvious what they are.

When using portable barbques use a brick, instead of scorching the grass. They are available near the gate.

Do not shine your car headlamps into someone elses awning or tent after dark. You will proberbly wake their children.

If you have a chance, do not pitch your tent right on top of someone elses. There is always room. Respect personal space.

I think you get the idea!!

alison
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 05 9:08 am Post subject:

I've had some more now.

Do not leave poo on the toilet seat. Someone has to clean it up and it isn't very nice once it has dried on.

Do not throw chewing gum or fag butts in the urinals as someone has to get them out.

Fag butts are litter. Put them in a bin.

Chuppa sticks and wrappers are litter. Do likewise.

Do not climb on the Silage under point of death.

Do not take "Please keep off the Silage" signs down and then climb on it.

Chickens do not like being tucked into a childs t shirt, while the child is wearing it (Yes this really happened yesterday!)

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