Camping

[Chris H]

Look like me and the good lady will be buying a tent. In particular this one http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/outwell_hartford_xl_tent_2009__904
or this one http://bit.ly/ckRl6z

Not having been under canvas for over two decades I'm a bit rusty on what we may need to have in addition.

So any suggestions?

[Mr Sparkle]

kick it old school, take a survival knife and nothing else

on a serious note, inflatable mattress and pump that'll plug into your cigarette lighter, easy comfort

[sickpuppy]

So any suggestions?

Number of a nearby B&B/Hotel?

[Chris H]

kick it old school, take a survival knife and nothing else

on a serious note, inflatable mattress and pump that'll plug into your cigarette lighter, easy comfort

Lovely stuff!

Inflatable mattresses and 12v pump

And adding in, no leccy where we're planning:

gas stove
camping table and chairs
pots, pans, kettle, knives etc

What about lights, to read by?
Something to store water in?

[SLEE]

Nice looking tent. Make sure you have some form of lighting for the tent. Nothing worse than trying to get into your sleeping bag/ bed in the dark. Having an inflatable bed is definitely the way to go. you may want to look at getting a cheap gas stove with frying pan so you can cook the breakfast on.

[Mr Sparkle]

Something to store water in?

You can usually pick up some big 5 litre bottles from shops. Means you can save car space on the way without a big barrel or something. Campsites usually have places to wash up and clean clothes, worth checking beforehand though.

[Mantis]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_180794_langId_-1_categoryId_165719

Instant power and will run a 12v cool box/charge mobile/laptop

I prefer camp beds to inflatable mattreses  but only because I am a crock and find getting off the ground harder than getting off a camp bed

[yawner]

Chris - thats not a tent, thats the Millenium Dome. 

[Chris H]

Chris - thats not a tent, thats the Millenium Dome. 

It needs to be given the size of our entourage. It is a biggie though, may have to pay extra for a pitch according to some 

[Chris H]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_180794_langId_-1_categoryId_165719

Instant power and will run a 12v cool box/charge mobile/laptop

I prefer camp beds to inflatable mattreses  but only because I am a crock and find getting off the ground harder than getting off a camp bed

The power pack's a good idea, ta.

[samhs]

We've got an Outwell that's a similar size to this, and bought from WoC. I can happily recommend both. The tents are very clever and (for the size) surprisingly easy to get up. Get plenty of lanterns - it's a big space to light when the nights start getting longer. Also recommend plenty of collapsible chairs

[Chris H]

We've got an Outwell that's a similar size to this, and bought from WoC. I can happily recommend both. The tents are very clever and (for the size) surprisingly easy to get up. Get plenty of lanterns - it's a big space to light when the nights start getting longer. Also recommend plenty of collapsible chairs

Would you recommend electric ones to run off a powerpack or paraffin types?

[samhs]

Either battery-powered or the new-fangled wind-up ones. Only thing about wind up ones is the need to wind the bloody thing. We've got one that winds, but can also charge in the car. Has about 40 LEDs and is nice and bright

[Shirker]

I have a few of these: http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/coleman_collapsible_lantern__346 - at £8 they do the job nicely.

[Mantis]

We've got an Outwell that's a similar size to this, and bought from WoC. I can happily recommend both. The tents are very clever and (for the size) surprisingly easy to get up. Get plenty of lanterns - it's a big space to light when the nights start getting longer. Also recommend plenty of collapsible chairs

I have a car inspection lamp that runs off the powerpack and can be hooked up where it is needed, all you need to do is put a low energy bulb in to save power.
Would you recommend electric ones to run off a powerpack or paraffin types?

[Chris H]

I have a few of these: http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/coleman_collapsible_lantern__346 - at £8 they do the job nicely.

Looks good, ta

[Chris H]

We've got an Outwell that's a similar size to this, and bought from WoC. I can happily recommend both. The tents are very clever and (for the size) surprisingly easy to get up. Get plenty of lanterns - it's a big space to light when the nights start getting longer. Also recommend plenty of collapsible chairs

I have a car inspection lamp that runs off the powerpack and can be hooked up where it is needed, all you need to do is put a low energy bulb in to save power.
Would you recommend electric ones to run off a powerpack or paraffin types?

I have a couple of those already with those nasty low energy bulbs in. Ta.

[wilberforce]

And adding in, no leccy where we're planning:

If you are getting 'away from it' and I suspect you might be as you say "no leccy", how about midge repelent or something similar.

Better still, smoke a pipe 

[Chris H]

I gave up years ago. Wouldn't want to go back to it now.

They don't usually bother me but the missus recently had to have antibiotics for an insect bite. And me youngest tends to be the victim of insect frenzy so yes, a good idea.

[Chris H]

Rejigged the tent thing, now going for a 6 man Gelert Horizon 6 with porch extension and a B&Q 4 man special to shove the kids and dog in!

[Chris H]

Me, the missus and the dog went for a 2 night trial down in the New Forest. Trial is the right word.

1 mile from home, notices I forgot me wallet. Turn round.

10 miles from home realise we've forgotten the chairs. Carry on.

Gets there late afternoon, books in, sets up, all looking good. Lovely weather. Missus takes dog for a walk to see the ponies. Dog finds pony poop, shoulder down, result  Chairs making their absence felt. Least the cooking went well. Red went down well.

10pm off to bed.

12am dog realises I've forgotten to bring his bed and demands a share of ours.

2am airbed down. I shall now be reminded of how hard the ground is every hour. And also how cold it is. 

5am and it's chucking it down. Rain will continue for 24 hours solid.

7am breakfast goes well.

9am off to the local camping shop in Lyndhurst for chairs, new sleeping bag and 2 single inflatable beds.

11am off walking to Brockenhurst for a pub lunch and a walk round as there's nothing else to do.

3pm we're playing spot the drip as the rain continues.

4pm dog is still damp from out earlier walk. It's very wet and humid, not much drying going on.

5pm I realise the importance of a carpet for stopping the spread of mud in the tent.

6pm dinner goes well, little gas burner working a treat.

10pm off to bed, missus feeling poorly.

11pm missus has splitting headache and is vomiting.

1am accompany the missus to the toilet block.

2am dog demands one of my old and thin sleeping bags to lie on as the ground is so hard. It is cold. Very cold.

3am missus waked me up as she's frightened of the 'snorting sound' from outside the tent.

3:30am I finally give in and venture outside to see what beast is creating this awful noise. Track it down to a tent about 10 feet away. It's some bloke snoring. So much for the visions of ponies curling up next to our tent.

6am up for breakfast.

8am sun comes out.

9am pack up a still wet tent and drive home. At least we only live about 50 miles way.

Still, at least I know what to bring next time we go. Can't wait to get back to work though.

[Tony]

The joys of camping!

[yawner]

 

Great stuff Chris. I know I'm biased, but when you add up the price of all that gear you've bought, wouldn't that buy a few nights in a nice warm B&B, with a bit left over? 

[sarahA]

So any suggestions?

Number of a nearby B&B/Hotel?

Guessing you didn't get this?

[Shirker]

  Nice one Chris 

[neal]

i started to go camp at a young age.

[Mantis]

I have just returned from our camping and sailing adventure at Bassenthwaite sailing club.

I finished pitching the tent when the rain started, I had pitched the tent in the only place that had not had the drainage upgraded so although the tent was dry all the land around was deep mud.

I managed to put my back out by the sailing or pitching the tent so only managed to sail two of a four race seriese on the first weekend and could not sail for the rest of the week! At least we managed a decent third place.

I consumed a lot of pain killers, booze and bacon butties not necessarily in that order.

On the upside the company was good the kids had a great time and I had a somewhat painful good time