Camping, love it or loathe it, it is definitely something that we all must try at least once in our lifetime.
With the promise of open air, freedom and NO routine, camping has to be the holiday of choice. Our holidays are well earned breaks from work, the normal hum-drum of life and that wheel that keeps turning faster and faster each day. Do you ever wonder how you can take a break from it? Then camping needs to be tried.
So below I will give you a 'camper's guide to getting it right first time'. With a little bit of organisation, you can ensure a truly special time.
Camping can either be: simply throw a few things in the boot of the car and head off, or being a little bit more fancy free then going back-packing could be your choice of exploring the world that surrounds us, or being like me and organising myself and family to ensure we do not forget anything.
Which ever of the above is for you, falling asleep under the stars and surrounded by nature is definitely amazing.
One important MUST DO is to test your tent before you go! Having a trial on how to put it up will make sure you know how to put it up properly and also check that everything is ok.
So if you are like me, and plan/organise everything, here is a list of the things that you will need:
Tent, pegs and groundsheet (to put the tent on to protect it)
Mallet (unless you are wanting to hammer the pegs in with your hands- not recommended)
Tent Repair Kit (well you never know)
Air Beds and Foot Pump (a good nights sleep is paramount and the ground is a very hard surface when lying horizontal)
Sleeping Bags (one per person unless you like being squashed. Invest in a good one with generous filling)
Blankets (just in case there is a chill in the air)
Pillows (that is the home from home bit sorted)
Gas Cooker and Gas Bottles
Pans, Plates, Cups, Cutlery (enough for at least one per person)
Water Carrier (just in case you are not handy for the running water)
Matches (wrapped in cling film to ensure they do not get damp)
Disposable BBQ (for that truly outdoor experience)
Wind Shields (in case it gets a little bit blowy)
Kettle (to make that all important cuppa)
Chairs (one each. Not recommended to have someone sat on your lap)
Washing-up Bowl, Sponge or Pan Scrub and Washing-up Liquid)
Table (a must if you don't like eating your food with your plate on your lap)
Lamp/Light/Torch (unless you like the dark)
Dustpan and Brush (my father always taught me to brush my tent out before putting it away)
Bin Liners (for your rubbish and dirty washing)
Cool Box and Ice Packs (keep things fresh for longer. Freeze items that can be, to keep other things cooler for longer)
First Aid Kit (just in case there is a little accident whilst you are not watching where you hammer the pegs!)
Face Wipes (definitely needed if you are going back packing)
Ear Plugs (in case you have noisy neighbours - people or animals)
Bucket (filled with ice cold water will keep those beers cold until you drink them)
Clothes (enough to see you through - though leave the good stuff at home)
Clothes Pegs (not like you are planning to do your laundry but airing your clothes/towels if you are taking little)
Waterproof Coat (you can never guarantee the weather)
Wellingtons/Good Outdoor Boots
Sun Tan Lotion (better be safe then sorry)
Food (tins, oil for frying, breakfast items, tea, coffee, sugar, margarine, milk, eggs, things for a bbq - Save empty jars with lids to take smaller items away. Empty Tic-Tac boxes are ideal for storing salt, pepper and spices)
Tea Towels
Kitchen Roll (for those spills)
Tin Foil (to wrap things to keep them fresh)
Toiletries (handy size are best)
Toilet Paper (just in case you get caught short!!!)
Mobile Phone (in case you get lost!!)
Batteries (unless you are lucky enough to have an electric hook up which are becoming the fashion now)
Bottle Opener (for when you have put your tent up and you are celebrating your success)
Bin Liner and Gaffer/Thick Tape (in case you have a little accident with the tent - these will fix almost everything)
Peg Extractor (for making it easier when taking the tent down - saves the finger nails)
Games, Pen and Paper, Pack of Playing Cards (to entertain when the weather is a little mixed)
Money (just in case your tent blows down and you need to book into the nearest hotel!!!)
Once you have got all of the above together, you will need a holiday!
Squash it all in the car, not forgetting that you have to get your passengers in as well, and set off on the open road leaving all your troubles behind you.
Things to bear in mind when you arrive at your destination:
Don't pitch your tent under trees - though the shade may be lovely, the sap droplets that will cover your tent will be way less appealing.
If you are the type of person that needs to 'pay a visit' during the night, make sure you are handy (but not too handy) for the toilet block.
If you are heading for the coast, don't pitch your tent right on the edge to get that 'fantastic sea view'. Sea front pitches are often breezy and you could end up with a flat or very wet tent!
If you are the type of people that like to be different, why not jazz up your base camp - solar powered fairy lights, bunting, a few brightly coloured cushions and furry throws will all add to that 'extra touch'.
Right, the tent is pitched and the holiday is well underway. Hopefully you have not fallen out with your companion(s) because the tent wasn't pitched in the direction they wanted it. (Definitely sounds familiar). Now you need to go and explore your new surroundings. Why not try something new - something you can knock off your 'bucket list'?
If you are struggling for ideas here are a few games that will keep you occupied for hours:
Photography Challenge - Put a list of items together of things that you will find in the environment. Each player, armed with a camera, ventures out to take photographs of as many things off the list as they can. Who was able to knock off the most from their list?
Sandcastle Build Challenge - Doesn't matter how old you are, we all love to build sandcastles. Challenge to build the tallest one or what can you build in a given amount of time?
Conversation Games - If you have forgotten the board games or pack of cards these games are the next best thing.
'True or Lie' - players take it in turns stating three facts about themselves. Two are true and one is a lie. The other players have to guess which one is the lie.
'Would you Rather' - Choose between one of two scenarios. Eg 'Would you rather give up chocolate for a whole year or alcohol?' Any player can ask a question, everyone states their own answer. The fun starts when the debating does!
Oh I nearly forgot 'man's best friend' - his dog! They come with their own packing list:
Food, Treats (make sure they are in a sealable container) and Water Bottle
Dishes (there is no reason why they cannot take their normal ones)
Bed or Crate (whichever they are used to)
Pooh Bags
Lead(normal and extension)/Collar/Harness (make sure they have their ID badge on as they are away from home)
Tie Out Stake/Tether
Towel and Blanket
Ball and thrower
Coat (if you are needing one then your companion may need one too)
Ok, so you have had a fantastic time and now you must pack everything away. Here are my helpful hints for making this successful.
Make sure that you bag all wet and dirty clothes separately so that it is easier to sort once you are home.
Do all your washing up before you come home. Trust me, once you are home you will not feel like it.
If anything gets broken, make a note of it so that you can sort it before you go camping again (and you will!)
Sweep out the tent and make sure all pockets in the tent are empty. It may be a long time before the contents see the light of day again.
If the tent is wet when you pack it away, you must get it out when you get home and air it. A wet tent will go mouldy and this will cause damage to your tent as well as make it smell awful. Keeping it clean and dry will help preserve its lifespan and quality.
If you are not washing your sleeping bags when you return, at least store them turned inside out. This will help freshen them up.
Make sure you do a final check of your pitch before driving off to make sure you have not left anything behind.
Make sure that all pegs are pulled from the ground. Failure to do this may mean that you don't have enough for next time.
Hope the above has given you that incentive and desire to give camping a go. Trust me, I have been camping for the last 50+ years and will continue to do so as long as my body allows me!
Thank you for reading. Hope you have found it useful and an enjoyable read.
Happy camping!!!!!!!!
Yvonne