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Whoops, apologies juliedawn, overlooked your reply!

It's encouraging to know that you're venturing out camping again & into a T/T. As you've probably already read, my sister & bro-in-law have been camping in a tent for years & loved it, but have just moved up to a F/C. The reason I've been so hesitant about it, is 'cos I've never done the camping thing before, mainly having holidays in hotels or S/C abroad & in the UK. Also, it's the thought of having it sitting on the drive, lugging it about on the roads, unpacking it & then repacking it - 'specially if it rains! Having said all that, I love the peace & quiet of the countryside & walking in the woods! So you never know......Will be in touch again soon.

Smudge

You certainly got a lot of "go for its",which should convince you that you're doing the right thing.

I have not slept in a tent or trailer tent in more than 20 years. It was only when I finally stopped racing around that it also dawned on me that I had not had a holiday away from home in the same 20 years !

We (the family) have just invested heavily in a Pennine Pathfinder this week and are booked in the lakes already for this weekend.

I have a 'ell of a lot of missed good weekend camps to catch up on, starting right now !!.

As far as sitting on the drive,  then it will act as your visual reminder of your last good outing

Enjoy yours as life is very short- Go for it

Ah, bless you Durham - that's very encouraging too!

My husband has said he'll go along with whatever makes me happy - but that we'll never know what it's like until we try it & he's right of course!

Also, after reading all the positive replies today, including yours, I'm beginning to feel much more relaxed about picking up our new C/C. Yes, I'm actually saying 'when' we pick it up now, instead of 'if' we pick it up!

I wish you & your family every happiness in your new P/P too & lots of nice weather to go with it......

Thank you again & good luck! 

Hi Smudge,

I hope that you have decided to go for it, I am sure it will be one of the best things you will ever do. And once you have been of in your cruiser you will make sure you will be off as much as you can.

Once you have your camper, decide what you want to put in it, and leave in it, and if you forget anything write it down, buy it, and leave it in it. when you pack up, its very very quick and thats it done, and everything is their for your next jaunt. no packing required.

Our Cruiser lives on our garage base, make sure you get a winter storage cover for it, for the bad weather.

My sister in law and hubby have never done any camping, and she would never go in a tent, but they asked us if they could borrow it for a week, as they live next door. We said no problem, and are taking it upto Knight Stainforth for a weekend and my friend & kids are coming with us for that, then they are coming up to take over on the sunday for their first week of camping on their own, he is going to have a tow bar fitted and bring it back home for us.

Then we are taking it to filey for a week and taking mum dad and sis, and joining our other friends with their caravan.

Once you have it you won't look back, we started tenting 13 years ago, with a couple of friends, hubby was sick of me getting the holiday brochures out and hated the thought of two or three holidays abroad a year, as he doesn't like lying on beaches. So I said what about camping and it started from their, we went from frame tents to larger and larger tents ending with a diabilo 900 + trailer to cart it all around, which we bought last year.

Just imagine, nice weather forcast for the weekend, lets go off, then home from work friday and your gone. no packing just take yourselves & clothes and have fun fun fun.

I can't think of any draw backs what so ever, it will be one of the best investments you will ever make!!!!! 

Durham,

Hope you have fantastic times in you camper too, you won't regret it!!!!

I hope both you and smudge let us know how you got on.

Hi again Lopo,

Great on here, feel that I know so many people already!

Just read your nice long, very helpful reply, 'specially the second para! I've been going over & over in my mind, what we would keep stored in it inbetween trips & over the winter months. Also, my sis says they prefer taking duvets rather than sleeping bags, says they're much more cosier - what to you think?

It's the other way round with us - my husband really loves going abroad & we've been doing so for donkeys years, but I'm not so keen on all the booking up, packing, delays at airports & sitting on planes packed like sardines! Then sometimes, a few days after you've arrived home, you don't even feel like you've been abroad! 

There are so many places in England we haven't visited yet, hence trying out camping. Having said that, it's very cloudy, windy & chilly here in South Bedfordshire & these are the days I wonder whether it's a good idea - but don't worry, I'll try not let it sway me!

I hope you & your family have great holidays - will be thinking of you.

Take care,

Smudge

Hi eel28 & fourtone - thank you both very much for your repies & I do apologise for not mentioning them earlier - very busy day yesterday! However, I found your comments very helpful too.

Kind regards,

Smudge

Hi Smudge,

We leave in everything we can, only remove perishable food, and dirty laundry.

We have just come back from the National meet and I thought we had left the pillows in from the previous trip, but no, so we had to use one of the backrests but it was ok. So pillows are down on the list to take and leave in the van for future use. We also have sheets and have zip together mummy bags, which we leave open, they are so cosy, and these pack away under the seats. We had only just bought the sleeping bags the season before we bought the camper so we might as well use them. I think its personal preference, we have used both, but we prefer the bags,and they pack away to nothing.

I also leave in binocs, and a good a-z wildlife book, because there is always something that you have never seen before.

Other things I leave in the camper re-chargeable battery charger and batteries, and for us a pack of playing cards is a must, and a pair of flip flops each  for the showers, otherwise its just the usual things that are always there, torch,all cutlery & crocs, pans, barbie, firelighters, and heat beads. cleaning and washing up stuff, pegs, can/bottle opener. lights, heater, storage containers with tea,coffee, sugar, salt & pepper, chairs, binbags, sleeping bags, sheets & pillows, toilet rolls, and kitchen towel, ashtrays if needed, water filter,  I also have a bag with all toileteries & first aid kit.

Once its in thats it.

Then all you need is yourselves, towels and clothes.

Well Smudge/Lopo we did it

We went on our first outing this last weekend to Ullswater and the wholeparty (including our Westies) had a whale of a time.

Site was brilliant, Weather was brilliant, Campers were brilliant, Views were brilliant in fact everything about it was , yeah you guessed, brilliant!!

The Pathfinder went up without a single hitch and despite it only being a weekend trip all the accessories were fully erected. It only took 1 1/4 hours all in all not bad for first time, especially as I had left the instruction book at home!!! 

We will put our awning up on every trip as it is a lovely living area and the time necessary to erect was minimal

We cannot wait until the next excursion hope you made your move to go for it Smudge?

Only downside was a short swift ferocious fraca in the tents section, when a large bullterrior undertook a border invasion of the next tent but was seen off by the resident guard. Appears the only casualties where the two owners where blood was drawn on both sides when separating the combatants. Other injuries were generally minor and caused by the subsequent Sticks & Stones that were hurled later. Real downside was that a lot of scholdren were present and frightened to see the animals fighting and probably shocked at the level of insult used by their mothers.

Quote: Originally posted by Smudge 8 on 02/8/2006

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Hi eel28 & fourtone - thank you both very much for your repies & I do apologise for not mentioning them earlier - very busy day yesterday! However, I found your comments very helpful too.

Kind regards,

Smudge

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Hi Durham,

I am so pleased you had a fantastic time, you won't look back now.

I am now planning next years hols and hopefully first trip to France, the worlds your oyster now, enjoy!!!!