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Just wondering do many on here 'do' any of the Camping & Caravanning Club DA meets ?

We tried one NI DA meet years ago but it was a disaster. For a start it didn't stop raining from Fri night to Sun afternoon, but also no-one else actually spoke to us all weekend. So much so that no-one came to take any money off us ! We were wondering on the Sun afternoon when the money collection thing happened, looked out the window and found that everyone had hitched up and gone !

Anyhow, we were thinking of doing the Portrush School thing for a weekend in July, see how it goes. We have a tent now, and I was wondering would we be the only ones in a sea of vans ?

Also, can anyone help with a bit of history - How come there are NI, Down and Bangor DAs ? Are there simply a lot of people in Bangor in the club ? Was there a row years ago ? Do Bangor campers want to keep themselves to themselves and not have to camp with people from other towns ?

Hi arthurdent, thinking of trying the Portrush school in July maybe only for one night to see what its like as daughter is pestering us to go to Barrys! Dont know much about the DAs but would be interesting to find out. We are members of the C&CC though.

Paul

I have been out camping iwth a few DA's. I joined because as a widow it seemed a good idea for the company. I suppose it depends on your circumstances. . As a couple or in a group the meets are probably OK. Sometimes I have been totally invisible to the DA camping, despite passing through the site walking the dog several times a day.Other times have gone to the evening get together of a weekend, Not a great success.  Perhaps I have been unlucky 

Now I just use the DA meets as a means for cheap site & accept the isolation

Sorry for asking, but what is a DA?

Wendy

Wendy - It's a C&CC District Association.

The club is divided into Regions - Northern Ireland, Scotland, South West England, West Midlands, etc. Each Region is then divided up into a number of DA's. Whereas in England these DAs largely (but certainly not always) follow counties, in NI there are 3 DAs - Bangor, Co. Down and N. Ireland. Which always struck me as a very strange and concentric way of organising them.

Thanks Arthur, they must be the crowd we see parked in school playgrounds, bit too basic for my liking..  Each to their own I suppose..

Wendy

Quote: Originally posted by K9Wendy on 27/5/2008

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Thanks Arthur, they must be the crowd we see parked in school playgrounds, bit too basic for my liking..  Each to their own I suppose..

Wendy

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Hi Wendy, Yes they are cheap and basic, but for a family with say 4,5,or 6 kids, they must be like mana from heaven. Usually set up in or near a tourist attracation, you will not find a cheaper holiday anywhere.

However, like any of the different sections within the C&CC, they are not everybodies cup of tea, but they are worth giving them a try to see if they suit you.

bigyin - I'm sure you're correct a lot of the time, but I've been to 3 DA meets in my time (Tollymore, Gosford and the THS at Portrush School) and I didn't get any sort of a welcome at any of them. We felt like the 3rd wheel on the cart most of the time as everyone seemed to know everyone else and there were very obvious cliques. At Tollymore everyone gathered for a BBQ on the Sat night, which no-one had told us about, so we didn't know to buy in food. At the Gosford one not only where we not spoken to, but at no point did anyone approach us to collect fees - so we got a free weekend, which was nice, but not why we went there ! At Portrush this year I couldn't find anyone to let us onto a pitch, after half an hour searching for someone on the main field we gave up went to another site.

As Lobeydosser said above - they're not everyone's cup of tea ....

Quote: Originally posted by mlyn.gravell on 16/5/2008

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Now I just use the DA meets as a means for cheap site & accept the isolation

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Aww that's sad. If we are ever in your neck of the woods we will certainly give you a shout and you can join us for a few days.Or if your ever up here give us a shout.