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 Topic: Facing the inevitable...
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11/3/2025 at 9:41pm
Location: Wirral
Outfit: Aztec Mardi Gras 3
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Joined: 19/1/2010 Platinum Member 
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Well, that's it - as of today I'm giving up tent camping. Haven't had the tent out since a very peaceful stay at Rynys in August'22, since when I've had a couple of health scares and have grown rather more creaky! The 'happiness v. hassle' balance of solo camping was definitely tilting. I had a strange dream last night, in which I was camping and returned from a day out to find my tent had been emptied of every single thing except the carpet! This wasn't seen as a warning about campsite theft, which has never troubled me, but as a sign of the fact that, at almost 73, it was time to quit tenting. My budget doesn't run to a camper van but I haven't given up on campsites; I've just booked a short break in the static caravan at Rynys. I'll be podding or caravanning in future. I have many happy tenting memories (and a few iffy ones!) to enjoy; I don't feel upset, I feel relieved. How have other people coped with this sort of change in holidaying habits?
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Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!
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11/3/2025 at 10:16pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan
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That's a shame, but you know when you know. Saying you feel relieved is the key. And as you say, you can pod in future.
We stopped tenting about 15 years ago after a holiday in France where the last few days we were putting the dripping wet tent up and down in the rain for the last 4 days.
We'd idly looked at campervans on campsites for a while, but went straight to a converters when we got home.
And I have to say, we've never looked back.
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11/3/2025 at 10:20pm
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You've done better than me, I gave up when I was 69 after 58 years of tent camping.
I now go away 2 or 3 times a year staying in a B&B, I have found a very good dog friendly one in the Lake District.
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Bernie
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11/3/2025 at 11:13pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB2BVW2BCrafter2
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That's a shame, however, been there done that myself too.
During the first trip over Easter in 2015 when I struggled to pull the second eyelet on the canvas flysheet over the spike of the U frame of my Hypercamp Escala 4, it dawned on me that I was not getting any younger, and was too old for that sh!t as the saying goes in the Lethal Weapon films, and started to have ideas of getting a caravan.
I accepted then that getting old was inevitable and my tenting days were numbered.
I then bought an ESVO Bedouin 340 with less pegging points with 2 front poles instead of an U frame in the hope it would take less effort to pitch.
Although the Bedouin 340 was easier to pitch, the recovery time after setting up was getting longer and longer, which meant I needed to do trips at least 6+ days in order to make it worth while.
I bought a car capable of towing a caravan back in 2017 in readiness of getting a caravan; then changed my mind about towing and decided to get a motorhome instead in 2020 when I could tap into my pensions and went down the custom conversion route after not being able to find a MH that fitted my needs and wants.
I wanted to continue with camping while I was/am still physically and mentally able to do so, and have no regret in getting her, even though she wiped out a big chunk of my pensions.
I have only just turned 60; however, although I am relatively healthy, I am not that fit physically with issues of my knees (stairs and steep hills are a struggle), and have an underlying health condition.
Hopefully I still have a few more camping years out and about in my van with the dog ahead of me.
I look back with fondness of my tenting days with plenty of photos about, especially the winter trips with frost and snow on my tent, great fun!
DK 
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Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
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* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
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