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Not a newbie bloomer, but one made after 30 or more years of camping!

At Bainbridge Ings the other year, we had practically the whole site to choose from. We selected a pitch on a slightly raised bit of ground, thinking that if it rained, as it invariably would, the water would all drain away to the lower ground and our pitch would stay nice and dry. We had failed to spot an old hinge poking out of the drystone wall, which might have led us to twig that we were actually pitched on a grassed-over farm track. Over years of use by heavy tractors etc, the ground beneath had become so compacted it didn't drain AT ALL, and we discovered how bathtub groundsheets got their name. The water was so deep it had come over the top in the night, and we were ankle deep in it in the outer tent!  Luckily, the inner was all right and all our clothes and shoes were in there in the dry.

That was also the year we learned not to buy a cheap tunnel tent from Argos, as it was destroyed in not very much wind at all.

I forgot to pack the air-bed pump this year.

Having said that there is always something you forget ! Even after 16 years of camping.

Usually for me its a jumper or fleece and spend a whole day trying to find a shop that sells them!  Also not taking enough footwear - I tend to live in my regatta xtreme trainers (Sandles if the weather is nice)  and cheap crocs - so I have bought another pair of regatta trainers!

I shall not mention my buddies name but he took his entire family camping

Only to find he hadn’t packed the tent!

Beat that!

Just started camping this year, forgot son's sleeping bag and had to travel into aviemore to buy one.

Bought a cheap collapsible water container: left water everywhere.

last camping trip forgot sons bed and did not realise until after the shops had closed.

Packed the tent in the bottom of the boot and had to take everything out in the poring rain: felt like going home at that point.

camping again this weekend in Norfolk - wonder if we have learned any lessons yet!

Quote: Originally posted by the-laughtons on 14/9/2009

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I will NEVER be cold again !!

Sarah

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