I think that the hardest thing about camping is coming home!
Seriously though I get very stressed putting the tent up and taking it down as we have to leave the boys in the car while we do it at the mo, and I get all worried if they are upset, plus we wrecked our last tent by not putting it away properly
The thing I hate most about camping is putting all those little things away when I get home - the main stuff is just put away ready for the next trip but I hate having to put the wash bag stuff, kids toys, adapters and any other niknaks away, they seem to stay on the stairs for at least a week!
I always have problems fitting everything back in the car to come home. We are off for just over a fortnight in June/July going to 3/4 campsites and I just know there will be more and more stuff in the car rather than the boot or roofbox each time we move location
I was advised by my local tent dealer to always fold the tent over towards a door opening, I think its to do with letting the air out - not sure if this is true and I don't know if this will help, but I've always managed to get mine back in the bag. Along with a willing helper to sit on the it all like closing a suitcase.
Having said that - the bag is supposed to have the poles in it too, but that's just a skill too far for me!!
Plus, I'd like to know, why is it that you take a load of food with you, so you leave space in the car for it. In my case it seems to be bags and bags of stuff - SO where does all that space go when you pack up to leave?!!
A lot of campers worry about making sure they bring everything along they need or simply how will they get it all in the car. Finding the right site may be another worry. Then there is putting the tent up and if they will be able to remember how to do it. None of these things I find a great problem.
However the biggest challenge I always have is trying to get the tent back into the bag when packing up. When havving recently bought a new tent I decided to really pay attention to how it was packed but still have difficulty getting it folded samll enough to fit back in. Perhaps its my own fault for having a large heavy cotton tent. Perhaps fellow campers are able to offer some tips on the best way to pack a large tent and more importantly how to remember each time the way to pack it.
Getting it packed away is my constant worry. I go away on my own a lot and it always provides the biggest challenge for me. If only my OH liked camping but he says he would rather have 2 hot nails buried in his eyes than camp, so that's what I am up against, I have given it up as a bad job. I love camping with my sister as she can get an elephant back into a matchbox and I can relax about the packing. I still find something else to worry about though.