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Quote: Originally posted by SGThomas on 15/3/2011Please do not extol the virtues and joys of camping to the unconverted. Sites are becoming more crowded and expensive as it is.Let us be a secret society, known to each other only by the sacred tent peg and the cry of Deltas for ever.

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I play up to it!

When they talk about flyin abroad I go on about 3-hr check in, liquids in bags, curfews, delayed flights and sub-standard accommodation and months of saving up.

Then I wax lyrical about my (frequent) chilled trips away in the tent, no dramas, no queues no saving.

Many have come round to my way of thinking!

Keep up the good work.

I was travelling back with a friend to the island last year when an accident closed the road and knew wasn't going to make the ferry.  I'd been camping in my old Phoenix and jokingly said, look's like it's a good thing we have the tent. If looks could kill ..!

Everywhere was full (there wasn't that much choice in the first place) so went to a small site (loo, cold water only) up the road and pitched. Dug out the SIMs (usually pack two after an earlier disaster), gave her the bedroll as well for additional insulation; gave her my old sleeping bag (down) and pulled out a survival blanket in case she got really cold.

Got out folding table and chairs - handed her the wine and glasses and set to with the stove - lamb shanks, peas and rice done in 25 minutes and cheese & biscuits to follow. (Good job I'd stocked up at the supermarket before heading home!!).  Being so close to home didn't wash up but did boil kettles for hot water to wash ourselves and for the morning - need coffee before functioning fully  !  She slept better than I did and devoured three bacon butties for breakfast. Thank heavens the weather was calm and reasonably warm.

The upshot of this is that this friend who considered my brain made two short thick planks look intelligent because I camp, has been asking far too casual questions over the winter such as what if it's wet (got tarp, which can be brought down if windy; if it's cold - more insulation under you and right clothes, etc. and she's now coming camping with me again. - even better she's paying the pitch fee and food and wine!! She's even picked up a £25 4 season sleeping bag up from Lidl (the excuse is that it'll come in useful!) but I sense she's hooked.  If she is, and without benefits of shower blocks and standing room in the tent and EHU, I'm glad.

If you really want to keep it a secret - then don't encourage home from home luxuries - it'll sort folks out!

Up until a couple of years ago I was a someone who wouldn't have considered camping.  We always went abroad - not to the busy resorts but to quiet traditional spanish resorts, yet to be discovered by the masses,  I wouldn't have considered going to Benidorm for example.  Then with the threat of redundancy for my hubbie in 2009 (he was made redundant in February 2010) we decided we wouldn't go abroad and decided to try camping - my husband went and bought a Halfords special deal and we went away for a few days in that.

We haven't looked back, we love camping now and sometimes I regret not discovering it sooner.  We have been to some places we wouldn't have considered if our circumstances had been different. This summer we are going to North Yorkshire and are taking the children to York which I know they will love and will get so much from it.

Even with camping though people have different ideas of what type of campsite they want to stay on.  We like to stay on quieter campsites, I'm not one for club houses etc whilst a colleague prefers larger all singing and dancing site.

Different strokes for different folks!