Well we have not long been back from our first camping trip to mullion and it was fantastic I LOVED it, I suspect the gorgeous weather had something to do with it lol
Don't think we did too badly pitching for the first time, took about 40 mins putting away was a different matter, took 3 attempts of folding the tent to get it back in the bag.
We loved it so much on our way out we booked 6 nights there in April, think that will be the REAL test as I'm sure in April the weather won't be so kind to us.
I'm now converted and will be buying everything possible lol
I do think the good weather makes things seem so much better, but on our second trip away ever, despite having similar weather to this weekend for 4 days, the morning we packed away it was torrential!!! So, packed a very wet tent away (I'm talking puddles on the tent as we folded it...) and spent four days drying it in our conservatory (which is also our dining room....). But it all added to the whole camping experience, and thankfully, I still love it! You might be surprised about April, our first camping trip of the year was early April and it was one of the sunniest and warmest!!! Glad you are now hooked!
Good point about the rain, Donnab75! We've had our Aztec out on six trips now, and it hasn't had a drop of rain yet... Came close once or twice, but managed to get it packed up and in the car before the downpour. It's well out of guarantee now, so if it ever does get poured on and leaks like a seive, we're snookered!
The one thing I worry about is if the water table rises too high and pours in over the SIG. That would be disastrous! Otherwise, the gentle patter of rain bouncing off the roof, whilst snug in your sleeping bag, is simply wonderful. The heavy downpours are exciting with all the noise they make, although having to dry out the tent when you get back home can be a real pain, especially when it's a Montana 6. We had to pack that one away, with pools of water rushing out when we got it back home, and erected it in the front garden. Not an ideal situation with other peoples cats and dogs. What can I say? It's the name of the game!
------------- The true test of fairness is how fair you are to those who are not
i think were getting better weather earlyer in the year i would camp in april but prob just a last minute thing local so if the weathers bad i can stay home.
------------- july 8th marfit head farm
july 28th warren mill
aug 5th ashfield park dalton
sept 2nd bridlington
We had our first camp of the year at a local site in early April this year.... and the weather was fantastic! I remember cooking brekkie outside the tent next morning in lovely spring sunshine looking at the wonderful view, thinking, ah yes, this is the life! What a fab start to our year of camping
Sounds like you have now got the bug, me and my girlfriend, first went camping to together in 1976!, she enjoyed it so much, she even agreed to marry me in 1982.
Three years later our Son arrived on the scene, but Mr's Francais drew the line, at us naming him Cabanon!. so I said what about "Cote d Azur" then, that was a no also!.
Anyway our Son is of course now grown up, so me and Mrs Francais go camping on our two own, we still love it as much as we did back 1978.
We too went camping as a family for the very first time recently, following years of my OH trying to get me under canvas. We had a little rain that weekend but you know what I really surprised myself and enjoyed it so much I'm on here every night looking at campsite reviews and storing them in our virtual brochure. Can wait for the next camping trip now. If the weather is ok at October half term we may even go away then.
------------- Florida Easter 2013 (I know that's not camping ;))
Welcome to the wonderful world of camping, Donnab75! I can warn you - I started camping in April this year after a 10 year's break, and already have bought 4 tents...
------------- Proud owner of a 1987 Sprite Alpine 370 EK, a cheap popup tent and a beloved retro Trio frame tent from the early seventies, called Giraffen.