We bought our first tent this year, a Maritsa 600 and only managed to get away once
I totally loved it, am very much a camping convert! Will be looking to get away nearly every school holiday next year..... but next year seems such a long long way away! It's unrealistic for us to go when it's cold, it wouldn't be fair on my girls (aged 5 and 1) although i know many people do camp in all weathers. Have kept the camping gear spread through the house, but with the big C looming, it's time to find everything a proper winter home to make room for all of the new toys and decorations. Feeling very sad packing things away, anyone else feel the same and have/are you planning next years camps already? My OH is taking the mickey out of me for searching and reviewing sites already!
What with that and the clocks going back, it's cold dark and raining here and Easter feels a lifetime away! Just read the Cabanots thread though which has put a smile on my face
How do you choose your pitches? Especially if going somewhere you've not been before? As i say, we've only been away once and we had 2 reserved for us for us to choose from. We went for the one more sheltered from the wind and positioned the tent so our bedroom end was in the shade for the longest, but this meant it was still a bit damp when it came to packing up?? The sun had it dried by 9am though, but it was something we hadn't thought about??
We normally keep our gear scattered throughout our (very small) house, and Christmas was a pain last year, so I've been looking at self storage companies for this year. I can get 8 weeks for £40 (small 12 sq foot locker) so all of our gear is going on it's own Christmas holidays from a couple of weeks before Christmas to mid Feb.
We can fit all 3 tents, bedding, cooking, the lot in this small lock-up which is in the middle of a building. Have a look to see if you could do something like that rather than storing it outdoors where it may get damp or even stolen. I think it's a good deal for a fiver a week.
All part of the winter blues, If I had the cash I would invest in all the winter gear but I don't so I won't. Just for the sake of a camping fix. Thankfully we can come on here.
Yup, I am already planing a long distance hike and thinking about a few shorter trips into the Lake District and Peak District when I can make it. Then there's a hopefully going to be a UKCS meet at some point to tackle Ben Nevis (a few of us have done Scafell and Snowdon so it would be rude not to) and probably a few other meets too.
Thanks guys, glad i'm not alone! I would never EVER put any of our gear in the shed or garage - because i know it gets damp - plus it might end up smelling of our guinea pigs
So far, i have tried to squeeze as much as possible into the bottom of my fitted wardrobes - and now have to find spaces for all of the junk that was in there! I'd rather have it at home really Eliza, just don't want to put it into the loft. But sounds like you have got a very good deal there, i know how expensive storage can be!
Thanks Griff, i'll make sure i do that, i am hoping to persuade my sister and her partner to come and meet us somewhere next year, so booking 2 pitches next to each other would require a fair bit of research for me
Now all i need to do is choose my weekend tent.....! Been contemplating and faffing about and still non the wiser lol! At least i have a good few months to make my mind up
I still have a 4-night trip over the Christmas weekend for this year to go, and have already planned my trips next year, one already booked, the others have to wait until C&CC starts to accept booking for next year in a couple of days' time.
I have already planned my trips for 2013/4.
DK
------------- * Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *
My OH had a few day off last week and was itching to get away in the tent, I bottled it thinking it was going to be far too cold and damp. He's off work again next week and he's started weather watching again!!
Think I better get our gear up into the loft ... that may kill the urge.