Definitely worth all the effort, up untill 2008 we had been using Statics in the South of France, but prices had been creeping up as the years passed by, and were getting close to £1500 for a fortnight on a 3 Star campsite.
So in 2009 we got back into taking all our own kit, this year on a 3 Star Campsite for 15 nights in July is costing under £350.
Dam right it is still all worth it, even if it does take us, well me some 6 hours to set everything up, well as my 30 year old Son keeps reminding me, now that I am the wrong side of my mid 50's, I need to be taking it easy!
Wet pack up is no fun, and 2012 was a particularly bad year.
However, I had good weather in 2013 and 2014, and the one trip this year over Easter was a dry pack up.
My next trip is not until Sep 2015 and I cannot wait. It will be at least a 6-nighter so that it is worth the effort for me.
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! *
Definitely worth all the hassle...Those of you who have read my comments on similar threads Know how much time and effort I spend carrying everything up and down stairs before and after a trip using a hire van for my big camps...I try to intersperse these with backpacking trips...But even they have their logistical problems like getting Me...My backpack and a trolly into Glasgow..before I even get on the Bus/Train to take me to my destination!!!
But I do believe it is all worth it to get out into the green stuff as often as I can....
Smiling here at all the comments re wet tents and gear draped everywhere around the house....I am exactly the same...Glad to know I'm not the only one utilizing the dining room table from time to time....
I firmly believe memories of the good times camping far outweigh the bad (And we have all had some stinkers)Once your on your pitch...Settled in and ready to enjoy yourself that last horrible trip is a distant memory!!!
Speaking of memories those of you with children are storing them up in your wee ones....Mine are all young adults now...But I still get the odd comment from them that usually starts with "Dad...Remember that time we were camping and.. etc etc etc"
Yes...Well worth it....
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
Friday night we were shivering wearing 2 coats and blankets, huddled round the fire. Sunday morning we packed up in the rain. The tent is still steaming in its bag, waiting for the weather to improve enough that I can get it out to dry it. All the equipment was wet and covered in grass. I spent most of Sunday afternoon trying to dry things out and clean them.
And now I'm about to book another weekend away in 3 week's time. What is wrong with us? I reckon the smoke from the fires effects our brains.
love love love camping - hate hate hate the packing away haha - and were still spring chickens (well, im in my 30s and hubby is 50) - with 4 young children - hubby finds it more tiring than me though but he is getting on a bit haha - its thepacking it up and then getting it out to dry/wash etc and especially if you've only got a few days turnaround.... hope im as still physically able when I retire as you! hubby 'retires' in 5 years (hes forces) so hed better be haha
------------- June 2015: seaview international 2 nights
July 2015: little winnick 2 nights
August 2015: lower polladras 5 nights
august 2015: tollgate farm 5 nights
august 2015: oakdown 3 nights
September 2015: tregarton park
family of 6 with young children
Quote: Originally posted by geoffprinter on 31/5/2015
We have always,(except this time) booked an extra night so we have the option of going home on the day we planned or staying that extra day should it be better to pack up a day later. Just find its worth the extra £20ish for that bit of flexibility. No good for just a w/end camp I know, but I dont work Mondays or Tuesday so suits us. Geoff
We always do this too, more often than not with the intention of leaving a day early anyway.
As Geoff says this gives you some flexibility with regards to bad weather, but in our case it's more about the luxury of packing up at our leisure and not having to get off the pitch by a certain time in the morning.
wet pack ups are definitely a PITA, but yes it's definitely worth it in spite of having to suffer them every once in a while.
We camped every weekend in May, wet pack up this time, we were expecting it so took old tent so I wasn't stressing about getting it dry quickly. Just got wet tent out of bag and draped it over everything in garden (it's far too big to put up) the wind dried it out very quickly but also managed to make it take off and we just got it before it was going over the fence.
However, we are not camping this weekend and I am going to miss it like crazy, I have come home knackered every weekend but absolutely loved every minute of it and feel very privelidged to be able to enjoy being outdoors so much
We've done more than our fair share of wet pack ups. In fact it's a standing joke at work asking when I'm off on holiday so they don't book the wet weeks too.
I've ever only once thought was it worth it and that was about 5 years ago, the only time we've broke camp early, when the tent sank in the mud and you got dirtier going from the shower block than you were when you got there ... Can't be too bad though as I managed to turn my OH into a camper in the rain and I'm not saying how