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Subject Topic: Awful weekend
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28/3/2016 at 7:48pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: Karma Canvas 5m ZIG
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Oh wow OP I wish I had just read this. Ive posted my own tale of woe, I have every sympathy. We too are sitting here with a house full of half soaking, half broken camping equipment, probably broken tent zip, definitely broken centre pole. Traumatised dog (and me).

Im really trying to get into the spirit of the whole thing but my god, this weekend was awful. OH now says 'oh we just have to check the weather forecast' but you cant really do that when you have to pre book time off work, then pre book the campsite etc.

I just think a nice little cottage or hotel room is so much more reliable.

However I must admit for the time we were there in sunshine and with our little stove working properly and safely, it was quite enjoyable.


28/3/2016 at 8:08pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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tiacat.Thats one of the reasons we decided to add a static to our collection. Our Bell tent is safe and sound in its own little room waiting for the sun to come out and the wind to naff off to where it came from. Gutted for you. But as they say `Things can only get better` after this awful w/end.


28/3/2016 at 8:18pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: Karma Canvas 5m ZIG
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Quote: Originally posted by geoffprinter on 28/3/2016
tiacat.Thats one of the reasons we decided to add a static to our collection. Our Bell tent is safe and sound in its own little room waiting for the sun to come out and the wind to naff off to where it came from. Gutted for you. But as they say `Things can only get better` after this awful w/end.



Well I wish I had read some of the threads on here before ranting, I hadnt even considered that other people would have such a terrible time either. I often am completely oblivious to weather but you cant be if you want to go camping.

Oh, and I forgot to take a coat as well.

And this is a really stupid question, but what's a static?


28/3/2016 at 8:24pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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And this is a really stupid question, but what's a static?

Its about 32foot long tin can with wheels on, and has all the comforts of home in it. Only draw back it doesnt move, hence the word `static`.


28/3/2016 at 9:26pm
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Quote: Originally posted by spiritburner on 28/3/2016
It doesn't. I won't deny it helps but decent gear & right frame of mind can make a bad weather trip enjoyable. Bad luck aside.


Most of us are not Ray Mears & have no wish to become Ray Mears. We find no virtue in facing the elemental fury of the eye of the storm & laughing as we defeat it. We just want reasonably priced holiday accommodation.



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28/3/2016 at 9:51pm
 Location: NE England
 Outfit: Citroen Dispatch Campervan plus tents
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I'm not sure how many Ray Mears's there are but I ain't one of them! I'm not sure what that has to do with staying on a very civilised C&CC site with hook-up, fan heater, electric light & gas cooker with toilets, hot showers etc. This weekend has been a fun family weekend despite the weather.

Weekend was green lighted regardless although the event we were attending could have been cancelled due to high winds at short-notice. Too short notice for us as we always go a day early. Forecast was checked & we decided it was a family trip (my partners health isn't the best to cope with mega cold) & we would be equipped to cope. If I thought our family tent & gear was not up to the job just me & the lad would have gone in a small geodesic expedition type tent & push come to shove with just the 2 of us the van would have been a fall-back option.

We were warm, dry, comfortable & enjoyed the experience at a reasonable cost. The only negatives were a couple of delays due to flooding & accident & having a tent to dry.


28/3/2016 at 10:23pm
 Location: essex
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 570
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I agree with you Spiritburner on both your post we went to Southampton I loved it and so did the kids all though she who has to be obeyed didn't enjoy it as much as a picnicker in the high winds we spent a few hours sleeping in the car then returned to our folding camper. I don't know what the wind speed was but they said 106mph in the Isle of wight and we wernt that far from there really, the camper was absolutely fine it stood up well with no damage but I think I will invest in some better pegs for softer ground so if anyone has any recommendations please post

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28/3/2016 at 10:36pm
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Karsten 380 Veranda
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For soft ground I think those chunky yellow plastic pegs or nylon delta pegs would fair better than metal V pegs or rock pegs


28/3/2016 at 10:39pm
 Location: Gods Own Country
 Outfit: vango Nadina
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Quote: Originally posted by Millerblade on 28/3/2016



Hi everyone, first of all please dont read if you dont want to hear a 'poor me' post. Im feeling down in the dumps and just want a virtual hug! :(

So we (Myself, hubby, young niece and dog) had wanted to go away this easter. We couldn't find a campsite that met our requirements (ehu and a pub/clubhouse that allowed dogs that had availability). After days of phoning and phoning our 2 friends who were going away in their caravan with their son said "Weve found a site with a tent pitch for you next to us, Its near Bridlinglington"

I trust my friend, don't really know the new fella. So the morning of setting off. My niece is poorly and cant come away with us bless her heart, sickness virus (in hindsight It was luck on her side).

We set off an hour after our friends. 1hr into the journey our car breaks down!!!! Car is full to the brim with camping gear and obviously weve got our dog, so im now panicking like mad! 1hr 30mins later the breakdown vehicle arrives and luckily he fixes the car but it takes him AGES!

We arrive at the campsite at 7:30pm!!! Its dark! So we use the car lights to pitch the tent. Then just as we finish the battery goes flat on the car-will have to worry about that tomorrow. Straight to sleep.

Ended up with 2hrs sleep because we were in gale force winds and the tent was blowing all over!

Now to the campsite. It had NOTHING on it apart from toilet and showers. Which some people love. We dont. Unfortunately. I will tell you what it did have, about the length of a football pitch (if that) in front of us.......the cliff edge!!! Which in summer I bet is lovely especially in a caravan which our friends were in, who liked the site. For us in a tent, in gale force winds, no pub or clubhouse to escape to. Its been awful!!!!

Nearest place (the other linked site with the facilities) is a 30 min walk or 10 min drive away.

Every night weve felt like tent is going to collapse.

Today, going home, its now torrential rain so we have to pack a soaking wet tent. Oh and we have to get battery going on the car! Oh and 2 of our poles have split (how do we replace them is it a 3 poles with string?).

Every night our friends have said "did you sleep ok? We had candles on, music and was boiling hot with the heating and watched tv".......we had a tent that was blowing bloody murder all over, a heater that couldnt keep us warm enough and its been rubbish thanks!

I was new to camping last year and had 3 successful trips out. This has put me off :(






sounds like you have had a rough weekend .. i live in Goole a stones throw from J37 on the m62 i got as far as spaldington on Friday before i took the the back roads and home.... took a friend 1.5 hours to travel between Howden and Wetwang.... which is usually a 40 min drive ....





what make is your tent they are easy enough to replace most poles providing you can get matching ones Vango sell spare poles (which i now carry)


28/3/2016 at 11:02pm
 Location: NE England
 Outfit: Citroen Dispatch Campervan plus tents
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Talking of Ray Mears (not a fan), this caravan related gaff made me laugh.

room 101


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29/3/2016 at 12:27am
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
 Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
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I made the right decision to cut short my trip and came home Sunday afternoon.

Packing up on Sunday afternoon was bad enough.

This is the second time I had cut short a trip.

The first being Sep 2011 at the tail end of Storm Katia, and my beloved Khyam Freelander was destroyed by high winds.

The dog and I slept in the car the night the top section of the tent collapsed.

I hope the OP will not be discouraged by your most recent experience.

DK

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