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Another Virgin  Camper - Just kitted ourselves out with an Outwell Bear Lake 4 which took us 5 hours to erect in the garden, so have postponed our first trip because of the rain.  Any special tips to speed things up!!  Are there any camping sites which allow dogs off leads

Hi Rosie & welcome to the forum

I can't help with advice about erecting your tent quicker, but I think most campsites do insist that dogs are kept on a lead. You can buy a ground anchor (sort of large screw with a loop on the top) and attach the lead to it, so that you don't have to keep hold of the lead.   

Hi Rosie and welcome to UKCS, Personally I have never been to a site that allows dogs off the lead.

I think Jeans advice about the ground anchor is the best suggestion.

We had a little dog in our tent last week that obviously wasnt on a lead and as much as our son and me didnt mind, hubby is allergic so he wasnt too happy!

Remember that some people dont like dogs and others have allergies so they have to be respected as much as the dog lovers.

The ground anchor with a long lead should work out fine and you can always take your 4 legged friend out for long walks in the woods or somewhere quiet where he/she can have a good run around.

As for 5 hour tent pitching..... practice and work together as a team.It will get alot quicker honest :)

Angie

some camp sites have exercise fields for dogs that are fenced off.

I'll be on the lookout for sites with exercise fields - many thanks.

Quote: Originally posted by rosie hirst on 07/8/2008

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I think more than anything we are frightened of making fools of ourselves - we were impressed how efficient and organised everyone else seems to be.

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You wont be the first people struggling to pitch and sure wont be the last.

Campers are usually a helpfull and friendly bunch and someone will probably offer to help if they see you are having trouble.

Dont worry about what other people think.. if they get their kicks laughing at you then at least you made someone smile so that is 1 good deed for that day :)

I made a proper fool of myself just a few days ago......

Belgian couple arrived at site with 2 impatient kids and no EHU so I offered to inflate their airbeds with electric pump. They were very chuffed but...

I thought she asked me (in Flemish/Dutch) how much the pump cost so I replied and she looked at me like I was a madwoman !

I had misunderstood ... she was actually asking did I want payment for pumping the beds up !

Luckily hubby quickly came to the rescue and she was laughing but I felt a proper idiot .

But hey, s**t happens and we get over it :)

Good luck and have fun

Angie

just remember that practice makes perfect. just work as a team, and bite your tongue. people might look efficient and organised, but it is only by practising.

i can remember the first time me and my OH went camping together(about 6 seasons ago) an older couple must have been watching us put our tent up(we had practised loads before taking the plunge) about 2 days later we were talking to the couple and just mentioned that it was our first time camping and they were gobsmacked. they had assumed, because we got the tent up without hitches and put our canopy up with ease, that we had been camping for years. it turned out, they were also first time campers and had been watching us to get some tips.

Hi Angie and Millie,

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement - they really have helped a lot.  Just hope when we eventually do it, we end up next to someone as friendly and helpful as you two.  

rosie