Believe me, I can sympathise fully. How flexible can you be with your camping? I work at a college, have July and August off for the "summer" closedown and rarely manage to camp in July because of the weather. Since the climate changed July is by far the worse month to camp in Britain, while August and September are much more settled. In fact, the last time I camped in July was 2005, but that was the exception rather than the rule.
If you can, book your time off for August next time. It's far more favourable for camping than July is ever likely to be.
We wont be going camping again for years, if ever..2 camping trips ruined by weather in 2 years, After getting flooded out last year we said never again, but braved it, and bang....there we were again, drowned rats...I was sitting in the tent, my bf snoring on the floor, contemplating another night on the rapidly flattening airbed, the rain was terrible....And had a 'non campers moment' WHY THE HELL AM I SITTING HERE, IN THIS BLOODY TENT, WALKING ACROSS A FIELD TO PEE, WASH UP, SHOWER WHEN.......I HAVE A PERFECTLY GOOD HOUSE AT HOME....AND A DISHWASHER.....
Do you think anyone could restore my faith in camping, or once you have lost that 'bug' is it gone forever???
You poor things - I also hate camping in the rain but the good times really do make up for the c**p ones. I agree that you should try to go away for 1 or 2 nights when you can guarantee to have nice weather (Yes I am sure there will be some good weather before long ) just to make up for the past 2 experiences. It really is good when the weather is dry.
As suggested above we are going to look at going over to France next year around the Vendee. We went there when the kids were young with Eurocamp (but stayed in a static) and it was really good but we would like to take our own tent next time. If you've never been to France before you could always try going in one of the ready put up tents your first time to see if you like it and then take your own kit the next time.
bryan K...weather forecasts as many have pointed are not always correct one day ahead never mind 5 ( and there's lies the temptation not to listen to them at all ) - plus, as chorleydave says, we can't all be flexible about when we go camping...unless we sell chavvy clothes on e-bay that is.
you can't think of giving up camping surely, all right, you've had two horrendous trips but it won't always be that way, we've just spent a weekend where we had torrential rain overnight, chilly winds in the evenings and brilliant sunshine on Sunday, a bit of everything, we decamped in the dry this morning after having a great chill out weekend with good people, experience will tell you when to go, where to go and when to back off and save the money for a better day, there are always pitches to find at the last minute when the sun shines and the forecast looks right
Besides, we haven't seen your campsite dash in a towel yet
You lovely lot!!!!Im feeling much brighter about camping already!! Im sure we will try again, one day! Have a towbar to use now ! I really would like my kids to grow up, experiencing holidays camping like i used to. So they can have a little of the freedom i always had as a child
Wishing you all great holidays with lots of sunshine
selued - we are into our second season now and have had about 5 trips away (quite restricted with work comittments!) and all 5 have been bad ones weather wise. The latest - we set off for Cornwall last week, two hours into the journey the campsite rang us up asking us not to go - they had to close the site down due to bad flooding etc. We went to one in Devon instead, and when we arrived the weather was so bad we rented a static for the week instead. My hubby and I love camping so that did take some doing! Even through the weather has not been kind to us at all, and no matter how much I cursed last week, and even gave up the tent for a static - I still hold a candle for camping under canvas! It would take more than a couple of bad trips, well 5 to be exact, to put us off. Theres just something about being under canvas, Im sure you know what I mean. Try and think back to the reasons why you opted for camping in the first place. My hubby and I are still hoping and waiting for that ultimate camping experience - you know the setting up camp in the haze of the afternoon sunshine, crack open a box (yes box, not bottle!) of wine and laze in the long summer nights admiring the view or watching the kids play. One day we hope it will happen - or do you reckon Im just dreaming? Maybe we should listen to some of the advice on here and hop on a plane somewhere abroad! Nah, seriously, dont give in just yet. I wish you all the best.
Hi Selude ..... sorry to hear you had such a bad time ...... have you ever thought of joining UkCampsite on a meet ..... can't guarantee good weather, but the company make up for it.
Never a dull momment !!!! ...... and the kids love it no matter the weather
We have had a couple of meets at Althorpe with cracking weather ..... hopefully will be going back this year
Invest in some form of loo, so no traipsing around the site at night lol ...... bucket with lid a couple of pounds or something like a kampa khazi for twenty pounds
Camping in this country is so hit and miss with the weather. When my family go camping the weather is either very good or we get horizontal rain!!
But that's part of the game you play with the British summer, who wants to have guaranteed sunshine, temperatures in the high 20's early 30's, having to constantly refill the ice in your G & T, not have to worry about setting up or packing away the tent in the rain.........................................hang on???!!!!!!!!!!!
------------- Everyone has a right to believe in whatever they want.
And from the pics I wondered if a tent with a buildin/sown in ground sheet would have made life less damp?
My thoughts on my new (yet unpurchased) tent was to have an outside groundsheet.
and a sown-in groundsheet to, hopefully, have double protection against the wet.
Really sorry to hear you had such a terrible time of it :(
Johnny
------------- A man may fight for many things. His country, his friends, his principles, the glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd mud-wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn.
Quote: Originally posted by TallBigMe on 14/7/2008
Take a ferry across to france next time you camp?
I hate to disillusion you but it rains in France too!
Last week we had one day and night (in the Loire) where it chucked it down and we discovered the pitch we were on wasn't draining well at all (prob too hard), we got as far as buying a fold up shovel as we thought we were going to have to modify the pitch (motorsport site not a commercial site so don't worry!)
IMO you have to think about what you love about camping and then what you dislike, you can't fix all of the dislikes but you can often mitigate them with good kit and good planning. If your problem is too much kit and too long to pack/unpack the car etc. then look at every single thing you take and consider a trailer (you say you have a tow bar now?).
Personally I love sitting inside a tent in the pi$$ing rain, wrapped up in a blanket reading a book or playing a game - it makes me feel all warm and snugly.
But that's part of the game you play with the British summer, who wants to have guaranteed sunshine, temperatures in the high 20's early 30's, having to constantly refill the ice in your G & T, not have to worry about setting up or packing away the tent in the rain.........................................hang on???!!!!!!!!!!!
Me John,I do.
------------- Sue & Phil
--------------------- I Love My AeroBed
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: thats that
WHEN.......I HAVE A PERFECTLY GOOD HOUSE AT HOME....AND A DISHWASHER.....
) just to make up for the past 2 experiences. It really is good when the weather is dry.
