Just returned yesterday from 7 days in Pembrokeshire. We did really well with the weather, only a couple of showers through the week, but it did rain from monday eve through to wednesday morning and we had some pretty strong winds. Our new Mallard 6 stood up to it really well though, one tiny leak at the botom of a door. We found the SIG meant there was no condensation at all, with our old tent, the Mallard 4 with detatchable SIG, it was wet through every morning. One disadvantage we found with the SIG though is that bits from your shoes build up on the floor. With the old tent, some must have blown out the sides. So I did have to sweep out quite a few times. Cooking went well in the doorway. Due to the sloping sides, with the door rolled up, the cooker was effectively outside. The bedrooms are supposed to be 2x3 berth, but they're nothing like! Double bed fitted with a bit of space at the side, but none top and bottom. Not as good as the 4 berth room in the old tent, but just about worth it for all the extra space. We thought after our last trip, we'd thought of everything, but we now have a new list of things to buy for the next trip
Blow up sofa (thanks to this site ) Clothes rail (recommendations for easy to put up/down ones?) Fold up BBQ Electric cool box (this is the hottest week we've camped and we had to change the cool packs far too often to keep stuff cold) Doormat (for above mentioned mess-I think there was a post about a good one, off to search in a mo) Fire blanket and extinguisher.
Good job we're not going again until next may isn't it?
------------- Merthyr Farm, Harlech, here we come!
Now stop trying to give me other things to buy! Some kind of floor covering would be a good idea We've got a golf, and there's only 2 of us, so with the back seats folded down, there's acres of room
Just remembered, the bed collapsed on the last night too, got to blow it up here to see what the problem is. And, we had to pack the tent away wet. We've nowhere indoors to dry it and the weather's wet. How long can we leave it packed up wet?
Try to at least open tent bag & spread tent out somewhere as best you can. We've dried ours out in all manner of places ... bannisters / spare room / kitchen / garage / friends garage.
Keep turning it as one bit dries. Keep the room well ventilated by having windows & doors open. It's surprising how quick they dry out
I agree about no shoes in the tent. We are going away soon and I intend on making everone take off their shoes on entry and they can put them in a tidybox in the corner. With two 4 year olds in the tent shoes just aren't going to work.
pleased to hear you enjoyed your camping trip. not sure if you would fine it useful, but i always take some seagrass mats when i go camping to wipe feet, etc, just shake it out whwen it gets messy and you can scub it when you get home..
We've got the tent dried now-a break in the clouds and it was straight out on the line! We did intend for it to be no shoes in the tent, but somehow it just didn't happen! I'll have a look for seagrass mats, thanks
We just use the previous days newspaper just inside the tent rather than taking a mat - very absorbant and can be changed every day - once OH has finished the crossword of course! As for fold up BBQ - I got a nice one in John Lewis. Its called a notebook BBQ which folds up to approx 18" x 12" x 1" so it just slides in between things. Its not huge but we managed for our family of 4 quite well.
Well, we woke up about 2am with our bums touching the floor and it carried on going down until about 5.30 when H couldn't bear it any more, so he just let it down and we finished the night on the quilt.
Well I'm not going to get into a discussion about SIGs v loose groundsheets, that's been done to death already, but because I have diabetic neuropathy in my feet I can't go without footwear!
To get around this, I take an old pair of slippers with me, mine are the moccasin type with "proper" soles on. I have to say it's not completely effective, but I can lay my groundsheet out when I get home and mop it clean.
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: Back from a week in new tent
and we had some pretty strong winds.
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