Hi
The only advantage of getting old and been pentioned off,is that we get the opertunity to go camping more often than when we had to work, and we are able to choose to go when the weather is better,and we can take advantage of clubs and sites that offer discounts for antique campers
We try every year now to have six holidays of 14 nights or more every year,last year we only had three, and as many shorter trips of between 4 and 6 days,finances permitting.in between.
We do miss the caravans and the small moterhome we have had in the past,to get away in the winter, but would find it would stretch our budget so we would not get anymore time away.
I still enjoy sitting outside the tent on a friday evening, and watching how quick the young familys get their camp set up today,it now takes val and I six hour to complete these days but we still get the andorra up and pegged down in around 1/2 an hour on a good day
Rex
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
For us, its 3-4 times a year, usually long weekends as the rest of the time is taken up with working (unfortunately.... but have to fund my buying of camping stuff somehow!) We both only get 20 odd days paid leave, so that has to cover our camping adventures as well as other hols.
Our set up times are about 1.5hrs for the lot, 30mins to get the tent up and then an hour for all the other bits. Its a team effort, OH has his jobs and I have mine!
I totally agree with you Rex, there is nothing better than sitting out in the Friday evening sunshine with a glass of something cold and watching other families driving on, getting set up...the smell of someones BBQ, the gentle burble of chatter and laughter...ahhhh....can't wait for the weather to get better!
Quote: Originally posted by msty29368 on 23/3/2008
About 3 times for a week at a time and every other weekend when weather is a bit finer seeing as we have a 8 month Son added to the family clan lol
Hi Steven
The way time goes he will be wanting his own pop up before you know were you are
Rex
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
For us, its 3-4 times a year, usually long weekends as the rest of the time is taken up with working (unfortunately.... but have to fund my buying of camping stuff somehow!) We both only get 20 odd days paid leave, so that has to cover our camping adventures as well as other hols.
Our set up times are about 1.5hrs for the lot, 30mins to get the tent up and then an hour for all the other bits. Its a team effort, OH has his jobs and I have mine!
I totally agree with you Rex, there is nothing better than sitting out in the Friday evening sunshine with a glass of something cold and watching other families driving on, getting set up...the smell of someones BBQ, the gentle burble of chatter and laughter...ahhhh....can't wait for the weather to get better!
Hi Fritzbomb,
Enjoy the work as well as your camping,as they will come a day you may miss it
But that day is not yet for you so just enjoy life, it sounds as though you know how,
All the best.
Rex.
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
We go as soon as the temperature gets over the magic 5 degrees old bones don't working under that temp. We get away nearly every weekend but only for one night. We use sites that allow us to arrive about 4pm Saturday and leave 4pm Sunday. So with the Kyham we can be totally set up including toilet tent in and hour. Sunday is a different matter usually takes all day bed plugs pulled first thing in the morning and then as the day goes on as everything that will not be used again it's put away. Until dinner time then the washing up done all equipment packed away and all we have left is the toilet tent and suitcase stove for a brew You can't have one without the other
As new campers last year we only managed one 5 night break away so we are all itching to get away for our first camping trip of hopefully many this year - we have purchased a few more things and about to purchase our roofbox too - cant explain how raring to go we are - bring on the warmer weather :)
Hoping to go Wales soon (shortest drive for us to get to the coast)....gotta wait till May tho' - bah! I've already had my camping kit out from our "cubby under the stairs" and checked it over, removed some bits, added some new ones...itching to get going!
We've only been camping for about 3 years now but try to get away 3 - 4 times per year. 1 for a fortnight and maybe 2 others for a week each. As others have said, work for us is a necessary evil which gets in the way of our fun. I try to arrange the weeks so they fall with a bank holiday so I get 5 days but only use up 4 of my annual holiday's, if you see what I mean. Sometimes I can't help but think that retirement (9 years away) can't come quick enough. Spending time out in the fresh air has got to be healthier than sitting at work in an office staring at a computer all day.
Hi Steve
We all dream of retirement, and yes if you stay healthy and you have invested wisely throughout your working life then what you dream will come true.
But for most of us the day you give up working your income drops to 40% of what is was. plenty of time to enjoy yourself but no money to do it with.
Rex
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
Luckily we don't work weekends so as soon as the weather gets nice enough we're off every weekend usually from May til late August.
We also have 2 week long holidays, one in France one in this country.My hubby doesn't get many days holidays. Or i should have said didn't. He has just landed a job with weekends off , all bank holidays and another 8 weeks on top of that.
I get basically the same only the 8 weeks is 6 for me. So this year we hope to cram in 2 fortnights of camping instead of 2 weeks
OH gets one full weekend off in 4, and I work monday-friday, but this year we have a cunning plan! The occasional Saturday, Sunday or Monday has been booked off to make up more weekends off together. Plus we have 1 week in May, 2 weeks in July and 1 week in September to look forward to.
We have decided to try and get away as often as we can this year, starting next weekend.
We have a week in May and at least a Week in August. All our gear is kept in the trailer so if there is good weather we can just hook up and go. I also love to watch those people who obviously have a new tent and haven't had a trial run. Last year we helped out a group of students it was hilarious to watch.
We got away 6 times last year, 2 week long trips and 4 long weekends. We have just got a caravan which I'm hoping will mean that we can go earlier and later in the year and also go for more 1/2 night trips.
We find that it takes a long time to pack and unpack the car as all our stuff lives in the loft and we don't have a drive in front of the house so it means carrying everything down the path. This means that we don't tend to go for shorter trips. Although we have small tents and could go minimal we never seem to, so hopefully having pretty much everything in the caravan ready to go will mean we will get away for more weekends.
We won't be giving up on our tent though. Nothing beats waking up in a tent on a summer's day, or cooking outside with a beautiful view to entertain you.
We are retired like you Rex , so it's when the weather is right We look what the weather is like in 100 mile radius of Nottingham on a Wednesday, then we go on Thursday till Sunday. We only managed 4 camps last year but in 2005 we got 8 in Our way has payed off so far so we will carry on this way. Trailers packed ready when the weather is right UKCS meet at Newhaven in Derbyshire looks like being our first this year 24th April
------------- Corpogreen esq
dead horse
and
donkey buyer
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: How often do you camp each year
old bones don't working under that temp. We get away nearly every weekend but only for one night. We use sites that allow us to arrive about 4pm Saturday and leave 4pm Sunday. So with the Kyham we can be totally set up including toilet tent in and hour. Sunday is a different matter usually takes all day bed plugs pulled first thing in the morning and then as the day goes on as everything that will not be used again it's put away. Until dinner time then the washing up done all equipment packed away and all we have left is the toilet tent and suitcase stove for a brew 
