I DID IT!!!!!
Just back from Whitby - NO EHU!!!
Took your advice and bought some gas powered straighteners from Ebay and even though they weren't as good as my trusty GHD's they eventually did the trick!
The only thing i missed was a really cold (plugged in) cool box. Didn't like using ice blocks even though the site owner refroze them for us, didn't really keep everything cool.
Everything else was FAB! Won't be so precious in the future now! If they don't have EHU, no problem!
I have had EHU for every set up since I migrated from a ridge tent. I can camp without it, but these are the things I use regularly and would not like to holiday without,
1. My laptop. - this is used for music, DVD's, TV and the internet in one smallish package. I could do with out this, but I would get really bored really quickly, probably ending up jailed for hitting a noisy child etc as a consequence.
2. Heater. - This year will be the 1st time I am using a SIG and a smaller than my usual size tent. (downsized from Aruba to Carolina 3) so it may be possible to avoid this, but I will be in the tent for hours at a time during the evening and the weather may be inclement.
3. Lighting. We have used all the various types of camping lanterns, from gas mantels (noisy buggers) to battery and yes mains. And whilst the others work adequately, mains is best for sure.
4. Fridge. The sun (if it arrives) will warm our tent and make it unsafe to keep fresh meat and dairy products in a cool box for long periods - and as there is only the 2 of us, we do not get through meat, milk or marge quick enough to make storage problems go away. I took part in a test where a small well insulated cool box was used with the prescribed amount of blocks which were replaced every 6 hours. The internal temperature was recorded as not low enough consistently to prevent the growth of some pretty nasty bugs. I can't envisage a week of just tinned, dried and packet foods (or god forbid takeaways).
So even though I can charge some things in the car. It is just not practical for me to go without EHU. I am happy that there are some who do not share my needs as this helps spread us out over the field a bit.
Oh and I still camp using a fire bucket parked right out side.
If im honest. The only things that I missed too on our week without EHU was the Electric Coolbox. So much easier than ploughing through a fridge for our blocks only to find some sod has knicked them. Our Gas lanterns gave as sufficient light as our usual electric lights. I admit, I missed my laptop - It was dreadful weather and the laptop would have come in handy for some movies or a dvd game. Had the weather been good all the time though, it wouldnt have been used. The battery powered radio was great.
Something that worries me though! Many of you mention all these electrical items you take (including me), and we think nothing of it, but if someone mentions using a Gas heater in a tent, its a big safety issue. Its a bigger issue plugging in things in a damp environment and potentially frying yourself rather than the tent. It just shows how some things are practiced quite thoughtlessly but just as dangerous in certain situations. Funny breed us campers!
------------- Always forgive,Never forget;Learn from mistakes,But Never regret;People change,Things go wrong;Just remember life goes on
Cool campers use Delta Pegs.
The happiest people aren't the ones who have everything they are the ones who make the most of everything they have
I managed without EHU this time, my cool box stayed cool, and kept the children fit changing the icepacks several times a day!
I don't drink much tea or coffee so didn't miss my kettle, and my grill on my little stove was surprisingly good so I got my toast. The major downside was not being able to charge my phone, silly woman that I am charged it in car, forgot and left it plugged in for hours, came to leave campsite - and guess what flat battery, so thankyou if it was you that was pushing me around, to get me on my way.
I am thinking about October half term camping, and for that will definately need EHU I can't live without my heater in cold weather.
we have been camping for a couple of years now, never ever use EHU. surley thats what its all about. we have great fun spotting thoses who are home from home t.v. the lot why? iask myself. my problem, as just posted is how to keep milk fresh or where can i buy those milk stix things from.
I only change our ice blocks once a day and the milk and stuff always seems pretty cold. No meat in the cool box though so at least that is one less thing to worry about.
4. Fridge. .... I can't envisage a week of just tinned, dried and packet foods (or god forbid takeaways).
Fresh fruit, veg and eggs don't need a fridge. We've just come back from two weeks camping without a fridge, we had EU but no car and I didn't fancy lugging a fridge across the country. I used quite a few tins (kidney beans, chick peas, chopped tomatoes, fish) and dried food (rice, noodles cous cous) and even some packets (dried falafel mix and sponge cake mixes) and lots of fresh veg too keep us supplied with healthy meals.
You can even have fresh meat if you buy it and use it immediately (we had a nice king prawn and pasta thingy with frozen prawns bought earlier in the day).
The biggest change to my usual cooking habits was that I wasn't able to keep any leftovers.
Went camping in France this summer. We never use EHU! We took our cool-box, but it was a waste of time - the ice melted straight away! However we managed fine - just shopped every day or two.
Also, these new LED lights are brighter than the lights in my house! I use the wee UHT milk cartons which never go off! Love reading in the tent with my torch.
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: Camping without EHU!
