Re your next trip, August bank holiday usually means busy roads and heaving campsites. Not overly conducive to a relaxing time. You can also almost always bank on it chucking it down
For the sake of 1 days holiday you could have a break in early September when the weather can be glorious and the campsites and roads are a good deal quieter.
Hiya
just wanted to say that we bought kitchen shelves etc on a whim but soon came to realise that with young children it was taking too much time to set up camp. We now use collapsible boxes to store our pots/pans/lamps/ (non chilled)food in and a cool bag for chilled stuff. If I want to raise bread etc off the ground we just stack them. Also I either use a suitcase between us or individual little rucksacks for our clothes either way they get put in the tent and stay in the suitcase/bag for the duration. Plenty of layers keeps us warm. We always take food for the evening and breakfast at least. A picnic for on the way or when you arrive is great too. With our four kids I take a lot of snack stuff to give them while we're setting up- bananas, raisins,chic chip brioche etc.to fend off hunger pangs.
Good luck with your next camp!
Your post really cheered me up, thanks, I have had a really crap day at work and reading about your first camping trip problems made my day seem irrelevant.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep at it, it only takes practice. I can put up almost any tent within 45mins even if I havent seen it before. But then again I have camped since I was 9 months old, so its in the blood. There is lots of great advice in this thread, I hope anyone who is in a similar situation takes time to read this, as it shows that campers DO stick together and help eachother out.
Better luck next time you go away and I hope you have as many great times camping as I have over the years.
------------- Never look down at anybody....
.....unless to offer a hand, to help them up
I have got a voyager 6 and it takes me and the wife about 2 hours to set up.
please please please don't give up. a few weeks or months from now you will be looking back at this day and probably laugh about it, remember you have only got to ask, and someone will help. Happy Camping.
What great advice there is on this thread. Glad you havent given up. All I can add is that if you're struggling for space buy some vac bags. After reading about them on here I am a huge fan. I intend to take a double duvet pillows & blankets with me next time we go...absolute bliss after freezing in a cheap sleeping bag! I also managed to get 4 camping mats for a fiver on Ebay, I just searched for local pick up. Re campsite in Yorkshire I can recommend Jasmine Park, its a lovely quiet site
hi, i have read your post with great interest and the comments have been brilliant, you were very much in the same boat as me when we took our 1st trip, disater with the airbeam, two 12 year olds,one 3 yr old,one 15 month old and a dog!it was dark by the time we finished, or half finished! i could have set the lot on fire, i also have ms and it completely broke me!
i did not give up, swapped the tent, and we tried again, it really does get easier as time and the more familiar you become with your kit.
now we can sail off with the trailer ready to go, park at a site and have a vermont xl and all the gear up and done in 2 hrs , no stress in fact we plan our next trip while we are on camp
really stick at it, as like you this was the only way of getting out with the family and learning by mistakes is sometimes the best way
Quote: Originally posted by numptycamper on 01/8/2011
Thanks for all the replies. It's done me good to see all the tips and tricks that are in this thread.
We pitched the tent again yesterday afternoon in the garden. Realising where the error was with our attempt at Cropton (the upper cross poloe being put in before the bottom one), I wanted to prove my theory right or wrong. Having put the lower cross pole in first, this worked a treat. I think we managed to get it put up in roughly half an hour! You can probably tell that we were really happy with that.
I think with the other measures we're talking in place, we may fair alot better.
We're thinking of going camping over the August Bank Holiday weekend as we've got the Saturday, Sunday and Monday off from work. Any suggestions for areas to go in Yorkshire with a 15month oldand a pushchair are most welcome :-).
we are going to upwood park just outside haworth, and its a nice site with excellent facilities, little park for kids ect,
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Disastrous First Camping Trip
