Well, we have just had our practice run at putting up the Kampa hayling 6, ready for our week away on sunday.
It took maybe 70 minutes, and we didn't argue really, a few snarls.
But, one we started pegging at the back and not the front and now the front is way too taut - lesson learnt, follow the instructions!
And 2, in the kit we have 2 left over tent poles described as steel awning poles, but as the tent has a built in canopy with bendy pole insert, we can't see where the 2 poles should fit. Nor are they mentioned in the instructions except in the list of contents. Erm, is my tent going to fall down?
They do have a Pointy end. That would make sense, they must be surplus to this model tent then as the canopy is fixed and door panel rolls sideways. Good to know!
OK - so tent is up, kids are so excited they put themselves to bed in their bags an hour early. However, clearly not tired and here the ipad comes into its own, as they are in bed watching cartoons.
I am sitting outside relaxing with a Bud - if this is camping I can do it! :)
So, tried to HiGear suitcase stove and the spark part doesnt work, so had to use a match - but it did the job. Boiled the Hi Gear whistling kettle - not so much a whistle as a whine. Already sending back the HiGear lantern as it doesnt work!
Lesson learnt - avoid Hi-Gear! I will soon find out how good their sleeping bag is - I think that is a vital thing to get right :) If that doesnt work (how can a sleeping bag fail?) then we have a problem.
Ah - and my pizza has just arrived. Lovely! Definitely a good idea to have a practise camp though!
Just watched a Utube video on putting up the Kampa Filey - it took them 10 minutes and its bigger than the Kampa Hayling we have. However, much easier their way so we will try that when we get to the campsite!
Well practice camp in the garden went like this - waited till dark and tried to put kids to bed.
Toddler experiencing multiple 1st times - 1st time not sleeping with bars (cot), 1st time sleeping on a noisy airbed, 1st time sleeping in a tent.
5yo and toddler finally stopped trying to sneak out of the tent by 11. Toddler finally asleep by 12. Then,. In his sleep he wriggles and moved and slept on every bit of tent ground except his airbed.
On the bright side, he is still asleep now at 8am.
Maybe I should just cover the floor of the sleeping area in duvet so he can move about but stay warmer . . .
I am thinking about maybe getting him a kids sleeping bags like he used to have in the house, with shoulder straps to keep it on him while he wriggles round the room.
9am and still sleeping. So -the answer to noisy kids waking you up in the am is just to let them stay up till midnight! :)
Now I am sitting here while the rest of the family snore in the tent I am debating whether to go get a table/bench set. . . We have one roll up table for cooking on at the moment. Think. I need to pack the car, see what space I have, then go shopping this arvo before we set off tomorrow! :) I think I a, going to like camping as much for the excuse to shop as for anything else!
we bought a folding picnic table bench set years ago. If you are all the perfect size 8 and equal it will be good, otherwise a waste of money and space.
Yes we put up our tunnel tent the way it says in the Filey 6 video and it works a treat.
My brother has a toddler and uses the sleeping bag from her cot at home for exactly the reason you described. You could throw a cheap fleece blanket on the floor underneath. If he wriggles it'll go with him.
Folding table and chairs might be just perfect for the three weans. They are made for elves though. Grown up chair for mum and dad at either end?
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Topic: Left over poles?
