I’ve had me canvas bell tent for two years and been on ten camping trips in it to date. Shortest trips being for three
days and longest a week - all year round - marvellous! I absolutely love it and prefer the smaller “tents only” sites.
Camped over the years in a family dome tent, frame tent, trailer tents and caravan and the canvas bell is my
favourite. Very easy to put up and comfortable to stay in and seems as tough as old boots.
But, alas it seems like the end of an era. Son John, my main camping buddy, has left school and got himself an
apprenticeship (ungrateful brat). I hope he still finds time to go camping with his Dad but I realise getting away will be
less frequent and less spontaneous. I’ll miss him for his stove duties...
OH and daughter have camped with us on a few occasions but only for a cursory night or two - I don’t think they
really “get it”
I did a solo camp on Skye for a week end of October and really enjoyed it. Absolutely stunning island and I was
blessed with stunning weather. I must try and visit again. At the end of it all though I think I would have enjoyed it
even more with a bit of company. Looking up at the Milky Way in pitch darkness (no light pollution) was a moment
to be shared. :0(
I thought about taking our year old Collie but he’s as mad as a box of frogs and I couldn’t cycle and do my photography
if I was trying to control him!
If it’s a choice of going on my own or not going at all, I’ll go on my own. I’ll miss the company of evenings sat round
our wood burner sharing a beer and recalling shared experiences though...
I do enjoy my own company but can’t help feeling a bit of a “sad sack” at the thought of camping solo for the next
twenty years!
Just wondered if any others have found themselves in a similar situation and how they got on?
There's nothing 'sad' about camping solo, whether it's for one year or twenty years - if that's what you want to do and you enjoy your own company anyway then do it, you just need to adjust your thinking a little. Yes, there are times when having someone there to share certain things with would be nice, but equally some things are better when they're not shared and it's just you - and being on your own means you have the freedom to do what you want when you want.
I've been camping solo with my two little dogs for almost four years now after the sudden and devastating end of a fifteen-year relationship and I love it, in fact I enjoy it so much I write a blog about it. I still go to a couple of the places where I used to go with my ex but have been to many I would probably never have gone to if we'd still been together. Yes, there have been a few times where I've been somewhere, done something or seen something that's made me smile and briefly thought ''I wish 'x' was here now'' but on the other hand there have been times when I've been somewhere and thought ''I'm glad 'x' isn't here, he wouldn't appreciate this''
There would be no point in trying to cajole your OH and daughter to go with you for the company if they aren't really into it - if your son can no longer go with you and your OH is happy for you to go off on your own then do it. Solo camping is a great way of exploring places you might otherwise never get to - maybe you could do your cycling and photography on some weekends and other weekends leave the bike at home and take the dog instead.
I don't know if this would interest you but there's a 'single parents and solo campers' group on here which meets up at various sites in the North West, Yorkshire and Derbyshire, and one or two of the members have families/partners who can't or don't want to camp. We're a very friendly bunch - in fact we're all total nutters! lol - so if you fancy joining us, with or without a mad collie, you would be more than welcome.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
im with Tigermouse on this one (and i've never solo camped like she has), don't let being by yourself in a tent distract you from the peace, views, fresh air and if you want it the opportunity to make new friends.
my SIL gave up camping when her OH moved on, we hoping to get her back under canvas and meeting up somewhere in the middle (we live 300 miles part) this coming season, she so retest giving it up
no matter if your in a tent by yourself on a field with 60 others, theres nothing like a hot cuppa and frying bacon to put the world to rights
I'm in a similar situation as the kids have left home and my husband doesn't camp. My daughter used to be my camping buddy but now I have the tent to myself.
It can seem a bit flat sometimes, having everything set up and no one to share it with - a sort of, 'Okay, I'm here. Now what?' feeling. It takes a bit of getting used to.
It can also seem a bit selfish with husband sitting at home on his own and me sitting in the tent on my own. I'm working on ways of getting him to come along and stay somewhere nearby, within four brick walls.
However, I've been lucky that most times I have had company. Sometimes it's other family, sometimes I have met up with great folks I've come across on this forum!
Keep up the camping and keep an eye open for others you could meet up with. You could also let people on here know of your plans and you might get some joining you.
When camping, I have the love of a good woman. Three grown up kids, each of whom I could not be more proud, and each with an equally wonderful partner. Grandkids, sisters, friends and extended family....... Oh, how I wish they'd all sometimes pi** off and leave me to camp solo!!
Tomahawk Kid you would be more than welcome to join us on our solo and single parent meets... we always have a great time and lots of laughs... I'd kill me to give up camping! so glad I found these guys :-)
I was left on my own 2 years ago and decided I wouldn't give up camping, the first summer I was lucky enough to get away with friends and family a few times but as it got later in the year I thought I can go on my own which is fine or I can try one of the meets off here, I decided to bite the bullet and try a few meets, it was a bit daunting when you have been away with the same person for 27 years to suddenly find yourself in a field with a bunch of strangers, but i'm so glad I did it, Iv'e had a ball.
I now go away with 3 different groups, and the single parent and campers group the most, as their very local to me, its a very friendly bunch and there are new people joining all the time, you would be most welcome to any of the meets.
It seems like there's some great groups on here. I'll have a proper read of the forums to get a feel of who's doing what. I must admit it sounds brilliant fun - I feel a bit envious! All credit to those that go to the effort of making things happen.
Would it be bad form to have a "pick and mix" kind of approach? I mean, do the campers at a meet stick together throughout the duration or do individuals do their own thing and meet up as and when?
If there are other teenagers about I might be able to get my daughter and one of her pals to come with me but if not I'd probably prefer to do my own thing and meet up on an evening.
BTW how do you spot a fellow nutter - do you have a special handshake or something?
In the mean time I'll add some info to me profile...
Hi Mike cant speak for any other groups on here but your always welcome to join us The Northern Solo/Single Parent Group or The Nutters as we seem to have become known as . I was the one who had the misfortune to start this group off about 16 month ago and I am so glad I did.I have camped for many years with my kids which was and still is great but a bit of adult company at night time to gather round the firepit and share a few beers was the one thing that was missing.Since then the "adult company" have become great friends and just recently we have been meeting up on some weekends for a few beers and a chat minus the tents
If you decide to join us on any of our meets feel free to do your own thing as and when you like.Lots of members wander off during the day to do there own thing some stay on site.
Feel free to bring your daughter along with her friend ,theres lots of kids on our meets who all enjoy the weekends camping
How do you spot a fellow Nutter ? theres a question Simples really if you come in october just look out for the beach party crew dressed in grass skirts etc If march look for the Halloween costumes in june Christmas hats etc .....despite all this lunacy we are a quite sensible bunch of nutters if that makes sense Theres no special handshake either suppose it sounds a bit "clicky" but were not, anyone can join us you will be glad you did our group is forever expanding and two new members are joining us on our Halloween meet in march.
Whatever you decide to do Mike get out there and do some camping its what we've all got in common
Concur with the others about nothing sad camping on one's own.
I prefer to be on my own, to do as I please, whenever it pleases me.
Having camping on my own with the dog since 2009, and long may that continue.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
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* Ex-tenter
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Quote: Originally posted by Tomahawk Kid on 13/1/2013
do the campers at a meet stick together throughout the duration or do individuals do their own thing and meet up as and when?
If there are other teenagers about I might be able to get my daughter and one of her pals to come with me but if not I'd probably prefer to do my own thing and meet up on an evening.
Mike
Some members do get together as a small group and will go off somewhere for the day, especially if there are young children there, but others just do their own thing - there's no pressure on anyone to join in with anything. I'm a 'do your own thing' person so will go off on my own during the day, exploring and photographing different places, then meet up with the others round the camp fire in the evenings - it's a great way of combining solo camping with the social aspect of it.
As for recognising a 'nutter' - well Billy's post says it all. Grass skirts and beachwear in late October, Halloween in March and Christmas in June - what more evidence do you need?? No special handshakes either, just a very warm welcome if you do join us.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
Thank you very much for your hospitality (and all the others who have taken the trouble to reply).
I am looking forward to this season with a bit less aprehension now! Well on some accounts I am - not quite sure about grass skirts and beachwear in October :0)
Beers and ripping yarns around the campfire is more my comfort zone TBH.
Right, this will be another resolution to add to my list!
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: End of an era? Now what??
if that makes sense Theres no special handshake either suppose it sounds a bit "clicky" but were not, anyone can join us you will be glad you did our group is forever expanding and two new members are joining us on our Halloween meet in march.
No special handshakes either, just a very warm welcome if you do join us.
