When we got our first TT about 15yrs ago. We took blankets off our beds, most of the food we needed, pots and pans etc from the kitchen, small camping gas 2 ring cooker with small grill (2nd hand shop) and a couple of deck chairs. Plastic sheeting for ground sheet Camping gaz lights, games and books. Suitcases of clothes and towels
Now we have:
EHU
Electric lights
Kettle
Gas cooker
Inflatable sofa bed
Comfy chairs
Comfy sleeping bags
Halogen oven
Slow cooker
Hair dryer and strighteners
TV + Freeview, DVD, and Wii
Heaters
Wardrobes
Carpet
Micro fibre towels
Porta loo
..and the list continues
I loved camping then as much as i do now. I am just a wee bit older and love me comforts
Do i still qualify as a die hard camper or am i now a woose
I take EHU, electric lights, kettle, gas cooker, chairs and good sleeping bags out of that list. The rest? Ummm. One person's comforts are another person's waste of packing space, but if you feel you really need and want it then why not? After all I ocassionally take a spinning wheel with me on camping trips and I doubt that gets onto many folks' lists!
I know exactly where you are coming from. I to take a lot of things, more down to OH than me I suspect, too much? Probably, could I do without them ? Probably. But like you I like my comforts. We do seem to use everything we take. I wonder sometimes, would I have so much gear if it was not for the cleaver marketing people ? Ummm who cares, take what you want.. waiting for emd of May now for our first trip out this season.. onwards and upwards..
There is nothing wrong with having a huge amount of kit like that. The art is making sure you use it all and remembering not to take the things you dont use or can't justify.
------------- Nigel
March 2012 - Dove Meadows
6th July Moving to Hayle
We always do a 'What did we use / what didn't we use' assessment at the end of every camping trip. The trouble is, there is very seldom anything on the 'what didn't we use' list!
It's a hobby of mine...and I also teach spinning. I've got seven wheels, including the one I bought on a camping trip to France last year and which I had to fit into the TT when we packed up to come home. Now that was tight packing, belive me!
So if you ever see a woman on the campsite sat outside a vintage (read ancient) TT on a summer evening with a spinning wheel, it will probably be me, lol.
I used to go camping basically with me, a sleeping bag, a tent and a Trangia. Add a few clothes, food and beer and that was enough.
Then I added one of the small Cadacs, a bigger dome tent, two burner stove, Thermarest...
Once I moved up to folding campers I guess I changed from being a roughty-toughty to being a namby-pamby!
Now I've got a 2004 Pennine with indoor toilet, oven, fridge and am adding a motor mover and heater. Is there any hope left?
I've never felt the need to take a spinning wheel - although I once brought a butter-churn back from a trip (wasn't mine, a friend couldn't get it in his caravan).
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 times have changed
