Be Excellent To Each Other

Bit of an erection it the garden today, eh chaps, EH?

Yes, we bought a tent and put it up in the garden. Seems fairly decent, supposedly room for 6, it's got a sleeping room and another room in front that, which can be used for mo' people sleeping and can also be opened up with an awning-y bit when it's just the two of us. Got some sleeping bags and an air mattress so we have the very basics to start with. We'll get a few cooking bits too I think, like a little gas burner and some small pots and pans.

The idea is that we can just chuck the gear in the car and head off on a friday after work and come back sunday night, but without having to pay for a hotel each time. This should let us see a bit more of the state and (and country) and also be good fun and outdoorsy and also give us plenty of flexibility.

I haven't really done much camping, but Lady T has done quite a lot.

I'm quite excited by it, so let's talk camping gear and gadgets...

GO....

I love camping. We don't travel light though. 6 man tunnel tent, twin ring gas burner, double air besides how we roll. Outwell Maine I think our tent is.

I like camping. You will get eaten by spiders though. Brrr, Australia.

When we go away for hiking trips, which isn't as often as I'd like at the moment, we always like to pick campsites that have a pub attached. This way we don't have to faff about with cooking dinner and can drink in the cosy warm prior to straggling back to the tents.

Also, I swear by my Thermarest. Best piece of camping kit I've ever bought, even if I still struggle to get into the bag.

Spare no expense on kip mats/air bed/mattress etc to keep you comfy and warm while you sleep.

A cold and uncomfortable night ruins the next day as well.

I do miss cracking open a bottle of meths to power the trangia, haha.

All I want is one of those pop up tents that Pupil brought last year to the lakes. Bloody brilliant.

I certainly won't be going camping again without picking one of those up. Setting and packing up our two tents was an arse and a half, especially in that rain. And then Pupil strolls up, throws his in the general direction of his plot, then joins us for grills. Awesome.

I love me some camping! I have a pop up tent for when I go away without Andy and a giant 5 metre tent when I have him to carry all my stuff.

I don't do roughing it, so bring my memory foam pillow and 2 duvets when we camp - one for on top of the air mattress and one for over us.

We need to get planning an Easter camping trip, our last one was ace! Hopefully some more people will turn up this time *glares*

Camp in a hotel car park and I'll come.

No hotel, only hate.

I thought "ooh camping" for a second then I thought about the logistics of getting camping gear + three dogs, one of which is a huge golden retriever who pulls and another who needs to be carried everywhere and hates the people/outdoors + a 7 year old girl + an autistic kid onto a train all on my own. This thought scared the living shit out of me.

The correct answer is of course, "Leave them with someone for the weekend and enjoy yourself with chums"

Dibs.

My rates are very reasonable, and as a bonus, I'll answer any awkward questions they may have.

I heartily recommend getting some Delta ground anchors to replace the puny guy pegs you get with your tent. Invest in 2 rubber mallets for speedy erections, and go to campsites that let you build camp fires, such as the truly awesome Glyn Mul farm (check out the section on woodland camping)

You're dual-wielding rubber mallets? A gamer through and through.

They look quite neat. I had never even thought about the existence of 'peg-pullers' but they also look quite handy.

The tent is still up in our garden and I'm pleased to say has stayed dry inside. We didn't even get round to putting the guy ropes on (I also need to learn some proper knots I suppose). Next thing to do is take it down and try to bag it up nicely.



I've seen a couple of big 'uns, and there was a redback in our garage, but nothing majorly 'terrifying'. Of course, I don't hate spiders and am reasonably happy with them being around - but I don't particularly want to touch them. I've also walked through a fair few cobwebs, which is fairly unpleasant

I'm probably more worried about snakes, although most are OK there are some round here that have a rep for being very aggressive. I don't know how much of this is unfounded hearsay but don't really want to come into contact with them.

Make sure you dry it out thoroughly before bagging it up. You don't want your shiny new tent to rot

What type of guy ropes do you have? A new modern tent should have them attached to the tent, and all you need to know is:


In wet weather the guy lines will stretch, in dry weather they shrink. So get in the habit of each morning just going around the tent loosening/tensioning as required.

I would also reccomend getting a camping carpet (waterproof backed lightweight) for the main living area (or 'great hall'), and folding chairs and a table for comfort. A double sleeping bag is great - but remember several extra blankets. It can get pretty bloody cold at 5am in the morning, especially if there is dew.

If you can find it, a 'Coleman classic tent awning' (v.cheap, HUGE, & fits over any tent) and a small groundsheet makes an awesome covered outside area for wet weather (what I like to call the 'conservatory').
Somewhere to cook, leave muddy wellies, and stops rain coming into the main tent area:


Also check out this thread with it in use on 2-man popups, and a larger dome tent.

What a great site! Looks fantastic. Campfires always make camping trips that much more enjoyable.

(Wish I'd gone to the Tinkers' meet last year rather than stressing out over friends' wedding stuff).

Campfires are pretty much essential I reckon. Or else there's nothing much to do once it goes dark and cold. Sitting around a fire with some friends, listening to music, drinking and waffling shite is one of my most favouritest ways to spend an evening.

I've found our mini 'bucket' BBQ to be excellent for building a stealth fire in, even on non-campfire sites.

I'm pretty sure there will be a Tinkers Rucksack 2 this year. Same campsite, same turnout.

Ahh... camping! Love it. I can smell the burning now

You should come along this year, your gigantic bonce would make a great windbreak

That's a cracking photo, should be in the pics thread.

I just read through the Tinkers Rucksack thread again... misty, watercoloured memories.

We must do it again, same spot I recon.

Bagsye not driving!

Yep. Nothing holds the group together like a campfire. And, as you said, it's pretty much essential once the light fades and the temperature drops.

I'd be up for another tinkerer's meet. The last one was good, but more people would be nice.

In! Since the kalmar's house mini meet is probably doomed never to happen.

We're good for hippies thanks. Pupil is a Heavy Metal Hippy too.

It needs about six months' planning.

Indeed. Not two weeks. It would have worked for me though!

Can we bring babies this year?

You didn't even bring your DSLR last year because you couldn't trust yourself to look after it.

I'll have two babies though.

I'll just have some veggie sausages if that's OK.

Thanks man. It was just a quick snap with the compact. The camera did all the work

Aw. I'm still free!!

Ange wasn't. Ange was an essential part of the plan.

Maybe I should set an actual date.

Is this Kalmar and Russell's House of Girlfriend- and Wife-Stealing?

All this forum needs is a fruit bowl for the car keys.

And Dimrill.

Are you calling Dimrill a fruit?

Ooh, nice. Ta. The tent doesn't have the guy ropes attached but it has little loops to tie them into so it should be OK. I'll have to have a look at the toggle things and make sure they are 'done up' similar to that pic.

To dry the tent out I was thinking of hanging it out in the garage for a day or so before we bag it up, as the weather here at the moment is pretty miserable.

Where is that?

http://www.stayinthornthwaite.co.uk/

This place. Fantastic site, fires allowed and brilliant showers.

Plan it properly and we will be there