Camping - Help!!
Camping - Help!!
My husband and friends have persuaded me to go camping this weekend. I've never been and can't say I'm looking forward to it so if anyone has any tips, advice and positive things to say about it I'd be happy to hear them!
Thanks all
Puffle
Answers:
Hi Puffle - take loads of warm clothing cos things do tend to get a bit damp in a tent and since you will be on grass it does get chilly in the evenings. Saying that it might be a beautiful weekend weather wise and you will have a brilliant time.
It's useful to have deckchairs / camping chairs to sit on & not have to sit on rugs the entire time. Take insect repellant. Take a good torch for those trips to the loo in the night!
Are you doing your own cooking or eating out? You can't beat a camp fry up but make sure you take enough pots & pans and plates, also so pre-camping preparation is useful ie: take a readymade chilli don't start from scratch.
A BIG cool box with ice packs is useful and will keep your milk and perishables (and booze!) cool all weekend (some camp sites will allow you to re-freeze the ice packs overnight)
Above all have a relaxing time, eat out when /if you can and just enjoy the fresh air!
Answers:
I've lost count of the numbe of times I've been :camp: but I have loved it every time! I think it's great when you're curled up in a sleeping bag, listening to the rain batter on the tent, thinking "ha ha, I'm dry!"
Like GT said, take loads of warm clothing - but also shorts and t-shirts too because tents do tend to get hot if it's warm. On that note, make sure you've got suncream with you as well!
It's probably easier to take cleanse and tone wipes with you rather than two bottles and cotton wool!
You can also use these to wipe under your arms when they get a bit smelly!
Take boots in case it's wet (muddy fields and trainers don't mix), sandals/flip flops for if it's warm. Oh yeah, and insect repellent is always good.
Have a great time!
Answers:
Re: Camping - Help!!
My husband and friends have persuaded me to go camping this weekend. I've never been and can't say I'm looking forward to it so if anyone has any tips, advice and positive things to say about it I'd be happy to hear them!
Thanks all
Puffle
How can anyone not look forward to camping?
I love it.
My tip;
Take as little as possible and try not to bring much back.
If you need to take it and you can find a disposable version, use the disposable.
Everything from barbies to plates and cutlery, all freely and cheaply available at your local poundland/wilko etc..
Take a cool box and don't shop till you get where you're going, who wants to eat food that's been hanging around a a hot car for a few hours?
Cut down on your beauty stuff by putting everything in smaller bottles if you can and only take what you need.
Insect repellent and sun screen are a must.
Don't fuss about your hair if it's long - just put it up.
Answers:
yay camping! we camp in the snow in yosemite for 5 days each february, and were camping the other weekend in the bodega bay area of northern california.
ok, tent stuff first:
air matress is very useful and comfy, put something on top of it to stop it getting sweaty, underneath your sleeping bag.
dont forget pillows!
take your shoes off outside the tent if you can.
keep your stuff inside plastic storage boxes if you can, esp if its going to be wet. this year in yosemite it rained very hard and our tent flooded - but all our bedding was lifted up to on top of the matress and our clothes were in the storage bins so it was just a matter of sponging the water out - a big sponge is very useful if this is a possibility!
general:
a headlight is very useful, if you are eating in the dark you can see what you're doing and still have both hands free. also very useful when cooking, going to the bathroom. they can be picked up pretty cheaply.
we have big umbrellas that we always take - good in winter if it rains, good in summer to provide some shade. they're actually beach umbrellas that are waterproof rather than canvas, we got them in costco for about $13.
washkit - def the wipes, much much easier. lip balm important too, and suncream.
take plenty of wood for the fire - obviously only have a fire though if there is a proper fire-ring.
inspect your campsite with a fine toothed comb when you leave to make sure you dotn leave any litter.
'organic' stuff - food leftovers, paper, can go in the fire. anything else should be binned. never put plastic, metal or glass in the fire.
food:
you'll only need a few pots and pans. take one of those alcohol gel pumps to clean things and plenty of kitchen roll - we get through at least one roll a day in yosemite, but then there are about 10 of us! camping clean is very different to usual clean!
take pre-made stuff, we make up a huge chicken curry and also a big beef stew a few days beforehand, freeze it in big freezer bags and take it like that. obv. in feb it stays frozen, but even if it defrosts its still fine. then you just dump that into the pan and reheat, and currys and stews are always better reheated anyway.
or cooking steaks over the campfire is easy and they taste great.
then you just need rice (easy to cook) or potatoes (even easier, just wrap in tin foil and put around/over the campfire) to go with it. corn on the cob can be cooked over the fire too, just take off the 'pubes' but not the actual leaves, you'll need them to protect the kernals, soak the corn for a while so the leaves dont burn.
take lots of bottled water, you probably wont want to drink the on-site tap water.
we always have bacon, sausage, pancakes, bagels and cream cheese for breakfast. the other weekend we even made crepes! its easy to cook, or if you wanted even easier, you could take cereal (the little packets are best, or put some in a smaller bag/box so it doesnt take up too much room or get squashed) or cup-a-soups.
remember to take snacky stuff - cheese, sliced meats, trail mix, fruit, sweets etc too.
you can pack a small seasonings bag - salt and pepper, a lemon, garlic, few bits like that make a lot of difference.
clothing:
depends on what the weather is going to be like. even if its going to be sunny it can get cool outside on a night once the sun goes down. i like to have a hooded zip-up cardi.
if theres a chance its going to be wet, dont take jeans - they take forever to dry.
remember socks and underwear.
take stuff you can layer, then you have lots of options.
a sports bra rather than usual ones is a good idea.
hope you have a fab time, camping is great - sitting round the fire singing and drinking, lovely walks, waking up in nature. it just takes some prep.
lindseya
My husband and friends have persuaded me to go camping this weekend. I've never been and can't say I'm looking forward to it so if anyone has any tips, advice and positive things to say about it I'd be happy to hear them!
Thanks all
Puffle
Answers:
Hi Puffle - take loads of warm clothing cos things do tend to get a bit damp in a tent and since you will be on grass it does get chilly in the evenings. Saying that it might be a beautiful weekend weather wise and you will have a brilliant time.
It's useful to have deckchairs / camping chairs to sit on & not have to sit on rugs the entire time. Take insect repellant. Take a good torch for those trips to the loo in the night!
Are you doing your own cooking or eating out? You can't beat a camp fry up but make sure you take enough pots & pans and plates, also so pre-camping preparation is useful ie: take a readymade chilli don't start from scratch.
A BIG cool box with ice packs is useful and will keep your milk and perishables (and booze!) cool all weekend (some camp sites will allow you to re-freeze the ice packs overnight)
Above all have a relaxing time, eat out when /if you can and just enjoy the fresh air!
Answers:
I've lost count of the numbe of times I've been :camp: but I have loved it every time! I think it's great when you're curled up in a sleeping bag, listening to the rain batter on the tent, thinking "ha ha, I'm dry!"
Like GT said, take loads of warm clothing - but also shorts and t-shirts too because tents do tend to get hot if it's warm. On that note, make sure you've got suncream with you as well!
It's probably easier to take cleanse and tone wipes with you rather than two bottles and cotton wool!
You can also use these to wipe under your arms when they get a bit smelly!
Take boots in case it's wet (muddy fields and trainers don't mix), sandals/flip flops for if it's warm. Oh yeah, and insect repellent is always good.
Have a great time!
Answers:
Re: Camping - Help!!
My husband and friends have persuaded me to go camping this weekend. I've never been and can't say I'm looking forward to it so if anyone has any tips, advice and positive things to say about it I'd be happy to hear them!
Thanks all
Puffle
How can anyone not look forward to camping?
I love it.
My tip;
Take as little as possible and try not to bring much back.
If you need to take it and you can find a disposable version, use the disposable.
Everything from barbies to plates and cutlery, all freely and cheaply available at your local poundland/wilko etc..
Take a cool box and don't shop till you get where you're going, who wants to eat food that's been hanging around a a hot car for a few hours?
Cut down on your beauty stuff by putting everything in smaller bottles if you can and only take what you need.
Insect repellent and sun screen are a must.
Don't fuss about your hair if it's long - just put it up.
Answers:
yay camping! we camp in the snow in yosemite for 5 days each february, and were camping the other weekend in the bodega bay area of northern california.
ok, tent stuff first:
air matress is very useful and comfy, put something on top of it to stop it getting sweaty, underneath your sleeping bag.
dont forget pillows!
take your shoes off outside the tent if you can.
keep your stuff inside plastic storage boxes if you can, esp if its going to be wet. this year in yosemite it rained very hard and our tent flooded - but all our bedding was lifted up to on top of the matress and our clothes were in the storage bins so it was just a matter of sponging the water out - a big sponge is very useful if this is a possibility!
general:
a headlight is very useful, if you are eating in the dark you can see what you're doing and still have both hands free. also very useful when cooking, going to the bathroom. they can be picked up pretty cheaply.
we have big umbrellas that we always take - good in winter if it rains, good in summer to provide some shade. they're actually beach umbrellas that are waterproof rather than canvas, we got them in costco for about $13.
washkit - def the wipes, much much easier. lip balm important too, and suncream.
take plenty of wood for the fire - obviously only have a fire though if there is a proper fire-ring.
inspect your campsite with a fine toothed comb when you leave to make sure you dotn leave any litter.
'organic' stuff - food leftovers, paper, can go in the fire. anything else should be binned. never put plastic, metal or glass in the fire.
food:
you'll only need a few pots and pans. take one of those alcohol gel pumps to clean things and plenty of kitchen roll - we get through at least one roll a day in yosemite, but then there are about 10 of us! camping clean is very different to usual clean!
take pre-made stuff, we make up a huge chicken curry and also a big beef stew a few days beforehand, freeze it in big freezer bags and take it like that. obv. in feb it stays frozen, but even if it defrosts its still fine. then you just dump that into the pan and reheat, and currys and stews are always better reheated anyway.
or cooking steaks over the campfire is easy and they taste great.
then you just need rice (easy to cook) or potatoes (even easier, just wrap in tin foil and put around/over the campfire) to go with it. corn on the cob can be cooked over the fire too, just take off the 'pubes' but not the actual leaves, you'll need them to protect the kernals, soak the corn for a while so the leaves dont burn.
take lots of bottled water, you probably wont want to drink the on-site tap water.
we always have bacon, sausage, pancakes, bagels and cream cheese for breakfast. the other weekend we even made crepes! its easy to cook, or if you wanted even easier, you could take cereal (the little packets are best, or put some in a smaller bag/box so it doesnt take up too much room or get squashed) or cup-a-soups.
remember to take snacky stuff - cheese, sliced meats, trail mix, fruit, sweets etc too.
you can pack a small seasonings bag - salt and pepper, a lemon, garlic, few bits like that make a lot of difference.
clothing:
depends on what the weather is going to be like. even if its going to be sunny it can get cool outside on a night once the sun goes down. i like to have a hooded zip-up cardi.
if theres a chance its going to be wet, dont take jeans - they take forever to dry.
remember socks and underwear.
take stuff you can layer, then you have lots of options.
a sports bra rather than usual ones is a good idea.
hope you have a fab time, camping is great - sitting round the fire singing and drinking, lovely walks, waking up in nature. it just takes some prep.
lindseya