Camping is full of highs and lows but somehow it’s always worth it. Here, some of the Simple Things team - at least the more seasoned campers - share some of their most memorable camping moments.
You’ve not been camping until…
“...the airbed deflates in the night. It happens every time - and somehow you forget until the next time you're sleeping on one. The most memorable occasion, camping in north Wales, the tent was leaking too. My friend and I gave up and retreated to the car, where we reclined the front seats and slept there.”
Jo Mattock, Commissioning Editor
You’ve not been camping until…
“...you try and put up a tent on the edge of a cliff in a gale. We bought a new tent for the kids when we went to Dorset and were staying on a campsite that went ups to the cliff edge. Our bell tent went up fine, but when we tried to put up the new one (which obviously we didn’t look at before, seasoned campers that we are) it was a lightweight nightmare. The kids hid in the car as we were nearly blown away and took about three attempts to get it pitched correctly. We had an audience of other unhelpful campers who cheered when we finally got it up and didn’t go off the edge of the cliff (it felt like the same cheer when you’re working in a pub and drop some glasses, I was not very amused).”
Karen Dunn, Commissioning Editor
You’ve not been camping until…
“you’ve gone glamping with friends in September in ‘Jane Austen country’ and listened to the sound of deer rutting in the field next door ALL night, with eight inquisitive children all asking what that noise is and why the stag is called ‘Mr Darcy’.”
Iona Bower, Editor at Large
You’ve not been camping until…
“...you've eaten brioche rolls for three days solid and shared the last tea bag between three.”
Rebecca Frank, Wellbeing Editor
You’ve not been camping until…
“...you've found ingenious ways to utilise every bit of kit. Growing up, we had a yellow plastic crate that was used to ship all the food needed for our holiday. And once in situ, it was turned upside down and used as a side table (all the home comforts!), a portable washing up station and a toddler bath/paddling pool for my younger sister. It even became a makeshift potty at one point, when she climbed in, squatted down, then stood up and proudly remarked ‘Now that's what I call a real tortoise!’ It's now family folklore and still laughed about some 35 years later.”
And finally, from TST’s most seasoned camper… you’ve not been camping until…
“...You’ve watched the stars while having a wee in the middle of the night, you’ve made ‘second breakfast’, you’ve won the prize of ‘the one comfy camp chair’, you’ve listened to the rain ping off the tent and know it is not leaking, you’ve sipped a whisky by the light of the campfire, you’ve not seen the kids for at least an hour, you’ve packed the tent up before the rain arrives. Less positively: you’ve had to retrieve the dog from someone else’s camp larder, you’ve had a six-hour drive and then had a row while putting up the tent, there’s ice on the inside of the tent.”
Lisa Sykes, Editor
This blog was inspired by our ‘Looking Back’ feature, which we’ve called ‘Happy Campers’ from our May issue. You can read it from page 70 of the issue.
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
