The Anti-Camper Returns
I’m back.
With an un-reasonable amount of clothes to wash.
And sunburn. From the 10 minutes that the sun came out in 8 days.
I am not sure which would be worse for camping. The 40 degree heat that everyone complained about having LAST year or the torrential flooding and continuing rain that we experienced. Turning into a hell-fire spitting creature during heatwaves is not un-common for myself, but then again, a petulant sodden Mummy is not the best person to be around either really.
And really, with camping – you are at the mercy of the elements, non? And tents do not have en-suites. And sand naturally attaches itself to EVERY single part of your foot – ready to detach when you finally collapse onto your self-inflating-mattress-from-hell. Only to battle to snoring chain smoking monster that is otherwise your husband. And a very tired sleep talking arm flailing 7 year old daughter with a “what-EV-A” attitude to match. Exhausted 5 year olds that spend the days riding their bike around (and finally throwing their training wheels to the wind), are prone to horribly bloodied stubbed toes (because didn’t I TELL YOU TO WEAR YOUR SHOES!!!!!). It’s the way of the world.
It’s also normal to have TARP envy. Especially when you don’t have one. (If I had of had Internet access I would have looked up these guys and paid for delivery). And Winnebago Envy. $220,000 Winnebago envy – complete with BED, TOILET, MICROWAVE, and 2 DVD players. Bliss.
Still. I can’t complain. (Although I just have)(About everything). We had it easy with the kids – it was really a matter of “what kids?” as there were 17 kids with the combined families. And wine. And good company.
Yep. We have re-booked for next year. But I’m getting me a TARP!
PLEASE NOTE – photos and crafting exploits to follow. After the washing is done. Sigh.
Oh my Lordy! You poor thing! I can’t even imagine!
Eek! As one who spends 3 months a year in a tent, yes, a tarp is a must.
Oh dear, I’m laughing hard at everyone’s stories. But you wanna know the sad, bad thing? I’m gonna drag Tilly and Philip off camping as soon as I can. I want to spend next Easter in a tent. Not the usual tent Pip and I have but a great big family tent. Possibly at a caravan park. Philip will hate it, Tilly will probably contract a virulent baby disease and I will end up grumpy and regretful but…. I still really want to do it! Sad, non?
We came home in spite of having a massive tarp. First night it blew down, running around in the middle of the night finding tent pegs. Second night we didn’t bother but it didn’t rain. Third night it took eight men forty minutes to rig it up again with a million poles and ropes, rained like mad and seemed ok, but as soon as a gust of wind came (again at 2 o clock in the morning) it blew down again.
And, we had an ensuite camping site!
We need to invest in some good sand tent pegs – ours just kept blowing out.
Except I’m never going camping again.
Sometime I will tell you about a fun time in high winds and rain on the low desert with four kids.
Now it’s been long enough ago to seem funny. Now we camp in an rv with a little bathroom, and a real bed. Heaven I tell you, for sore old bones.
I hope that you get a chance to have a fun trip, or are you never going again? hehe
Well, everyone has at least one horror camping story. I should tell mine, sometime…Well, that which does not kill you only makes you stronger!
Urgh! Shudder, camping… I consent to ‘doing camping’ when it is a means to an end – like staying going to a festival. I had too many camping holidays as a child to be able to see the fun in it. The Outside is overrated, unless it also provides access to the necessities of life.
Oh dear! You poor woman. Sit down and take a load off; it’s time to knit!
I’m so glad my camping days [in tents] are behind me; now we are at least civilsed and hire cabins [with ensuites].
thanks for reminding me how much i love camping…. not.
I spent one camping and canoeing trip chasing my kids, and their friends, OUT of my bed – stupid me wanted a grit free zone for sleeping, and they wanted a cosy comfy place to shed said gritty granules…..
One morning woke up at sparrow-fart, yawned and stretched and wondered if I had had a peculiar, very localised sort of ’stroke’ during the night, ’cause I couldn’t move the toes on my right foot………, wait for it,
Because the toes were all gummed up with somebody’s second hand chewie, that’s why.
We missed you so (I try not to camp – love the comraderie – hate the sand and lccak of indoor plumbing!) Kim and Sian camped in the garden last weekend – 1 night – it was the only night we’ve had rain and wind for months! (Typical!)
Nice to have you back talk after you’ve finished the laundry!
Its about time! You were missed. Can’t wait to see the pics. Maybe…you should start a Tarp Fund.
Using capital letters and including the word “fund” makes it seem all the more special eh.
Missed you. Hurry with the laundry already.