Top tips for camping virgin (with someone I rather fancy)

[Incipit]

Haven't ever been proper camping, and now going this weekend, for 6 nights. The friend I was to share a tent with has had to pull out, but she's lending me her gear. I still want to go because it's with a friendship group which includes a man I've been lusting over and have had very few opportunities to spend time with. So I don't want to look a complete incapable eejit. specially as I've got to drop DC off for their far more exciting holiday with my parents first, so will be arriving way later than everyone else.

I'm collecting the tent etc this evening and will practice putting it up. What else can I do in advance?

The weather forecast is for 23 degrees most days, but thunderstorms some days. Usually I pack light for holidays but I'm guessing I need plenty of layers and getting things dry will be difficult? Does it get chilly at night? Do people go to the showers/toilets in a dressing gown or a coat?

Basically any top tips will be gratefully received, and don't assume anything is too basic to need to be stated

Blanket under your air bed/camping mat to stop the cold coming up. I go to the toilets/showers in my pjs. I don't even own a dressing gown. I've been known to walk back in a towel before. Although we were the only people on site

I also walk back to tent in towel.

Take a camping chair.

What’s the catering plan? Make sure you contribute to the work, washing up etc. Nothing less attractive than someone on a camping trip who doesn’t pull their weight.

And a book for quiet moments (no tv). You don’t want to be sat there twiddling your thumbs. Card games?

Don't bother with a sleeping bag, bring sheets, pillow and a duvet, much more comfortable.

• take a battery powered light to use inside the tent
• bug spray, sunscreen and insect bite cream
• is there somewhere to charge a phone? If not, look at getting a power block or something that charges from the car
• a little mirror

Get a decent cooler, ive just bought a Coleman marine cooler and it’s a game changer.
If you have to produce a meal, plan it in advance. M&S do good tinned chilli con carne etc or have a practice run
If you don’t want to have to walk miles in the night for a wee, take some size 5 or 6 nappy’s and wee in them in your tent
A power pack for your phone.

Plenty of pairs of socks x nothing worse than cold feet when camping. If there are showers on site then a pair of flip flops/slides to wear in the shower and for walking back to tent- socks on damp feet take ages to put and there are never enough places to sit as well as keep your stuff dry whilst showering! Actually take a couple of big bags for life to carry your shower stuff and towel in- then if the cubicle is small or doesn’t have adequate shelter for your dry stuff you can hang it in the bag on the door 👍🏻

Don't try to cook anything too complicated! We camped with another family recently and the whole weekend was dominated by cooking three hot meals a day on the bloody campfire and washing up all of the greasy food mess.

Depends on setup? Are you expecting to be self sufficient or share gear? If sharing… It can get cold at night, so pjs , socks and a hat (yes I’m serious 😂) camping chair, picnic rug under blow up bed stop damp coming through, alcohol, flip flops for shower and shower bag. Use your rucksack for shower and take your days clothes so can get dressed after shower. Layers and waterproofs. weather is not predictable and if you’re sat round at night it’s chilly usually. Battery pack. I take porta loo tbh… going across a field a night 🙈.small mirror. Plasters/bug spray/sunscreen.

First of all check the facilities where you are going. Look up whether they have any particular Covid requirements. Do you have electricity?
If you can put your tent up on your own that's great, but honestly it might be tricky. As long as you know roughly what you have to do to get it up I'd feel no shame in pitching up and having a bit of a laugh about the fact you're a camping virgin. I'm sure someone will pitch in an help you.
Work out in advance if you can whether the site is one that has delineated pitches or is just a field where you can pitch up where you like. If the latter, you need to ensure you give enough space next to the tent next to you. (Noise travels v easily in a tent).
Then as per the previous posters. I'd never walk back in a towel myself but just whatever you feel comfortable in. Flip flops and plenty of plastic bags.
Know how to use your camping stove if you're taking one, don't use it inside your tent. Get a list off the internet of stuff you need. And have fun!!

@CiaoForNiao

Blanket under your air bed/camping mat to stop the cold coming up. I go to the toilets/showers in my pjs. I don't even own a dressing gown. I've been known to walk back in a towel before. Although we were the only people on site

I just collected my friend's gear which includes a good camp bed. But I'm wondering if I should invest in a double air bed in case of snuggling opportunities, and if so I'll put a blanket under, thanks. Maybe I can encourage the snuggling opportunities by walking back from showers in a towel

@Kendodd

Don't bother with a sleeping bag, bring sheets, pillow and a duvet, much more comfortable.

And easier to share

@Orangedaisy

I also walk back to tent in towel.

Take a camping chair.

What’s the catering plan? Make sure you contribute to the work, washing up etc. Nothing less attractive than someone on a camping trip who doesn’t pull their weight.

I'll make double sure to contribute fully. The plan seems to be a joint barbecue each evening but food separately or in smaller groups aside from that, as some people don't eat breakfast, others want fish and chips on beach for lunch etc.

@Orangedaisy

And a book for quiet moments (no tv). You don’t want to be sat there twiddling your thumbs. Card games?

Books are the one things I've managed to pack already

Have fun!

I've added a lot to my list thanks to this:

sheets, pillow and a duvet (with the sleeping bag as a back up)
battery powered light to use inside the tent
bug spray, sunscreen and insect bite cream
power block
mirror
decent cooler

I don't think I'll risk having nappies in the tent, in case it kills the mood . Maybe a bucket?

@blobby10

Plenty of pairs of socks x nothing worse than cold feet when camping. If there are showers on site then a pair of flip flops/slides to wear in the shower and for walking back to tent- socks on damp feet take ages to put and there are never enough places to sit as well as keep your stuff dry whilst showering! Actually take a couple of big bags for life to carry your shower stuff and towel in- then if the cubicle is small or doesn’t have adequate shelter for your dry stuff you can hang it in the bag on the door 👍🏻

There are showers. This is really useful, thanks.

@Throughabushbackwards

Don't try to cook anything too complicated! We camped with another family recently and the whole weekend was dominated by cooking three hot meals a day on the bloody campfire and washing up all of the greasy food mess.

I think the only proper cooking will be big shared barbecue each evening. I'm taking lamb and veg skewers for the first night.

Head torch/torch
Baby wipes
Warm socks
Hoody
Pjs that can be worn at breakfast time
Easy to slip onshore
Lots of alcohol
Waterproof jacket

Bless you. In these circumstances I'd play up thr novice factor to the max. I camp loads and men love to "rescue you" (I don't need it!).

Take three times more clothes than you think. Hair bobbles. Torch. Flip flops for shower. Trainers. Obvs walking gear. Some pyjama type wear. Midge spray atm if anywhere near water. Battery pack. Adopt a laid back attitude rather than trying to 'ace' camping.

And deffo work the 'novice' thing of you like him and suspect he likes you back.

Also snacks...pulling out cool snacks always goes well.

-Head lamp.
-Make sure you can make a cup of tea and have a biscuit, whilst sitting somewhere comfortable.
-Washing up bowl/liquid/kitchen towel.
-Keep an iron separation between clean/dirty dry/wet things.
-Watch your fluid intake at night.
-Expect to feel very cold at 3am (have another layer handy).

• See PP's point about noise carrying .

@Lollypop701

Depends on setup? Are you expecting to be self sufficient or share gear? If sharing… It can get cold at night, so pjs , socks and a hat (yes I’m serious 😂) camping chair, picnic rug under blow up bed stop damp coming through, alcohol, flip flops for shower and shower bag. Use your rucksack for shower and take your days clothes so can get dressed after shower. Layers and waterproofs. weather is not predictable and if you’re sat round at night it’s chilly usually. Battery pack. I take porta loo tbh… going across a field a night 🙈.small mirror. Plasters/bug spray/sunscreen.

I've swapped out the holdall I was planning to take for a big suitcase now

I'm hoping the plan isn't too much self-sufficiency but not really sure. (Most of the others have been on this trip before, but it's never worked out for me with childcare.)

I'm trying to compose something for on the group chat, to hint that I'm nervous without looking pathetic!

Eye mask! Can't believe no one has said an eye mask! The sun rises at 4-something and will wake you up. I can easily sleep until 8 with an eye mask. And ear plugs are a good idea too (if you don't have weird shape ears like me).
I take a hot water bottle - nothing worse than being cold at night, but that may not be an issue this week.

I pack things in blue Ikea bags - much easier to root around in than a back pack/holdall etc.

Clothes pegs to peg your towel out, and a microfibre towel if you have one. If it's wet, it could be a mare getting a normal towel to dry.

Have fun - it's a great way to spend a few days. I love just switching off, and being outside. And if you're at the coast, even better.

I'd definitely play up the camping virgin angle and use it to flirt.

Take condoms. And be warned... sex when camping is "in tents."
Ba boom tish.

Also be warned, everyone can hear you. We once spent a memorable weekend hearing our "neighbours" at it all day and night. Sharing the washing up area the next morning was interesting

Emergency peeing - in case it’s raining or a long walk to the loos at night, I take a nalgene water bottle, one with a wide mouth. It’s easy to hold underneath yourself, you can tilt it so that it doesn’t make any noise, and they come in different colours so that it doesn’t look like pee. Plus the lids are super secure. Just make sure nobody else drinks from it!

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