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

Ah yes good point about emergency piss bottle. People always turn up their nose at this until they have to do a dark, freezing 3am pisstrip. Id cook a proper meal once then eat healthy snacks and ration pack meals (from go outdoors or my own vacuum packs)and chocolate for a quick pick up. First aid kit and spirits if you are drinking so no endless pissing. You'll likely be fine keeping warm, i slept out in just a bivvy with sleeping bag last night but if you're cold at night drink more water than usual.

My top tip is to take a flask - then you can have a second coffee at breakfast without all the faff of boiling the kettle again, or have one in the evening.

Also, everyone loves a hot chocolate in the evening. Adding Baileys and condensed milk (plus squirty cream and marshmallows) is amazing

Do a good first aid kit. Players, antihistamine tablets and cream, paracetamol, ibuprofen, tweezers, nail clippers, cold and flu, medical gloves, bandages, inhalers and calpol in our case. We also stash emergency coffee and hair bands in the first aid box as well as spare guy ropes, electrical tape and a crafting knife blade.

Hmm. I don't have any Ikea bags but am mulling over those ideas @ReviewingTheSituation and will try to do better than a suitcase.

It's not a site with electric hook ups, no, @Horst but the temp is meant to drop quite considerably by the weekend thankfully.

@Washinglinewench29 I'm trying to imagine the look on DS's face if I asked to borrow Twister to take on my grown up camping trip .

@RosesAndHellebores [grin[

Baby wipes - you can have a tarts wash then if the showers are grim or crowded.

Don't forget black bin bags so you can bag up your rubbish.

It's a while since I camped but I always went to TKMaxx and bought a shower gel from a perfume brand.

@CMOTDibbler

My top tip is to take a flask - then you can have a second coffee at breakfast without all the faff of boiling the kettle again, or have one in the evening.

Also, everyone loves a hot chocolate in the evening. Adding Baileys and condensed milk (plus squirty cream and marshmallows) is amazing

I have a flask but it's a bit drippy. I'm going to try to source a thin towel and better flask tomorrow I think... I can't live without multiple cups of coffee. Added Baileys to grocery delivery. Can't believe I hadn't thought of that.

Wet toilet wipes and nappy disposable bags to chuck them away in. Keeps you fresh after loo visits in between showers.

Good coffee, bacon, and a gas stove. There's nothing quite like the smell of a good breakfast when camping.

Lots of other camping tips in www.mumsnet.com/Talk/camping

Hope you get good weather! Me and the dog are off to the coast with the MH.

@Horst

And yes to the bigger tent. Also we don’t take a duvet we take sleeping bags and good blankets.

Duvets cause condensation.

In a small tent they are a no-go

Wellie boots, they also handy if need go loo in middle on night

Touch

We survived thunder & gales it was scary.

Buy or take any food drinks you can as onsite shops expensive same as locals near sites.

Sunglasses, suncream.

You got camping chair sitting so uncomfortable sitting on floor first time camped.

Disposable bbq is site allow

Cool box

I carried this on bus and trains also air bed.

Toilet paper

I sound like mum now

Have great time don’t expect to sleep wildlife hate humans sleeping in.

Torch not touch

There's no right or wrong way re: preferences for camping gear etc. I like an inflatable/air tent (pre-children, a bivvy or basha would have been fine), my lovely thick Thermarest SIM and a 4 season sleeping bag (I feel the cold!).

Stuff I always think is good:
-layers (for clothes and fleece/silk liners for sleeping bags)
-first aid kit (with extra stuff like paracetamol/antihistamines etc)
-Travel-Johns are invaluable (hey, I've had two kids, I don't want to dance across the campsite first thing in the morning and find the WC in use!)
-spare batteries (for torches!)
-good books to read/ipod/card games
-wellies/crocs/sliders to get to and from WC (NB the grass will have dew on it in the morning). I tend to wear pyjamas and wellies, then once I'm back at tent after shower, I tend to live in my Crocs.

Oh and if you do have success with the guy you've been lusting after...never ever shag in a tent with the torches/lamps still on. It will light up what you're doing in that tent for the rest of the campsite to see. Learned this one after being treated to an "interesting light and shadow show" from a couple camping across the field from me about 3yrs back (I'm v glad that my kids were already asleep at that point!). They were very quiet, but their camping lights gave the game away!!!

Instead of trying to put up a complicated tent in the dark after a long drive, I would just take both tents if you have the space. Have the pop-up one for the first night, and everyone can help you with the proper one the next morning.

My must-haves:

Camping chair with a drinks holder in the arm rest (otherwise there is NOWHERE you can safely put your beer down).

Earplugs. It's loud. Other people's children are early risers and don't care about your hangover.

Shoes you can easily get on and off, like flip flops. Like someone else said, your tent gets filthy if you don't religiously take your shoes off, and it's astonishing the amount of times you need to pop in the tent for something.

Dustpan and brush. Even if you are religious about taking your shoes off, bits get everywhere inside the tent.

Big lidded plastic boxes for in the tent. Keeps things organised and dry.

Stay at home in your own comfortable bed. Continue lusting from afar (no-one is fanciable when they're stumbling back from the toilet block covered in insect bites). Go on proper date next weekend under the guise of wanting to hear all about the camping trip that you were sadly suddenly unable to go on. You're welcome.

Ha, I'm with Starry! But seeing as you are going anyway take the condoms. Better to be drunk and stupid and not pregnant I think ...

Good luck, it sounds exciting

Really good ideas here APART from the nappy suggestion

Definitely don’t wee in a nappy OP

Good idea re: good snacks. And bring your own cutlery, mug, plastic glass. Maybe games? Pack of cards?

I’ve recently bought some lovely solar powered festoon lights, they give good atmosphere.

For camping coffee I buy those Rombauts single serve plastic filters - you get 8/10 in a pack (only a couple of lids though, so make sure to keep hold of the lid when you throw away the filter!). They’re so easy and make proper coffee with no extra washing up or hassle.

These things. For a true 1970s vibe take some mini packs of Lotus biscuits to go with them

I also take baby wipes (the green Huggies ones as they don’t smell like bums ) for general freshening up - especially if sexy time is on the cards.

BTW a rainy night is a great cover for tent sex - or so I hope anyway!

And for a loo we take a bucket and make a little private area using a beach windbreak. Only for use at night but saves trekking across a field to the toilet block in the dark.

I never sleep well on the first night so need the loo a couple of times, but usually the second and later nights I sleep better.

OP you do realise we're going to need regular updates this weekend, don't you?? And not sure I've seen this one - dry shampoo is your friend (and I don't camp!)

@StarryStarrySocks

Stay at home in your own comfortable bed. Continue lusting from afar (no-one is fanciable when they're stumbling back from the toilet block covered in insect bites). Go on proper date next weekend under the guise of wanting to hear all about the camping trip that you were sadly suddenly unable to go on. You're welcome.

On second thoughts … all of this!

Place marking with a pack of marshmallows and wooden skewers. This sounds fun!

My first ever camping trip as an adult (in that I organised and packed for it myself, I was 18), I didn't think to take any sort of light. It rained the whole time so every evening after the sun went down I had to sit in a dark tent.