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Original poster

Do you love or hate camping?

264 replies

Mumtothreegirlies · 30/06/2023 00:02

I just read another thread where a women was saying how she didn’t like camping.
I get why some people don’t like camping but I was surprised about how many others also hate it and they way they talked about their hate for the outdoors.
My question is, am I weird for loving being outdoors amongst the dirt and leaves?
Sometimes I go out in my car and park up in the countryside just to get away on my own and for my birthday I’m actually going away for the weekend on my own camping.
am I weird or is there anyone else out there that gets me?

OP posts:
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6
annlee3817 · 01/07/2023 00:06

Love camping, some years we've managed eight trips, easy way to explore the UK, cheap and love the fresh air, we've done later October camping too in our tent

User13985094 · 01/07/2023 07:17

Oakbeam · 30/06/2023 20:14

Amused by the people who feel they have to specifically mention that they camp in VW T somethings or bell tents.

VWs don't generally have toilets, so to me that is quite similar to camping. If someone says VW, I assume they are having to pop out in the night like a person in a tent does. A very few have toilets, most don't. Motorhomes, even very small ones generally have toilets. I have done a lot of research into the toilet situation in campers and small motorhomes 😂

arghtriffid · 01/07/2023 07:49

I really don’t mind walking to the toilet - in fact I find a 2am walk to wee quite magical.

I thought that was just me.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Camping
Chersfrozenface · 01/07/2023 07:52

User13985094 · 01/07/2023 07:17

VWs don't generally have toilets, so to me that is quite similar to camping. If someone says VW, I assume they are having to pop out in the night like a person in a tent does. A very few have toilets, most don't. Motorhomes, even very small ones generally have toilets. I have done a lot of research into the toilet situation in campers and small motorhomes 😂

Show quote history

I've done a fair bit of research, as have some friends, so I know some campervans don't have a toilet. (I also know there are different classes, which affects insurance.)

But they are off the ground and have solid walls and a solid roof. Also you don't have to unload and construct the whole affair when you arrive on site.

Believe me, if there was any way we could have a camper van, I'd be a happy bunny. (It would have to have a toilet, though.)

EvenmoreDetermined · 01/07/2023 08:03

I don't mind the walk to the toilets either, although I don't tend to need to go in the night, but there's something magic about walking across the field very early in the morning when there's no one else around then coming back and making a cup of tea outside the tent.

Chersfrozenface · 01/07/2023 08:32

EvenmoreDetermined · 01/07/2023 08:03

I don't mind the walk to the toilets either, although I don't tend to need to go in the night, but there's something magic about walking across the field very early in the morning when there's no one else around then coming back and making a cup of tea outside the tent.

That's another thing. It's dangerous to use a gas stove in a tent, so making tea and cooking in the rain... Really not fun

And no, we don't have room to pack a kitchen / utility tent.

EvenmoreDetermined · 01/07/2023 09:04

We don't have a kitchen or utility tent either but haven't had many wet camping trips over the years, we take a golf umbrella which is fine for making a brew under and are flexible about going off site to eat somewhere else if its too wet to cook properly. You can't beat cooking over a campfire even if it is a bit wet.

MissingMoominMamma · 01/07/2023 10:56

You can cook in the open porch of a tent!

MissingMoominMamma · 01/07/2023 10:58

User13985094 · 01/07/2023 07:17

VWs don't generally have toilets, so to me that is quite similar to camping. If someone says VW, I assume they are having to pop out in the night like a person in a tent does. A very few have toilets, most don't. Motorhomes, even very small ones generally have toilets. I have done a lot of research into the toilet situation in campers and small motorhomes 😂

Show quote history

I have a T6 😜.

I go to the loo in the night- couldn’t risk the dog knocking a bucket over.

I also camp in tents, but not a bell tent.

Polis · 01/07/2023 11:37

That's another thing. It's dangerous to use a gas stove in a tent, so making tea and cooking in the rain... Really not fun

If you choose a tent with a porch area, you can cook in there with the door open but still staying under cover.

Some tents come with dedicated kitchen areas in the awning. Trailer tents usually come with a fitted kitchen. Inside.

Oakbeam · 01/07/2023 12:14

VWs don't generally have toilets, so to me that is quite similar to camping. If someone says VW, I assume they are having to pop out in the night like a person in a tent does.

Ah, that must be it. They want you to know they have no loo.

For full disclosure, I did have a VW T3 Dormobile for a short while. Good for camping, despite no loo, but absolutely horrendous to drive. Truly awful. Struggled to get up hills and only did 18mpg. I assume they have improved since then.

Oakbeam · 01/07/2023 12:19

Actually, it was a T2.

Doggydarling · 01/07/2023 12:45

Try joining a group like The Wild Wanderers (women only) on fb, I'm in a group (not UK) and we meet up, go camping/hiking/swimming, its great fun, a few women around a campfire, sharing equipment etc. I really look forward to the weekends we head off.

EvenmoreDetermined · 01/07/2023 13:03

Yes, we can cook in a limited fashion in our porch but the tent is one of those igloo shaped ones with only a very narrow porch so there's not much room and it tends to have a lot of stuff stashed in it.

MsRinky · 01/07/2023 18:12

I have a T1 (older than me) and it does hills and 60mph no problem. The windscreen wipers leave a bit to be desired though.

MsRinky · 01/07/2023 18:13

But other than festivals, if it's raining, I do something else. Friday evening comes around and the forecast is sunny...lets head out somewhere.

EggInANest · 01/07/2023 18:19

That's another thing. It's dangerous to use a gas stove in a tent, so making tea and cooking in the rain... Really not fun

Only if you do it in a dangerous manner.

Sometimesgood · 01/07/2023 18:38

Polis · 01/07/2023 11:37

That's another thing. It's dangerous to use a gas stove in a tent, so making tea and cooking in the rain... Really not fun

If you choose a tent with a porch area, you can cook in there with the door open but still staying under cover.

Some tents come with dedicated kitchen areas in the awning. Trailer tents usually come with a fitted kitchen. Inside.

I thought that even a turned off stove in the porch can be enough to kill people overnight?

EvenmoreDetermined · 01/07/2023 18:58

Finished with disposable barbecues can give off CO and poison people overnight but gas stoves can't if they are off.

TribeD · 01/07/2023 19:35

I love camping, but not sure how much longer my achy hips and back will tolerate sleeping on an (albeit decent) airbed.

We've gone to loads of sites over the years, and there's only been one we wouldn't go back to; we do have a list of non negotiables when we're looking at possible campsites which does help.

We'll probably upgrade our tent to a caravan in a couple of years so that we can carry on camping in comfort 😀

OldBeller · 01/07/2023 20:28

JustAsYouSuggestPressedAndDressed · 30/06/2023 17:49

Yeah, that's what I've got my toilet bucket for.

Um, that’s not selling it to me.

Haha it's not just a bucket I use as a toilet. It has a toilet seat on it and it's kept in a different section of the tent to my bedroom.

Definitely a blessing when camping at a festival in foot deep mud.

Polis · 01/07/2023 20:37

I thought that even a turned off stove in the porch can be enough to kill people overnight?

How? Combustion has to take place for carbon monoxide to be generated. This cannot happen if a stove is turned off.

As somebody else has pointed out, charcoal BBQs can be a problem because they can’t be turned off.

BankBanque · 01/07/2023 21:19

Sometimesgood · 01/07/2023 18:38

I thought that even a turned off stove in the porch can be enough to kill people overnight?

Show quote history

No. A BBQ can. Or a fire. A gas stove, turned off, won't do.

Never use BBQs or open fires in a tent. Never take a used BBQ or fire in to a tent.

But a turned off gas stove? That's fine.

Always cook with the door open, with 2 clear exits and never, ever turn away from the flame.

VWFF · 01/07/2023 23:45

Oakbeam · 01/07/2023 12:14

VWs don't generally have toilets, so to me that is quite similar to camping. If someone says VW, I assume they are having to pop out in the night like a person in a tent does.

Ah, that must be it. They want you to know they have no loo.

For full disclosure, I did have a VW T3 Dormobile for a short while. Good for camping, despite no loo, but absolutely horrendous to drive. Truly awful. Struggled to get up hills and only did 18mpg. I assume they have improved since then.

Yes. Drives lovely. We have a toilet tent. The vans aren't very big. We have an awning, wind break and fairy lights too.

The split screens are very cute though if you find one that isn't too rusty.

ASGIRC · 02/07/2023 02:26

Mumtothreegirlies · 30/06/2023 00:51

I have a blow up mattress

Show quote history

But that doesnt stop the freezing cold nights and boiling hot mornings.
Last time I stayed in a tent I couldnt fall asleep cause I was freezing (and I had blankets and even a beanie hat!!! This was in August bank holiday, so not in winter!!!!) and then was awake by 6 or 7 as the sun hit the tent and made the air inside impossible to breathe!!!