Went camping for first time! Im40. Never again lol

[TheOpalFox]

I went camping in a tent in the middle of nowhere with a friend
she suggested it and she’s a pro. Im40. Never been camping but never agajn
im not the best sleeper at home . But thought with walking miles a day and being near the sea would help me? How wrong was I
i loved relaxing and being away from home but cooking was a nightmare,
basic food that you have to make sure you cook properly ,
I was freezing !!! Even tho we had camp beds and sleeping bags I woke up froze!!!! And I have been hit by some many midges my legs are covered in bites :( sooo painful. We went for 3 nights
never again but glad I tried it lol

I used to love it but as I've got older and the amount of stuff required has increased with children... We still do it but I hate it really. I can enjoy the great outdoors while wanting a bed, strong roof and easily accessible toilet for the night.

it works out expensive without a fridge

The thing with camping is that it's an adventure, not just a holiday. You have to have the right kit and know how to use it.
You have to be aware of the weather and adjust accordingly or you will be miserable. It takes a good few days to adjust. If you get it right and the weather is kind to you then it can be an amazing experience.

Oh and you get to take your own bedding rather than sleep in a bed a thousand people have slept in!

i have memories of every time i have been camping,
mainly it was single nights on the way to somewhere
and always something unfortunate happened, ds was sick everywhere for example,
there was a party going on in the field, there was a weirdo, every occasion something! one time BIL lent us his One man tent! christ, no way, we found a hostel luckily, just for two of us, pre kids.

we even tried out a tent in the garden and our air bed went down!

so i guess I could agree, they are Adventures.

Oh yes, it's definitely and adventure if you are camped next to your car. Out in the wilds.

Or is that next to a million of other people who you can hear snoring all night and if you are really lucky having a bit of a party.

The idea that the only way you can have an adventure is under canvas is ludicrous.

As opposed to ground a thousand people have slept on in a campsite, or a thousand animals have shat on?

Why would I care how many people have slept in a hotel bed before me? The sheets are clean.

Sorry, it's fine to like camping and I don't mean to be snarky, I just don't see why "people sleep in hotel beds" is a downside to a B&B.

I was determined to like camping. Bought some gear and went 3 years in a row, just for the weekend. I still love the idea, but not the reality.

Positives - being outdoors in fresh air having fun.

Negatives - even if it's a blazing hot weekend in July, you still need to take fluffy PJs and thermals as if your car wasn't loaded enough with crap. Cooking is hard work. You feel like you use loads of single use plastics eating foods like instant noodles (or we did haha. There was a pizza van on one site which we used a lot). Keeping yourself and your camp area clean is just constant effort with 3 kids. It's just...not really a holiday for me. Not to mention putting everything up and away and trekking over to toilets / showers.

I have a friend who is a veteran camper and she loves it. She suggested I get all the gear for more luxury camping like electric hook up. She has carpets, wardrobes, multi room tents, toilet tent, you name it. But she's an empty nester. I don't have space to store all that stuff.

I can deal with a bell tent/glamping as at least you don't have to bring the tent. But mostly we just do static caravan or hotel now. I'm not averse to trying again but DH is!

What about wild shitting?

Frowned upon in Kew Gardens. It's discrimination, I say.

I absolutely love camping, but now that I'm in my 60s I'm thinking I'll stick to glamping going forward.

I've posted up thread. Absolutely no way was I going to sleep on the floor in a tent on cold wet miserable campsite, I'd rather stay at home.

Fast forward: I've been a camper for a year and shockingly enjoy it. I'm currently sat on a quiet site on the shores of windermere mning with some wine in the sun with the dog whilst DD is at the site park and DH is kayaking. Lots of trial and error with the kit but we have everything we need to be comfortable. Setting up/ packing away takes an hour. The 6berth XL airtent is fab, our mattresses are comfier than my home mattress. I usually sleep really well. We go EHU or have a huge powerbank and solar if not. I'm a real homebody but there's something special about being out in nature that soothes my soul. It's taken me by surprise how much I love it.

I started camping in my late 30s with DH and 5yo. 10 years later and we still enjoy it. But we live in Spain, so no cold nights, no midges, on-site swimming pools and good restaurants.

DS is currently camping in the Pyrenees with scouts and having a whale of a time.

I don’t think I’ve ever camped as an adult. What would put me off: toilets. If I have to walk across half a field to access them ugh, and I need to go at least twice in the night. Ditto showers. Also: bugs. I have a bit of a fear about them and the idea of them being in my tent - nope. Finally: sleep. Even with a camp bed I don’t think I’d be able to sleep well. Plus I snore and would keep the whole campsite awake! The food actually would not bother me much - I’d pack lots of snacks that didn’t require cooking just in case!

Never been camping, ever. Would never want to. I could imagine it being very uncomfortable, and I like my home comforts! I do enjoy a caravan holiday though (like a static caravan - in a caravan park by the beach!)

It's still possible to enjoy nature without camping. Just get up early and spend the day outside.

oh no! what have you done? 🤣🤣

I love camping as I love being in the great outdoors as much as possible. It is hard work and tiring though!

Quite.

I have enough adventure and tiring shit in my life without the need to add an extreme level of torture which is sleep deprivation and having to do all the physical stuff of making the tent and lugging the stuff.

I am more than happy to let DH camp and then turn up on camp the next day with a bunch of chilled food, spend the day there and then fuck off home to my own bed.

😄This post is exactly what camping is like.

My lowest point was when I was frying an egg and it started pouring down.

Who the hell wants to eat a wet fried egg on 'holiday'?