Am I being unreasonable to.....

[hillbilly]

.....arrive at the campsite earlier than my friend today (because I'm sooo excited to get there) and rely on the kindliness of fellow campers to give me a bit of a hand with my tent? Kids will help but they are only 7 and 5.

Yes I think you are TBH!

If its not forecast to rain there you could just get table & chairs out and have lunch on you're pitch without a tent. Then put your tent up when you're friend gets there.

Rain forecast - I had better wait :-(

Yabu. I always camp on my own with dd and pride myself on being able to put up tents by myself including my 9 person tent. No way would I help someone. Sorry. wink

That wink didn't work. Didn't want my post to sound mean!

I reckon if you faff around and look incompetent, perhaps make out that you thought your friend would be there, someone will come to your rescue. Just don't admit that was your plan all along...

Thanks for the Rainbow!

I could probably do my tent on my own, it's just I never have to date. Couldn't bear the shame of faffing and looking incompetent though

I've only had looks of amazement by nearby campers when they see me erect a massive 3 sleeping pod tent on my own. The first time I did it I had no idea how I was going to manage but been doing it for years now. Sadly very satisfying in a cave woman type way.

Now over on the camping forum you'd be encouraged to go alone and reassured that everyone would ciome and help and offer tea/beer/pop/snacks.

Fora are funny like that!!

So.....I went alone and a very kind couple helped me with the poles and after that I was fine. I gave them a bottle of wine for their trouble

Excellent! A bottle of wine to help with some poles.....hmmm, formulating a plan to go around 'helping' people on campsite and see what I can garner in return. Actually we once helped a family with a massive tent who had obviously never erected any sort of tent before let alone this huge one. Later on they brought us loads of delicious food over to say thanks!