My old tent.

[Mysterian]

I shuffled past bottles and old jigsaws to the end of the upstairs storage cupboard. I pulled my best sleeping bag out of it's position for the last 2 years. Behind it my old sleeping bag that I use at a duvet on top of my newest and more comfortable one. My trusty Vango Eos 3 person tent is on the same shelf. Old Vango that rubbed up against New forest ponies. That bore the downdraught of RAF helicopters on the Lizard Peninsular. That suffered broken poles during that terrible storm in Glencoe, but carried on with duct tape for the rest of the holiday.
"Oh brilliant!" it cried. "Another adventure!"
I threw the sleeping bags to the door end of the cupboard.
"Where are we going this time?" it asked.
I sidestepped back along towards the exit.
"I know, I have to go in last so I'm first out" it said.
I pick the bags up and head downstairs to the pile of equipment in the front room next to the new Robens teepee tent.
"I missed you" Said Vango in the darkness.

Okay, okay, very silly, but I do feel kind of guilty and emotional about moving on. A lot of memories get revived every time I camped in that old tent. Time to make some new memories.

Just me?

My sons Vango Force 10 is older than he is!

No silly at all but time like you say to concentrate on enjoying the new. Where are you off to?

*Not

We just sold one of our tents.
Had so many happy holidays in it.

But...it was awkward and heavy... and the inflatable is so much more convenient. Plus it was just too big now...it had four bedrooms plus central living area which was great when DDs were toddlers, but they are 8&10 now so need less space.

Right now I'm at Red squirrel campsite in Glencoe. Talk about making new memories... Tent up for the first time outside my garden and a months rain (guess) falls in an hour! It's definitely waterproof.

The campsite sounds amazing

It is. The hills around tower over you. I was here a few years ago and there was a thunderstorm. They are amazing in valleys.

I understand - I don't want to get rid of my 3 man tent so let the children put it up in the garden to play in occasionally.

Have fun camping! Hope the weather gets better.

@Mysterian I really enjoyed your story, thank you! And I'm also living vicariously through you this evening. The view from the sofa isn't half as good! Enjoy your adventure

I still have my Coleman Epsilon 3 Tent 16 years old and Coleman Rigel single skin 1 person tent, 13 years old and they both get use depending on what I have in mind! Functionally they are pretty much as good as new, I've been careful to air dry them thoroughly and re waterproof on occasion.

But different tents for different occasions and different occupants!

You will maybe have the right occasion for your old tent in the future...if not for you then for someone else.

What a lovely post! I'm sat here supposed to be working and in the corner of the room is our old wild country tent. It's falling apart really, but OH and I had so many memories in that tent. The days when we just chuck stuff in the car and head off with nothing booked. Those heady days when you could just rock up at a site.
Enjoy the holiday!

I thought that about my old tent until I used it, then realised that the 30 year old tent had passed its best when the rain came down and it was as wet inside the tent as it was outside. So upgraded to a campervan haven’t looked back since

I'd love a campervan. It would be ideal for me the way I like to move around a lot. And tea whenever I fancy it.

I just had dinner. I used a microwave pasta pouch. Great time and water and gas saver. I added a tin of sardines in tomato jus, and stirred in a Macdonalds BBQ sauce dip to really elevate the flavours. Really tasty. Bit scaley.

I'd love a campervan. It would be ideal for me the way I like to move around a lot. And tea whenever I fancy it.

I think tea would be the main draw for me as well. DH is rather more boring practical and says why spend £££ on a Campervan when you've got a flask