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Camping

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Original poster

Freezing ice packs off site - is this even a thing?

22 replies

SE13Mummy · 08/07/2021 09:35

Later this summer we'll be camping at a non campsite for a week in order to take part in an event in the area. There will be hundreds of campers but whereas in previous years there has been catering available, that's not the case this year. I have no issue with cooking whilst camping but am usually somewhere that will refreeze ice blocks which gives a bit more flexibility. Because of the nature of the event I'm not entirely sure how much time we'll have to pop to supermarkets to pick up fresh stuff in the daytime and am keen to avoid ravenous children needing to wait ages for a meal after a physically demanding day. I know I can just do tinned stuff but if ice blocks can be frozen it will make things easier.

Is there such a thing as an off site ice block freezing service?! If it does exist, does anyone know of one in the Plymstock or Spriddlestone area of Plymouth?

OP posts:
Spanglebangle · 08/07/2021 09:52

I doubt it!

We can do 4 days without refreezing anything. We freeze all our juices and milk. And take frozen meals, frozen sausages, bread etc. Then after everything has gone from the cold box. Move on to tinned meals, soups etc.

We are obsessive about keeping the cold box out of the sun too.

NannyR · 08/07/2021 09:55

If there is a petrol station near buy you may be able to buy bags of ice.

Original poster
SE13Mummy · 08/07/2021 10:23

I do all the freezing of juice, meals, boxes of wine etc. but was hoping this niche service might exist! I suppose an alternative is to make a new friend in the area over the next two weeks...

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BiddyPop · 08/07/2021 10:42

Would it be possible to feed DC after their activities, but then pop to a supermarket later in the evening (or early in the morning) for the following day's needs and a fresh bag of ice?

Also, if it is a group event and lots of campers, you may find that there would be someone willing to do a supermarket/jobs run every day and grab a few things for others, or do a rota between a few of you (agree which extra DC(s) you have today to supervise for a couple of hours, another day is someone else's job to supervise, and another day is your day to have your DC supervised as you do the run...) - we've found that on week long events for DC sports, once they are busy with the sport, while there needs to be a responsible person in the vicinity for each participant, it doesn't need to be their own parent all the time so everyone can get a break (for grocery shopping, getting spare parts, doing laundry runs, or just grabbing a quiet coffee in peace).

BiddyPop · 08/07/2021 10:55

Soory, I meant that if someone is doing grocery type runs anyway, you can get fresh food and also buy a bag (or 2) of "party ice" daily to keep the coolbox cool.

ColouringPencils · 08/07/2021 11:44

Wouldn't it be as much hassle to get to your off-site freezer as to go to the supermarket?
I usually freeze food and let it thaw for the first two days, then do something like hotdogs and beans on day 3, shop and/or eat out after that. Make the enforced change part of the fun - surely that's what camping is all about!

Original poster
SE13Mummy · 08/07/2021 11:45

I know daily/more supermarket runs are an option but don't think I can assume there will be bags of ice available every day for the nine days, hence hoping there might be a special freezing service somewhere. It'll be fine if the weather is grim but I've been promised a heatwave!

OP posts:
Original poster
SE13Mummy · 08/07/2021 11:53

@ColouringPencils, I have no issue with going to the supermarket to top up on things but being able to keep ham, cheese etc cool in the latter half of the time we're there would have been handy. I figured it was worth asking on here in case someone knew of a freezing facility.

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ColouringPencils · 08/07/2021 12:20

To be fair, 9 days is longer than I have ever been camping. Electric coolbox?

Talipesmum · 08/07/2021 12:25

I don’t imagine there’d be any such facility. I’ve often seen nearby shops in camping areas selling frozen water bottles though.
I think if you are very careful with a good cool box that you keep shaded, and don’t open willy nilly, you could just buy cool things and put them in the cool box minus ice packs, and they should last a day or so. You can always buy a couple of bags of frozen peas or sweetcorn to keep things chilled. And you can use a thermos to keep milk properly cold. Buy proper salted butter rather than spreadable butter in tubs. Don’t mess about with ham. Packets of hot dogs work instead.

HelplessProcrastinator · 09/07/2021 19:20

Can’t help with the ice issue but I’m local to the area you are going to and intrigued about the promised heat wave. When is it due? Grey and cold today.

Evvyjb · 09/07/2021 19:27

I have been "off grid" camping for long periods.... now I know this is cheeky, but what I have done before is go into a large supermarket in the afternoon/evening, pit my ice blocks in the freezer under some peas/in the depths, and then return the next morning.... I do always buy something though!

Original poster
SE13Mummy · 11/07/2021 18:34

@HelplessProcrastinator

Can’t help with the ice issue but I’m local to the area you are going to and intrigued about the promised heat wave. When is it due? Grey and cold today.
I was told it would be arriving towards the end of July...
OP posts:
DogInATent · 12/07/2021 00:15

If it's something you might be doing regularly and the budget is available, then the Dometic ACX3 40G is an off-grid camping fridge that will run on gas cartridges. Similar to a caravan/motorhome fridge but suited for tent camping. There are others that will connect to a gas cylinder/bottle.

There's a few places that rent out these types of fridges, search for 'Portable Fridge Hire Camping'.

Original poster
SE13Mummy · 12/07/2021 00:17

Fridge hire is a good idea @DogInATent, I'd not thought of that. We won't be doing long stints like this regularly, usually it's more like 5-7 days.

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MirandaMarple · 17/07/2021 19:35

Leisure battery for power.

HelplessProcrastinator · 17/07/2021 19:37

You we were right about the weather. It's bloody lovely down here for a change.

Original poster
SE13Mummy · 17/07/2021 22:06

@HelplessProcrastinator

You we were right about the weather. It's bloody lovely down here for a change.
The heatwave may have come too early for me to really need to worry about then!
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MirandaMarple · 18/07/2021 17:39

You could hide them underneath the frozen peas at the local co-op and go back for them the next day. Why didn't I think of this before last week?!

Original poster
SE13Mummy · 18/07/2021 19:43

I'm quite tempted by the idea of hiding them in a supermarket freezer...

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Original poster
SE13Mummy · 03/08/2021 02:14

Update in case anyone cares: heatwave had been and gone by the time we arrived but we did get to enjoy camping in Storm Evert. There was no need to hide ice packs in supermarket freezers as the closest supermarket actually offered to freeze them overnight so we took advantage of that.

OP posts:
MirandaMarple · 03/08/2021 22:02

@SE13Mummy

Update in case anyone cares: heatwave had been and gone by the time we arrived but we did get to enjoy camping in Storm Evert. There was no need to hide ice packs in supermarket freezers as the closest supermarket actually offered to freeze them overnight so we took advantage of that.
That's great!
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