Everyone thinks I'm mad!

[blobby10]

but on Thursday my two youngest (aged 22 and 24 years) are heading off to Cornwall for our first folding camper holiday for 6 years! They've been away to an air bnb with their dad, I've been away with my OH doing multi base trips away but nothing has ever been quite as relaxing as camping which OH wont do.

So last year I bought an old folding camper and this will be it's first outing with us! To say I am looking forward to it is an understatement - the last year has been so emotionally draining with life stuff and OH that I need a complete break. The weather forecast is uplifting too (for once!) and my kids are SO excited which is ridiculous considering their ages!

Hopefully some of you guys can appreciate the excitement as most people in real life are asking 'why don't you book a hotel' or 'go abroad' or 'book a cottage'!

I don’t think your mad….it sounds wonderful but then I’m a seasoned camper!

StottyCakeandJam We camped in a trailer tent every year as children because it cost too much to take 2 adults and 4 children abroad in those days (and our dogs would have been miserable in kennels). My ex and I camped in a trailer tent then folding camper and I thought we had a great time but one of the things he threw at me when we split up in 2015 was that he had hated it. Not enough to save enough money for us to go abroad or even put the effort in to sorting out another type of holiday but apparently hated camping. My eldest hates camping too but the younger two are really excited about us going away again. Especially now we've seen the weather forecast - no rain!!!!! I

There’s nothing nicer than a cup of tea in the open air first thing in the morning…..or a glass of wine in the open air in the evening. Have fun!

Sorry to jump on here op, but I've never heard of a folding camper before. What's the difference between that and a trailer tent please?

@pjmasksitsthepjmasks they are both similar but on a trailer tent the kitchen unit is removed from the trailer and used in the awning/outside. In a folding camper the kitchen unit is fixed inside (as well as a toilet and shower on the bigger de luxe models). Mine is a 2002 folding camper and very trailer tent like but the new versions are fibre glass like caravans but with canvas sides and roof! There also used to be a difference in the size of the canvas on the trailer body but I don't know if that's still the case. Whatever, I LOVE mine and if I won some money would upgrade to a much newer model in an instant

Sounds lovely! Are you taking some board games, how competitive are they 😆

Scrabble and blockbuster are packed along with a pack of cards. This time tomorrow we will be nearly there!! 😃

I don't think you're mad. I love camping. There's something magical about sleeping under canvas.

I am a camper. I have two friends who 'get it' the rest do probably think I'm mad.

It isn't for the faint hearted really, you have to comitt to a bit of shit, but I've seen more of my own country (UK) then anyone I know ever will.

Cottages and hotels are expensive. I certainly couldn't afford to go to Norfolk, Northumberland, The Lake District and Anglesey in one Summer if I paid to stay in a brick built abode.

Excellent! Will you be surfing? I expect you will find some lovely food and spend some quality time in a pub garden. Nice.

Thought I would provide an update - It was HEAVEN!! One of the best and most relaxing holidays I have ever had. All three of us were reading lots, doing Sudoku, walking, bodyboarding (kids surfed) , building sandcastles (yes, buying buckets and spades for 22 and 24 year olds was required!), cooking inspiring and tasty food on a two burner gas hob as well as eating out . Trailer and car worked in perfect harmony and it was a really good journey down, tent went up without a hitch and we were in the sea by 3pm on Day 1. Day 3 the weather turned wet and windy so we went walking, came back later to find the awning blown down, poles bent, a big rip in the inner canvas - I was gutted - but my magical children rallied, with DD and me literally hanging on to the awning in gale force winds and torrential rain, DS duct taped poles together, bashed pegs in where he could find elastics that hadn't snapped (even the new ones!) and created extra guy ropes and we got it back up albeit not as neatly and precisely as pre-gales!. Next morning we got a storm strap and tied the frame down really tightly! That night, the wind disappeared and next morning the sun came out and stayed out for the rest of the week

Canvas is booked in for repair in a couple of weeks so hopefully I can get away for a couple of weekends in July and August. Definitely saving up for a newer model that will accept an air awning/porch that I can put up on my own as camping is DEFINITLEY my thing and I want to do lots more of it

Yay! Hurrah for camping! Pleased you had such a lovely time 😁

What a brilliant update. I love a good camping holiday, there is nothing like it for getting you away from real life stress.

I’d never heard of a folding camper or trailer tent before this thread!! Now I want one….
I have a lovely belltent but it’s a pain to cart around.
glad your trip went well, I love waking up under canvas (esp old fashioned canvas)

Inspiring!