The people you meet when you're camping......

[Kbear]

I love the people you meet when you're camping.

We camped with another family this week - friend of mine and her DH and kids. We spent most of the time dissecting the other campers and good fun it was too.

For example....

Dad on his own with three children aged about 7, 5 and 4 in a tiny pop up Quechua tent which would ideally sleep one small puppy! They all went to bed at 8.30pm. I had to be held back from actually asking him "where the hell/how the hell did you all sleep in that tent?".

The family that lived 6 miles from the campsite and had the most AMAZING aerobeds which were like a double divan and the woman called everyone "Doll" and was fabulous to talk to but did know everything about everything and had the best equipment known to man and campers! She was pitched next to the play area and rounded up everyone's kids for rounders and cricket and poker games!!

The family with motorhome and awning that I drooled over every time I went past and wondered how a person affords such a thing (they are soooo expensive, even ones that are fifty years old and have a clapped out engine).

Anyway, tell me about the people you meet camping Doll.....

I don't meet people when I go camping.

Hmmm

DS does, he makes friends, but I don't really like talking to people I don't know.

People watching is the one thing I like to do when I gatecrash PIL caravan hols.

Joined them for a night at the holiday weekend and we were fascinated by the people next door, had a big awning on their caravan but ate all meals sat in and around a small windbreak type tent, kids were a bit boden with little toddler girl running about in white trousers, well they were white for about 2 mins . She faffed about arounf kids and he pranced back and forward washing dishes and generally looking busy.

PIL always meet people they know no matter where they go be it the south of france or the site 50 miles down the road.

Last weekend we bumped into someone dp occasionally works with, turns out both her and her husband are into the rockabilly scene and know lots of friends of my parents Small world.

Other than that i met a very nice lady whilst i was washing up, she was on her fiorst camping trip and enjoying it. Also met another lady who couldn't believe we could have 4 little children in a tent and survive

I LOVE talking to people as you wander past the play area doing a quick head count so you know you haven't lost any children or when you're washing up! People tell you their life stories, it's fantastic! (DH talks to NO ONE ha ha).

That's how me and that lady with the airbeds got chatting, she was right there and told me she had it all under control! She did too, she sent one kid packed back to his parents for kicking his sister! Hilarious.

I could rest easy in my camping chair knowing she was in charge down there LOL!

I don't really spend much time in the campsite, apart from to sleep and first thing in the morning and late evenings, our campsites don't generally have play areas!

I do like watching people though. Am always amazed at the array of stuff different people bring and their huge tents

What is shocking about a play area though? Or have I mis-read your shock?!! It's a slide and a few swings in the corner of one of four fields.

I was fascinated by the family with 8 children who pitched next to us this week!!! Didn't get chance to speak to the parents but their little boys spent plenty time trying to get in our tent DH convinced that the Dad was some music producer type who had made loads of cash ( only because they had an expensive mini bus thing but then again you'd need it with 8 kids wouldn't you!) but we will never know. And the names of their kids

"And he looked like he had had plenty of toxic substances" if you see what I mean I should add to justify DH's labelling!!

Good thread kbear, I have a strong need to go camping now! Though last year we had a horrendous experience, that I can only vaguely remember now .

We are going to be having a campsite in our garden soon, with a hired portaloo, just friends and family, really looking forward to it, apart from the stress
of it all.....

We have one set of neighbours, but they are invited too, and they shouldn't hear too much noise because the ceilidh will be in the shed!

We camped at the same place in devon for years ...kids made some really good friends ..locals who worked there and fellow campers ... one year 14 year old dd had a sweet holiday romance wth barry from bristol couple of them still keep in touch