I have camped since I was little when my parents took me to campgrounds in a tent, then at a shack up north during my school years, then in a pop-up during the last 5 (which is currently for sale, as our family has outgrown it and was only used maybe twice a year), and now I'm going back to tenting.  I have a new tent ordered that will arrive here on Tuesday and I am so STOKED to get out camping that I'm ready to burst! [smiley=grin2.gif]

This time I will have everything I need to take the kids out camping myself.  I can't wait!!!

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I hadn't tent camped for 20 years when I left for my big bike ride in March. I LOVED it. I had forgotten how peaceful it is sleeping in a tent outdoors. The 2" backpacking pad....another story! ::)

Joe

my idea of roughing it is a hotel with no maid service.

Sorry Mel.   The thought of what I do everyday and doing it w/o electricity, hot and cold running water and then doing it where ferocious animals might intrude, on an uncomfortable cot or sleeping bag...AND, doing it all in the dirt is really beyond me.

That said, I DO like hiking for a day in the great outdoors. Watching the sun come up, walking through a forest and then going home to my conveniences.  THAT,  I can get behind.

Camping during a kiwi summer, waking up near the beach can be priceless.

It's even more special when you're doing it at Christmas or New Year.

Used to camp when I was a kid.

Now I need to plug in my CPAP when I sleep.

Joe, I hear you about the pad!  That is why I will be having an air mattress w/a 12V quick pump delivered with it as well.  I've tented with pads and cots and not doing it again! ;D 

Linda, totally understand.  Tenting is not for everyone!  I just seem to have it in my blood and won't be satisfied until I get it out of my system.  I think Jesse will be happy as well since I plan on taking the kids to the campground for a couple days at a time when he's on 3rd shift and needs to sleep in the mornings. :)

Mike, someday I would definitely love to camp near a beach!  I have plans to make my family go with me to a campground on Madeline Island on Lake Superior.  That is probably about as close as I'll get to doing it as it's right near shore.

Bill, funny you should mention the CPAP.  I have been perusing the tent camping forums today and came across a thread discussing just that!  One camper mentioned plugging into the campgrounds electrical site and another talked about some sort of battery that recharges itself durning the day?  One more talked about dry camping and plugging his into a Honda generator. 

Now If they only made grain free, sugar free smores! ;D

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Open it up and put in a slice of bread, buttered-side down, then add anything you like from baked beans to bacon and egg or even fruits and jam. Put another slice of bread on top, buttered-side up, then close and lock the handles.

Stick on the embers for three or four minutes and your gourmet toastie is ready for you. Best bit is that the kids will have an absolute ball inventing and making their own meals.



PS Always remember to pack extra popping corn to go with the beer.

AussieBrian wrote on Jun 24^th, 2011 at 8:27pm:

A staple of camping in Oz is the jaffle iron. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Open it up and put in a slice of bread, buttered-side down, then add anything you like from baked beans to bacon and egg or even fruits and jam. Put another slice of bread on top, buttered-side up, then close and lock the handles. Stick on the embers for three or four minutes and your gourmet toastie is ready for you. Best bit is that the kids will have an absolute ball inventing and making their own meals. PS Always remember to pack extra popping corn to go with the beer.

Brian, they call those Pudgie Pies here! :)  I don't partake in them though since I don't eat grains, but I do know many of my family love them a ton!

Now you're bringing back memories (of course I'm with Linda these days - roughing it to me is a  suite in Vegas without room service), but we've done the tents, pop-ups, travel trailers and motor homes - all and had a great time with each.

the pop-up brought back a LOT of memories -- do NOT poke the canvas during a rain storm (well they TOLD me that when we bought the darn thing) BECAUSE it will LEAK and get your nice bed WET! (Only did that ONCE!)

We once spent a week on the Italian Riveiara in a tent. (We were YOUNG at the time). In fact we traveled all over Europe in a VW with our tent on top and stopped where we wanted and had a great time.

Put the cell phone in the BACK of your purse (for emergency use only) and GO with the kids - enjoy them while they're young... I wouldn't trade a minute of the bug bites, the deflated air mattresses, the wet beds (poking the canvass) or any of the other "hardships" for the memories we have of Buddy's childhood and our camping days..  :-*

Linda_Howell wrote on Jun 24^th, 2011 at 6:30pm:

my idea of roughing it is a hotel with no maid service. Sorry Mel.   The thought of what I do everyday and doing it w/o electricity, hot and cold running water and then doing it where ferocious animals might intrude, on an uncomfortable cot or sleeping bag...AND, doing it all in the dirt is really beyond me. That said, I DO like hiking for a day in the great outdoors. Watching the sun come up, walking through a forest and then going home to my conveniences.  THAT,  I can get behind.

I love you Linda!!  I'm "camping" at your house!!  I've never said it better myself!!

Melissa wrote on Jun 24^th, 2011 at 8:18pm:

Now If they only made grain free, sugar free smores! ;D

They do - it's called cardboard! ;D

Hi Mel, good thread! :)
I will be at my campsite this weekend as a matter of fact. Will be really roughing it in between rains..
My campsite is close to home, has a nice sitting area, power, heat if it gets too cold, music, beer on ice, a good cooking utensil and so on..
Oh, and a very comfortable sleeping area.. Here is a pic of my campsite!

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;D ;D ;D

I was camping at age 5 with girl scouts and loved it.  Went to camp every year until 17.  Camped in a pop up with my parents every summer also.  We went lots of places.  Ted and I used to camp alot when we were first married and the kids were young.  However, a tornado comming through and destroying our camp site was no fun and the thought of that possibly repeating itself took the fun out of it for us and we have done hotels since.  I miss camping alot though.  Good topic. 

barry_sword wrote on Jun 25^th, 2011 at 10:47am:

Hi Mel, good thread! :) I will be at my campsite this weekend as a matter of fact. Will be really roughing it in between rains.. My campsite is close to home, has a nice sitting area, power, heat if it gets too cold, music, beer on ice, a good cooking utensil and so on.. Oh, and a very comfortable sleeping area.. Here is a pic of my campsite! START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE ;D ;D ;D

AND indoor plumbing!!

Our family motto is "MAMA don't camp"

So, the question is posed again.  Who here goes camping?? ;D

BTW Barry, yer silly. :D

Melissa wrote on Jun 25^th, 2011 at 2:24pm:

So, the question is posed again.  Who here goes camping??

I work pretty much full time in the bush and live in my 4WD. I can cook up a storm, guarantee the beer will be cold, and there's no night sky like the one you share with a camp-fire and a song.

Hi all Terry here in DavCon. Sorry havent been here much at all due to health problems. I took wife & granddaughter (age 8) (camping for her first time). We set up Friday AM and it was such a great time for us all. Weather was just right no bugs in low 70's not humid and a breeze. We decided to stay another night. About 3 in afternoon it started to rain lightly. We put things in van to stay dry and stayed in van for it to pass.  I went into tent and our brand new first time used tent was leaking ggggrrrrr. So had to put everything it there into van. We sat waiting for 2 hours and it wasnt going to stop so took every thing in van and came home left tent to get it today. We were only 13 miles from home. Take care and be well everyone. Terry

AussieBrian wrote on Jun 25^th, 2011 at 7:05pm:

Melissa wrote on Jun 25th, 2011 at 2:24pm: So, the question is posed again.  Who here goes camping?? I work pretty much full time in the bush and live in my 4WD. I can cook up a storm, guarantee the beer will be cold, and there's no night sky like the one you share with a camp-fire and a song.

Sounds wonderful Brian. :)


Terry- very sorry about the rain and the tent leak.  What kind of tent is it and did you seal the seams before you left?  One thing I read up a ton on is the tent brands make such a big difference along with seam sealing everything.  I also read a TON of reviews and couldn't make up my mind on 2 different kinds for 2 weeks.  Crazy, it feels like I was buying a car! ;D

Mel,

A short time ago I would have told you that I loved tent camping.....

After spending WAYYYYY too many nights in this one the past couple of months......

---

Getting this ready......

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To look like this.....I never want to see a damned tent again as long as I live...lol!!!

---

We had a 24' trailer when the kids were young. I liked that trailer 2 days. The day we bought it and the day we sold it.
I'm with Linda and Barbara. Roughing it sucks.

My dad used to drag me and my sister tent camping all the time when we were growing up.  Since I now live in the country, all I have to do is pop a tent in the backyard, but why do that when my bed is so cozy and the a/c feels sooo good! ;)

Mel, you're more than welcome to come camping over here anytime!  :)

My idea of camping: Best Western instead of the Marriott.

Joe's family has a reunion every year over Thanksgiving weekend. We do our own things on Thanksgiving day (I host my family here) then Friday we head to a retreat camp place. Now you know he has a very LARGE family - so there's usually about 80-100+ people. The "cabins" (if you want to be so generous) have bunk beds and are in a semi circle around the "bath house" which is up a short little hill.

At my age, with getting up at night to use the facilities....not fun. So I join them during the day, and then drive to my HOME CAMP! Yes, nice warm bed! And I'm not the only one that does that!

This year they found a new place, allegedly smaller 'family' size cabins (instead of the group ones) with indoor plumbing.  Well I'll head out and check it out, but will still reserve the right to head home. A little father drive, but I find at my advanced age of 50 I will just do more what I want!

We had a good sized camp way back when pretty near Allegany (that's the way it is on the sign in NYS for no apparent reason) State Park but not part of it.

Every 4th, the family would try setting the woods on fire with fireworks, my Mom especially. She loved them!

Most of the time we kept the beer far away from the shotguns...fortunately.

Charlie

Quote:

I love you Linda!!  I'm "camping" at your house!!  I've never said it better myself!!

And nothing would make me happier if you did Pat.

I've known people who spend more money, than brains in making a camping trip into....(wait for it...)








home.  Generators, expensive coleman stoves & heaters,  etc. etc.

I guess after my ex took me and my 3 little kids under the age of ten on a camping trip through the San Gorgonia mtns. between  Idelwild, Ca. through to Palm Springs and we got stopped 1/2 way and had to put up a tent and nearly froze...except for the outhouse along the way that I spied and told him to tear down so we wouldn't freeze..kinda of jaded me.  I was wet, cold, tired, and never wanted to ever do that again. 

Quote:

Most of the time we kept the beer far away from the shotguns...

Buzzkill.

I never expected so many of us to enjoy camping.

I wonder if there is a connection between CHs and camping?

Will it be easier to ask who doesn't go camping?

Denny- Completely understand!!  That is definitely one of the drawbacks to tenting.  I'll be taking the kids mostly to campgrounds, so at least we can go hide out in the bathrooms if need be!

Linda- I'm sorry about the bad experience. :(

Marc- what kind of Kelty do you have?

I ordered a Eureka Bitterroot...

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It'll be here tomorrow!   :)

     I figgered it out and I got somewhere between 3,500 and 4,000 days camping.

      I don't camp anymore.  I bought a motorhome.

             Potter

Mel,

I've been camping once... if you can count it as camping, that is. I did stay over night at a tent, in my best friend's garden. We were planning to sleep at the tent for more nights, but our moms kept on coming over to "check how we're doing". ;D

Esa does own a tent and he has used it, during Midsummer 2009. He did invite me to join him for that camping trip, but I decided not to go, as I had already promised my mom, aunt & cousin to spend the holiday with them. I'm glad that I didn't go, because it pretty much rained the whole time where Esa was camping...

My version of camping is summer cottage. It means much more work, but equal amount of bugs! ;)

Sanna

Here's the bottom line re: me and camping. I did enough of it in my youth to have acquired some pretty decent survival skills, which I can always tap into if the need arises. Now, it just doesn't hold the allure it once did.

As a Biker.... I attended the National Bikers Roundup every year. Campaigning in a different State every year; in all type of weather.. and I truly enjoyed it..

I only missed 6 of the last 34 years ... I loved it... Sleeping in tents and cooking everything from breakfast to dinner mostly over coals... I think that I own every piece of blow, pump up and compact camping item one can pack...  ;D

The OUCH Convention is always the Middle of July, and the National Bikers Roundup is always centered around the first weekend of August. 

Last years Roundup was in Atlanta 2 weeks after the OUCH Convention; and this year's National Bikers Roundup, is being held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Street: 7000 Las Vegas Blvd N; on August 03 - 07.. 

I made them both the first few years after I found this group... but after a while I had to choose one or the other... guess which one I chose ::)

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Luv Ya
Lady Luv

I have not been camping since I was 19 and in the Army, but for my 50 next year I am going to do the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, sleeping in the Andes.

mummymac wrote on Jul 15^th, 2011 at 3:21pm:

I have not been camping since I was 19 and in the Army, but for my 50 next year I am going to do the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, sleeping in the Andes.

Oh Tanya, that sounds spectacular!!!  I wish I could do something like that as well!

Maybe for your 50 Mel.