The Camping Thread #2

[Frangipani Lou]

We are going to Confest. I just got back from a trip to the camping store. Does anyone else find it stressful packing to go camping?

[Jaycee]

I definitely find it stressful packing to go camping! Hasn't been too bad since we've had the camper trailer as all of the stuff stays in there except clothes and food, but even packing just the clothes and food is sometimes stressful! Lists definitely make life easier and you can tick off the items as they go in.

[Miss.September]

Love the weber q. Awesome for camping.

We just flew to Perth and back. I found packing for that far harder than packing the caravan!

No trips here over Easter. We've been back for a week. Planning a weekend to Anglesea soon, probably May sometime.

[black_rose]

We hire out our van so can't keep it ready to go like the camper used to be it's such a pain because we live on a hill and have lots of stairs and a steep drive with the van at the bottom so packing is exhausting.

[Tinks]

I'm supposed to be going to SA today but landed myself in hospital on Monday morning so I'm not going now. Dh and the kids still are, I usually do all the packing over the course of a week but he had to do it all in one day rofl. Luckily I'd already gone through and given the cutlery and plates a wash and stocked up the food over the weekend. He just has to buy fruit and veg once he gets there.

[Miss.September]

Bugger Tinks! Are you okay?

[~clover~]

Well we were off to Margaret cove again tomorrow. Now dd has been vomiting for 3 days I'm not so sure..

[Frangipani Lou]

Oh dear. It sounds like a few families are needing to alter camping plans.

We still aren't packed fully. DD woke at 3 and 5 this morning and so I had a nap today when she slept and lost some valuable packing time. DP works full time so haven't done anything to prepare for the trip. I'm very aware if not getting narky at him for it but its 3 hours to bedtime and I've had enough of organizing everything.
Sigh.

[~clover~]

We're now heading down saturday morning. Which works ok for me. Full day tomorrow to get organised.

Dd seems ok this afternoon (again), so hopefully it'll all work out long as no one else gets sick!

We have to hitch a ride from the road down to the cove (need a 4x4!!), so going down with my brother.

[Frangipani Lou]

It's 9.30am and we are FINALLY leaving after a barney about how to pack the car. Fingers crossed for fine weather wherever everyone is camping.
Stay safe, have fun and I'm looking forward to hearing about everyone's adventures next week.

[~Phoenix~]

I hope everyone has a great time away where ever you are heading this Easter. Safe travels on the road.

I'm jealous because DH is away working so I'm not going anywhere because I can't tow the van plus there is the small issue if getting it out through the garage first lol

[Miss.September]

Hope everyone had fun over the break! We made good use of it and instead of going away, we went to Ray's sale lol. We've laybied a new tent, 4wd mattresses and sleeping bags and scored 40% off overall. We'll now be equipped to go both rough camping and caravan park camping.

We're going to go down the Great Ocean Road for Mother's Day, take a long weekend. Taking the caravan. Once we pick up the tent, we'll do a rough camp somewhere to make sure we 're equipped enough to do a two week trip.

I want to buy one of those portable toilets for DD1. Are they as gross as I'm expecting?

[~Phoenix~]

We have - it was only way DH could get me to go free camping . That was pre-kids and I only would use it for no. 1's.

Post kids, after changing nappies of all descriptions emptying portaloo isn't a big deal anymore lol. Still gross but bearable

[~clover~]

I couldn't do it. I actually thought about it this trip. And was grateful my kids are ok without, lol.

We had a good weekend a few showers, bit wet easter morning, but tarp city was great. Course it stopped raining not long after we got it all up

I need to invest in a good quality tent. But I don't see the point when my ultimate goal is 4by & camper trailer. Better start on those lotto tickets again

[Lenny]

I don't mind the 'no toilet' when we are own our own. But I really dislike free camping with a group, and not having a toilet. It's just too difficult. Now DH uses it sometimes too!
Where we went over Easter was super busy, unexpectedly. So we had our group, plus an extra couple of trailers who parked in right beside us because there was no where else to go. Having a 'toilet' was a godsend!

[Astrid]

We are considering a portable toilet. Mainly for the kids at night and of course depending on where we are.
Last camping trip, the toilets were pretty bad, but made much worse by someone emptying their portable toilet into one and getting it all over the toilet. So disgusting and inconsiderate of them. They would not use the toilets themselves ended up making one unusable for everyone who had no choice.

[Miss.September]

We are considering a portable toilet. Mainly for the kids at night and of course depending on where we are.
Last camping trip, the toilets were pretty bad, but made much worse by someone emptying their portable toilet into one and getting it all over the toilet. So disgusting and inconsiderate of them. They would not use the toilets themselves ended up making one unusable for everyone who had no choice.

Right there! You've got me completely convinced!!!!!!!

I'll be fine using a long drop if necessary but I know DD1 will freak.

[black_rose]

We had a portable loo when we had the camper all three kids were in varying stages of toilet training and struggled with squatting on the ground. We put it in the outdoor shower so they had privacy when going too. It's often hard to find quiet spots on the long weekends now.