Camping! What an adventure! This year we celebrated our first holiday in our own tent. It felt like I was taking part in a tough course in camping for beginners. The entire camping adventure did not go entirely smoothly. are you reading me? I have collected some useful tips for the novice camper.
Table of contents
While the sparrows fell from the roof in the Netherlands because of the extreme heat, we went to pack. And by packing I mean really packing. Not normal how much you have to lug around. Novice camper or not. Our station wagon with roof box was filled to the brim. There was really nothing more to it. The frying pan, salad bowl and one gas bottle couldn't even keep up. The fairground stuff (according to my hubby then hey, read candles, rugs and lights) I secretly stuffed under the passenger seat.
Take a good look at what you really need t. Not too much crockery. An extra wash is a small effort. And clothes. Of course I had way too much with me. While the youngest walked around in his swimming trunks all day. And almost every campsite has a washing machine , so save that space. Always check whether you can rent a refrigerator at the campsite † Even if it is not on the site, they can still offer this service, we noticed.
Fortunately, we had already practiced setting up the tent at home. In good spirits we went to get this job done, even if it is something different than setting up the Fresh and Black tent. However, when packing the car, we had not taken into account the order of unpacking … Result:everything, really everything, had to get out of the car before we could start. A lesson for next time:when packing, try to cluster the camping gear together as much as possible and have it within reach. Very handy and as far as I'm concerned the tip for camping for beginners.
And that heat! We hadn't counted on that. Even though there were some trees near our beautiful spot, it was sweltering hot. We did what was necessary so that we could at least sleep at night. We just wanted to take a dip in the pool. And afterwards with our friends, who were also at the campsite, chilling and drinking a glass of wine. ERROR.
All hell broke loose before we could take a dip. Not normal guys. Out of nowhere a great storm fell from the sky. Rain, wind, hail and thunder. And hard! There we were. Tent. As can be expected with camping for beginners… to hold everything so that we wouldn't fly into the air with our tent and all. Not all pegs and guy ropes were secured storm-proof .
Southwestern
I don't know how long the storm lasted. But long enough to make me cranky. That's not how I had envisioned camping. The rain, wind and thunder lessened. The neighbor came in appropriate clothing (rain cape and southwester) to ask if we were okay…. HOW SO? We really didn't feel like having such a meddling, "I-know-all-about-camping" neighbor. We just wanted to recover from the trip, pitching the tent and the storm. But he kept calling it. “Are you okay? Are you okay? Can you get out?”
Somewhat irritated we looked through either window. Now that the rain is less, we had some visibility again. Immediately we understood the questions of our neighbor. He was just really good with us. There was a huge branch next to our tent. We shouldn't have moved the tent ten centimeters to the left, because then it would have been completely destroyed. Our new tent was only up for an hour, but luckily there was an angel on it.
Surprised camping guests gathered around our tent. Everyone was happy that no one was injured and that there was (almost) no damage. The helpful campsite owners were taken. There were more branches hanging loose, so they called the fire brigade. Everything was cordoned off. Admittedly amateurish, just like sawing the loose branches. That caused a lot of hilarity.
When we suddenly realized later that evening that we also had to eat, we really didn't feel like taking the car. Fortunately, there is a restaurant next to the campsite. We got pizzas here. While enjoying a large piece of pizza and a nice mug of beer, we gradually recovered from the shock. So nice, a restaurant near the campsite † Although it is advisable to make a reservation, especially during the weekend.
Our first night in the tent arrived. Exhausted, we dove on our air mattresses. After a good night we awoke to a sun. Then it became clearly visible that the entire awning was covered with mud due to the heavy weather of the night before. As a result, there were also plenty of mud footprints in our new, until recently clean tent. “I am on holiday, can I (*swear word*) also do the same here † (*another swear word*) That stupid camping in a tent is not for me!”
I didn't care that the camping neighbors could hear my grumbling. We were only there for a day, but I was completely done with it. It wasn't until my hubby had made me a nice cup of coffee that I started to calm down a bit. I didn't have it in me yet, the camping skills.
If you think this is enough adventure for the novice camper, you're wrong. Not to mention the car trouble our friends had to deal with. And the arrangement with that. The travel insurance companies are busy during the holiday periods, so they do not always act quickly and you have to find out a lot yourself and call. Very useful if you know what is in your insurance conditions.
Everyone was so happy when a rental car was finally available for them. As unfortunate as we thought it was, now they could go home. A day later than planned. To celebrate the happy ending, we all went out for dinner. We left the campsite, weather permitting, to eat at a good pizzeria across the lake. While we were enjoying the delicious pizzas, the wine and each other, another big thunderstorm broke out. We are glad we sat inside. But I lost my laughter when I realized that I had left the windows of the tent open…. All four! Typical camping mistake for beginners…
I took another sip of wine and cheered myself up:“Maybe the weather isn't so bad on the other side of the lake” † That turned out to be a utopia. Detent was completely empty. Mopping was not an option. We had to pour. We carried liters of water out of the tent in the dark in our washing-up bowl. As I sat there on my knees scooping rainwater, I could have cried. What a misery, that camping. “The next day I just had to take some pictures. Then that stupid tent can be put on a market place.”
The next day started sad. Bags of clothes had gotten wet. There were also some small puddles of water in the tent. And our friends left for home. But the sun started to shine. The wet stuff dried up. Our friends were able to return home safely in a good rental car and they were able to take home the boxes of prosecco that we had bought together.
Camping started to get used to. The branch on the tent was bad luck. Leaving the window open is a rookie mistake. I will never forget to close it again. It took me some time, but in the end I passed the 'camping for beginners' course. I did take the pictures of the tent. Not to put it on the marketplace, but to share my enthusiasm.
While enjoying a glass of prosecco (of course I didn't bring all the bottles home?) I can conclude that I really enjoy camping in a tent. Okay, I'm a fair-weather camper, though. And I think setting up and breaking down the detent is quite a job. But all in all I loved it. Being outside but above all the relaxed atmosphere of a campsite. We were also on a very nice campsite, but more about that in a next blog.
We will go on vacation again next year. In a tent! With salad bowl, fairground stuff and prosecco! And then I might look for a follow-up camping course for beginners.
