Camping – you either love it or you completely loath it and would not be found dead in a tent (unless murdered and under a forensic tent – that’s dark!) But there is no in between.
I love camping. But I didn’t always.
The idea of it appealed to me – the great outdoors, the freedom, the fresh air. But what about the toilets? And the insects? And the toilets? Most importantly, the toilets. So, I avoided it completely when my friends were all zipping off to Glasto or camping up on the hills at weekends.
But then, years later I was invited to attend the World Bog Snorkeling Championships in Wales with my mad friends (I love them!) and the plan was to pack a tent and camp in a random field in Wales. I said yes!
It may have had something to do with the horrid, abusive relationship I was in and the desire to escape it over the bank holiday weekend (another story to tell) but whatever the reason, I’m so glad I did it.
I also took part in the bog snorkeling – that was one experience I will never forget.
But if you want to go camping you need equipment:-
⛺ Tent
⛺ Sleeping bag
I had neither. So, I borrowed a friend’s husbands old festival tent and someone else’s sleeping bag and packed myself off for a rainy weekend in Wales.
From the moment I was in the car I felt excited. I was also a bit nervous. Would I find the random field, would I be able to put the tent up, did I pack enough, what about the toilet, what about the toilet, WHAT ABOUT THE TOILET?
I arrived before everyone else and found a patch of grass to build my weekend home. I didn’t park too near the toilet block – smells – but near enough to find it in the night should I need to (and I would need to. Camping tip: pack a torch). Eventually everyone arrived, the camp was up, and the BBQ was lit. The wine was flowing (along with the whiskey) and before I knew it, it was time to snuggle down into my tiny home for the night. Bliss.
And it was. It was bliss! I slept like a baby. I did have to run to the loo once in the night but waking up in the morning to that wonderful zipper sound and the anticipation of what was to come was unbeatable. The birds were singing, the sky was blue and I just felt a sense of freedom. The hangover wasn’t the best but a few energy drinks and maybe a bit more whiskey (don’t judge me! I was younger then!) soon cured that. It certainly helped me get into the bog.
(That’s me in the bog ⬇️)
From then on, to my surprise, I was hooked on camping. I bought a four-man tent, camp beds, sleeping bags, blow up beds, a camp stove, camp tables, fold out chairs, BBQ, gazebo, cold boxes, torches and fairy lights – you have to have fairy lights! But the best purchase of all? The camping toilet!!
The Camping Toilet
I love my camping toilet. It is the envy of all my friends (it’s not). It has revolutionised the camping experience, and especially the festival experience. Have you ever queued at those portaloos the morning after and peered in to see what awaits you? Disgusting! 🤢
Emptying the toilet isn’t much fun but for a few days away, what’s a couple of minutes watching your wee go down a big hole in the ground at a campsite?
And strangely I always sleep really well when camping. No alarm clocks, no rushing about the next morning. Just the sound of the zip, the gas stove and my camping coffee awaits. Again…bliss.
My set up has seen me through fun family holidays, festivals and weekends away with my daughter and will hopefully see me through many more.
Here’s to camping!
