Going tent camping for 1st time this weekend

[azasadny]

We were invited to join a large group (~40) to go camping on the Rifle River for 4 days and 3 nights tent camping. After 9 years "camping out" with the Marines, I was not especially excited about this, but the people we're going with are fun and we have a neighbor who is letting us borrow his family's camping gear. It should be in the high 80's during the day and 6o's at night with no rain expected. We'll go on a 5.5hr inner tube trip down the river one day, then kayak/canoe it the next day.

Meals will be "communal" and Beth will take care of that and I get to set up the tent and gear. We will have electricity at the campsite and there are shower facilities provided. Since we have never camped as a family before, this will be interesting! We'll take Daisy and I'll take lots of pics. After all of the nasty stuff we've been dealing with (wife lost her teaching job last Friday), it will be good to get away for a few days!

[URY914]

Sounds like fun................now.

[azasadny]

Yeah, I know what you mean..... My other neighbor said that camping is just pretending you're homeless! We'll see how it goes.

[9dreizig]

Air mattress and mosquito repellant

[JavaBrewer]

Firewood, Scotch and cigars. 9dreizig got the rest.

[ckissick]

Know anybody with a Westfalia you can borrow?

[944Larry]

Art-I've always valued your down-to-earth outlook on things. But this is a dead-end trip here. Find a camper, find a motel but don't put a woman in a tent. I tried this about 25 years ago. I'm still hearing about how miserable it was to this very day. Good luck!!!!

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by ckissick

Know anybody with a Westfalia you can borrow?

he can use mine if he comes and gets it

[Mothy]

We go camping every year with a bunch of other families - pitch the tent, set up and relax for 2 weeks.

A comfortable bed (air bed works for us), warm bedding, a comfortable seat and some warm clothes.

If you have got power at the site and it's a drive in access location - take a bar fridge. People laughed the first year we did it but all the other families do it now = Cold beer & fresh food.

[stomachmonkey]

Get a 2 liter plastic bottle of Hawaiian Punch or other suitably sweet fruity beverage.

Pour out half.

Replace with Rum.

Tie 3-4 ft length of string around neck and then around your tube so it can float in the water and stays cool.

Vasaline (it's not just for Fuchs), slather copious amounts on exposed body parts that will be in contact with the inner tube.

Trust me on that one.

[aigel]

Camping is great. Key is a good set of mattresses (I personally prefer the thermarest base camp or luxury camp models). How old are your kids? The kids and dogs always have a blast, and nothing beats a cold beer at the campfire at night shooting the breeze with friends.

G

[Rusty Heap]

Quote "We will have electricity at the campsite and there are shower facilities provided........."

This is tent camping?


geez I must be getting old, you must have a paved road in front of the "campsite" a firepit and picnic table too with bike racks out front for the kids to lock their bikes up?

[stomachmonkey]

My idea of camping.



Hey, we're Jews we did that camping in the desert schit for like 3,000 years.

We're over it.

[HHI944]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Firewood, Scotch and cigars. 9dreizig got the rest.

+12...... I dont 'do' camping anymore. When i went hiking at pine mountain recently, i rented a cabin and laughed at the people in tents........

[slodave]

Hehe. Art's going to pitch a tent.

[Mothy]

We call it glamping.

16 person tent with 3 rooms = wardrobe/store + kitchen + bedroom.
Double bed sized air mattress on a foldaway frame (up off the ground)
Wiring loom for a light in each room plus one outside.
Bar fridge, kettle, toaster and a small microwave when the kids were smaller.
En-Suite bathroom cabin with shower, toilet and wash basin.
Each child has their own 3 person tent with an air-bed.

Each family tries to outdo the other for bringing something outrageous - we have an old chandelier which my electrician son wired up with a plug - that hangs out the front over the camp table during meals.
One of the other families once brought a portable clothes drier - and by chance it was the wettest holiday, so it was put to good use.
Last year we took a portable evaporative cooler for a joke - had the only air conditioned tent in the campground.

iPods and radios are OK - nice to listen to some Jimmy Buffett when sitting in the evening with a drink as the dinner cooks on the BBQ - but TV's are banned.

It's why we keep going back for the past 16 years - we like it, it's great to catch up with the friends once a year and all the kids (about 12 of them) look forward to it every year, especially when they become older teenagers and do their own thing. The eldest are now well into their twenties but still come - and bring their husbands/wives/partners etc.

And best of all - it all fits in a box trailer and takes about an hour to put up when you get there and an hour and a half to pack up at the end.

Tim

[Superman]

Electricity? Showers? That's not camping.

I do fine on an air mattress, but some folks do not. FOAM is the way to go. Even I agree it is better than air.

Than again, with the itinerary you described, it sounds like you will sleep like a friggin' baby.

[Bill Douglas]

Camping is fun guys. GF, dog and I had a great time during our summer (four months ago) driving around, staying in the tent, fishing, walking, paddleboarding, drinking, eating.

[Outback Porsche]

Have fun Art.

Essential camping provisions - will keep you warm

[azasadny]

Thanks, guys! Lots of excellent tips here!!