A massive errection

 

Last weekend we thought we'd try out the tent, bit of dry run so to speak(apart from the fact it pissed it down).

With the car packed to the rafters (tent, travel cot, bedding, large black dog) we set off. We chose a nice little campsite somewhere near Stone Henge (or Stone Hedge as Lottie called it). We were staying just one night to see what camping with a 1 year old, a 5 year old, a Labrador and a hairdryer less wife might be like.

We bought a Vango Icarus 600 a bit ago as we thought this year for our family holiday we'd like to camp in France. So this summer it will be in the back of the car and heading for France to be used in anger. I'd had the tent up in the garden to test it, as you do, but the real test is not the tent it's the ability for the family to cope in it. (I was a bit sceptical).

I'd bought a few 'soft furnishings' to compliment the tent, fitted carpet and inflatable arm chairs.

Well quite surprisingly, it went well, very well in fact the girls loved camping. Lottie helped/hindered putting the tent up hammering pegs wonky and tripping over guy ropes. Amelia crawled around in the wet grass investigating things. Tired out they collapsed into bed at 8pm and slept in 'till 6am (not too bad). All in all we had a great couple of days of camping, adventure playground, mini trains and mud.

But what of the gear?... Well the tent worked well and it's certainly proven itself on the weather front. It kept the (almost biblical) rain off and the wasn't too flappy in the wind. The bedrooms are a good size for us as a family of four. The carpet made it a bit nicer inside too. The Tesco £7.50 blow up armchairs were great. The AlpKit Bulbs were great.

So all in all a success but as ever gear can be honed and improved and there are a couple of things we will need to change before an extended stay:

For all that I didn't want a massive 'lunar module' type tent as it stands the tent just isn't quite big enough for an extended stay with small children, especially if it's wet so an awning is on order. The awning should add that bit of extra space. If it's wet or windy outside the awning can be cooked in, it will keep the sun/rain off, we can leave shoes outside the main tent in the dry. I also found the Icarus 600 has a bit of a design flaw. Although it kept the rain at bay if you open the front door all the rain that has beaded on the door drips into the tent as the tent has no porch. An awning will fix this though and it should turn a good tent into a great tent.

We also need a fridge of some sort, quite fancy a posh Engel that can go in the Land Rover also but at £600 they are a lot of money to leave in a tent.

We only took a single ring stove this time and it didn't really work, I had my bivvy (divvy) head on and thought it would be okay. Cooking pasta, potatoes etc on a single ring in a single pan for a family meal is much harder than just boiling water and rehydrating each course. I think we'll just get a second stove like the one we have rather than a double ring affair. For about £10 I think they are brilliant.

Some kind of high chair would be handy, didn't think about babies and camping.

A wind break would also be good, as much for privacy and separation from other pitches as anything.

We need to have a think about bedding, I was cold under(ish) a household duvet. (should have brought my Xero 250 sleeping bag in anticipation of Sarah stealing all of the covers).

So there we have it, can't wait to get another weekend in soon. Hopefully we'll get two nights and take the bikes next time but already looking for spare weekends and campsites.