Pitching your Tent and Campsite Advice
Having found your perfect tent, packed up your belongs and arrived at your camping destination the next stage is to settle in and make the campsite your home for the duration of your visit.
Once you have checked into the camp reception you could be allocated a pitch space, be sure to check this out and make sure that the ground isn’t water logged or has the potential to be water logged. Take a good look at the surface on which your tent will be sitting for sharp objects and stones which could (heaven forbid) tear the base of your tent or make for an uncomfortable nights sleep.
Another thing to avoid is a sloping pitch, not only will this be a little uncomfortable and go against your natural gravity (never sleep with your head downhill as a painful headache will ensue) it could prove to be problematic also where drainage is concerned.
If you find a nice pitch under a tree and it rains this could be a little noisy as drips will continue to fall after the rain has stopped, having said this on a more positive note, the trees can provide great shade and protection from the sun if you are somewhere hot.
When erecting the tent, especially in windy conditions, make sure you hold or peg parts of the tent down to prevent is blowing away!! When you have the hard parts done by making sure that the guide ropes and pegs are as tight as possible this will aid the flow of rain away from the tent as well as prevent flapping in windy conditions. (NOTE: Modern synthetic fabrics such as nylon tend to stretch in wet conditions where as cotton/canvas shrink when wet!!!)
Getting some good sleep whilst camping
Depending on your budget and location it is worth investing in good sleeping equipment. To avoid being cold in damp conditions buy a damp proof matt to place under a sleeping bag, this can be easily rolled up when moving on. For those who like their comfort (lets face it most of us do right?) purchase yourself an inflatable airbed, this will keep you comfy and provide a softer surface on which to sleep. Don’t forget your pillow!!
If you are camping in chilly or wet conditions you could make yourself a hot drink before you go to bed for the night this will warm you through. If you are really cold put on some extra layers until you feel happily warm.
Keep your bed as far away as possible from the sides of the tent, in the case of rain this will avoid the damp seeping through to you while you sleep.
Preparing and eating a camp feast
You might be having a good time but always make sure you are safe and cook away from the tent when using stoves and BBQ’s. If it is raining shelter inside the tent or awning area and within safe reach of the stove. Place your stove or cooking equipment on a stable surface, this will avoid accidents and spillage.
Make sure you cook your food all the way though – you really don’t want to be getting a touch of food poisoning from under cooked sausages now do you?! Once you have finished, store your ingredients and leftovers in a sealed container, this will avoid beasties such as ants! Be kind to your environment by clearing up after yourself, don’t discard your left over food as this could encourage rats. Tidy up your cooking area and make sure rubbish is disposed of adequately as wildlife could help themselves to your leftovers during the night and wake you up from your snugly sleeping bag.
Camping food ideas
Support the local economy surrounding your campsite and buy produce from local suppliers; this could be the local butcher, baker or grocery store. Many of these producers create specialty foods not available elsewhere such as sausages, cheeses, jam and cakes. As well as being delicious you will be helping to keep traditional methods, recipes and food items being produced.
There is nothing better than the taste of campfire cooked food - sausages and eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you want to be more experimental with you camp food and impress your fellow camp guests there are loads of websites which offer recipe ideas for delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners including desserts. Alternatively you can buy a cookbook specialising in camping cuisine.
For Camping Cookery Books
For Camping Equipment