Camping Ideas...

paulamathers · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:14 pm Post subject: Camping Ideas...

On Tuesday my daughter Keri and I are going to Wales camping! It's Keri's first time camping, and my first time as an adult - where it's my responsability to remember everything! I have never put up a tent in my life, so i'm a little bit nervous - especially considering the British weather recently!

I have a few tins of food, but i'm at a bit of a loss really as to what to cook for dinner in the evenings. Bbq's are a good idea, but if the weather isn't good enough to sit outside for hours cooking, then i'm not really sure what to do. On campsites in the UK you're not allowed camp fires at all. The site where we're going is a rare one that does allow camp fires, and has a communal camp fire area in the corner of the field apparently, but if other people want to use it, we will have to share. I've brought a little camping stove and a couple of mess tins, but if any one has any good camping recipes that you can make using a maximum of 2 tins, that would be great!

For any one who wants a good laugh, I will be posting pictures of our camping trip on the site (if i'm allowed... Kate / Guido??), and of my attempts of cooking in the storms that Wales are expecting this week!

guido · Site Admin Joined: Oct 18, 2004 Posts: 376 Location: Italy

Sorry but I cant help!
I have been camping only once in my life with my friend Piero.
We were so lazy that we have been eating at the restaurant the whole 2 weeks of vacation.
Great campers, ain't we? Rolling Eyes

About posting pictures, the best solution would be post them at
www.flickr.com (the new yahoo photo) and then post a link here.
_________________
In vino veritas!

paulamathers · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:06 pm Post subject:

I'm hoping theres a pub that sells food nearby! Very Happy

My tent arrived this morning - woohoo! I think I have pretty much everything sorted. Can you believe this site is only charging £3.75 per adult per night (Keri is free), that's so cheap! I think that if this week goes well, we will definitely be making camping a regular occurence.

Kate · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:37 am Post subject:

Paula, I'm sure you have gone on your trip by now, sorry I missed this but as you know Guido is here so very busy.

Hot dogs and beans are always a good and filling meal for camping as far as the tins go. I always prepared a lot of my food at home so it could be heated at camp. Stews are good to take, either home made or canned. I have a few recipes for camping food posted here. I will have more ideas for you on your next trip. I hope you have/had a great time. As for the picts, I think it would be great!
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject:

camping was great! Apart from the fact that it was 4 degrees C at night time - so bloody freezing! It was so hot in the day, and the scenery was great. The towns were so cute and had quaint little tea rooms everywhere. I couldnt get a signal on my mobile phone anywhere, so was left in peace and quiet! Keri loved it, and found a couple of little friends on the camp site. Because the weather was good, we had bbq every night, so luckily didnt have to worry about cooking my tins of food - which didnt look too appetising really Smile

I found some great ways of keeping food cold for a few days too. I had 2 medium sized cool bags, and wanted to keep burgers, sausages, butter and milk cold for 3 days. I froze 2 x 2 litre bottles of water (one for each bag) and all of my ice blocks - 7 small ones. I froze the burgers, sausages and my 2 pint bottle of milk, and put everything in the cool bags. The milk defrosted enought to use by the time i got to wales (3 hour drive), and had thawed totally by the next day. it stayed cold until friday (day 4 when we left), and was still cold and useable when we got home friday afternoon. the meat stayed frozen for the first day, but was defrosted by wednesday (day 2), and it stayed cold until we used the last bit on thursday night. I think that freezing the milk and the 2 bottles of water really helped. they acted like a fridge for the food, and probably would have stayed cold another day at least if we hadn't have gone home. The milk didnt spoil at all from being frozen. I think if i had used 2 x 1 pint bottles instead, and put 1 in each bag, that might have stayed frozen too long, and stopped me having a cup of tea when we arrived! I will definitely be using these methods to keep my food cold in future. I have taken pictures of my first attempt at a bbq (first attempt ever!), and also pictures of the proud moment i had finished putting the tent up! Very Happy

I hope the link works, if not, let me know and i will see what i can do instead.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11348006@N06/

Kate · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:47 pm Post subject:

Glad you had a good time and that your food ideas worked out so well! I love the pictures, Keri is really growing fast!
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

guido · Site Admin Joined: Oct 18, 2004 Posts: 376 Location: Italy

HaHa!
I was thinking I have been a " desperate camper" until i saw your last picture! LOL

Just kidding... nice place and you really did much better than me!
_________________
In vino veritas!

paulamathers · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:25 pm Post subject:

I felt so smelly and gross by the time we got home, the showers were disgusting there! It was nice and peaceful though, and very relaxing. I'd definitely do it again. You and Kate should go, Guido, although she does have evil spiders over there, so maybe not!

Kate · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:10 am Post subject:

I always pack those disposable wipes just in case the showers are dirty Some disenfectant and rubber thongs though can help when a shower is a must.
I'm afraid my camping days are over. In my former life that was about the only vacation I got and while I enjoy nature very much, it was always me who did all the work. Shopping for and preparing food, packing and getting gear together,setting up camp, cooking and washing the dishes and of course unpacking and washing everything when we got home. Too much work for a vacation. My ex was always busy packing up his fishing equipment. Give me a quaint little cottage with a fireplace and I'm happy. I know Guido feels the same way. Oh and the spiders don't eat much haha.
_________________
A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:04 pm Post subject:

oh my god! almost had a heart attack when you said rubber thongs! I had to look up what you meant because here a thong is something soooooooooo different. What you call Thong, we call Flip Flops. What we call a thong is string knickers!

I did pack disposable face wipes, but didn't realise the showers would be so bad, otherwise id have packed more baby wipes. Next time i'll remember and make sure i do. When we were kids, my dad used to take us camping all the time, it was great and because we were kids, we didnt care about being dirty. I had such a nice long bath when we got back though, loads of bubbles and about an hour and a half soak! Very Happy