It’s arrived!
Well, more accurately, Akra went to collect our new-to-us folding camper this morning and we’re officially Very Pleased Indeed.
The Conway Cruiser we chose may be 16 years old, but it’s in excellent condition for its age, and far more luxurious than getting a tent. There’s even rumours that the garage may be empty enough in the next week or so to get the trailer under complete cover.
Akra managed to put it up single handedly, despite the lack of instructions and only seen the process once before. We had a good look inside to work out what we need to buy, then packed the camper back up.
Entire process was around three quarters of an hour – and I imagine it’ll only get much quicker once we’re practised and know what we’re doing.
Next stop was a camping superstore, to pick up all those “essentials” for our first exciting outing (planned for next weekend, weather permitting). For the uninitiated, camping shops are dangerous places – much on a par with walking around Mothercare when newly pregnant for the first time – you just have no concept what is necessary and what is a complete waste of money. Unfortunately, the place was packed and the boys were less than co-operative, so we came out with hardly anything on our list.
Despite that, we’ve somehow ended up with two collapsible child-sized chairs in the shape of a cat and an elephant. Still, Akra Jr and Li’l Bhaji have been dragged through so many camping and folding camper shops that they probably deserve them.
With the remaining urgent camping supplies ordered online (thank goodness for the internet – I just hope they arrive in time), all we need to do now is to decide where to go for our maiden voyage. We’re currently oscillating between going to a campsite in the Forest of Dean which is recommended for beginner campers as the facilities are so nice and well run, or one near a beach somewhere.
Either way, I suspect it’ll probably need to be near a large retail park so we can top up on all the rest of the things we didn’t realise we needed…
9 responses so far ↓
1 paula // 29th Jul 2006 at 8:07 pm
Hey you have the elephant and cat chairs what more could you possibly need? :)
My mum’s friend used to have one of these, I always wondered what it looked like assembled! Maybe your next purchase (if you don’t already have one) could be a camping site guide? You could go all over Europe with it. The boys would have a great time.
2 zip // 30th Jul 2006 at 10:12 am
yay!! so excited for you!
we have matching campers :)
3 Anji // 30th Jul 2006 at 12:12 pm
belated happy wedding anniversary
I bet the boys are excited and now they’ve got their chairs, what more could you need? Hope you have lots of lovely holidays in it.
4 Pewari // 30th Jul 2006 at 1:06 pm
Yes, they’re thrilled with the chairs… we have to sit on the grass, but they’ve got ace chairs ;)
paula: we have the “Cool Camping: England” guide which is great, but fairly limited. You’re right, we could do with another really.
5 Miss L // 30th Jul 2006 at 6:58 pm
Tin opener, bottle opener and a washing up bowl are essentials Then you need something to use them on and hey presto the bowl is needed! Have fun!
6 Daisy // 31st Jul 2006 at 10:09 am
An now that’s what I call camping! We’ve been thinking of buying something similar for a while but keep putting it off. Will definiitely have a look next year but in the meantime will be interested to read your experiences.
7 tangerinecath // 31st Jul 2006 at 7:56 pm
Can we come? There are only three of us, and one of us is still very little .
Admittedly, the other two are rather large ;o)
8 Gert // 6th Aug 2006 at 4:21 pm
You’re tempting me. I’ve never been camping in my life and don’t intend to start now but I’m beginning to fancy a camper van. Just for fun.
9 Pewari // 6th Aug 2006 at 6:30 pm
Go for it, Gert :) It *is* great fun. If you need persuading, the book “Cool Camping” by Jonathan Knight is a good way to whet your appetite (although is fairly tent biased).
Just come back from our first weekend away at a Forestry Commission site (in the Forest of Dean) – beautifully kept, great facilities and fantastic views and walks. Can’t wait until the next trip.
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