Camping tips

I wrote this for another site, but thought it could be handy for some possibly. Wrong season for this post maybe (in this hemisphere at least), but...

Many of us with neurological disorders would love to go camping but are (quite rightly, as you wouldn't want an uncomfortable time) wary as to the likelihood of us actually enjoying it with our extra difficulties. Well, I went camping for the weekend a couple of months ago, and thought I'd start off a list of tips/tricks, and workarounds to help us find camping as easy and enjoyable as it can be.

Vince

Equipment :

Tent in cricket bag. Those of you who've camped before will know that unless you have the arms of Clark Kent, a tent will not go back into the bag it came out of without a fight. A cricket bag (OK, depending upon the size of your tent) ought to be somewhat larger than the original tentbag, and will make getting the tent out and even more so putting it back, all the easier.

LEDs on guide ropes. I saw these at the Blacks' camping store. Handy if you don't fancy burying your face in the field whilst trying to walk past your tent in the dark.

Bottle:tin opener. The reasons are obvious, and the amount of times they've been forgotten in my family are very surprising.

Lighter. : Handy for unfraying guide-ropes, lighting insect-repellent candles, etc.

Pop-up tent. : These tents are that easy to put up, I accidentally did so the fist time I got ours out of it's bag

Bathroom light handle on zip. : A one--off task to affix this to your tent door zip. Saves hours of your life otherwise spent searching and trying to grip a zip

Betalight on zip. : While on the subject of zips, one of these attached to the zip part of your door is potentially very handy http://www.beta-light... . It's basically a battery-free, glow-in-the-dark small light that will last at least 3 years.

Roll mat rather than airbed. : Check this out before going on your camping trip, but I've found airbeds rather comfy, but unfortunately also rather wobbly for those of us with poor balance.

One peg in first to prevent blowing away. : There's nothing worse than shuffling across a wet field in pursuit of a tent-come-spinaker

Double sleeping bag - easier to get in and out of

Check out campsite first. By any means possible (visit, ask friends, search the internet)

Widen out shoes before bed. : Trust me, you'll thank yourself if you need the loo at night
Ponchos.

Earplugs.
Water container.
Flask of hot water.
SMS/Text activated light for lost tents.
Local takeaway, taxi, hotel or travelodge number before you set off. : What's 5 minute's research on the internet compared to an evening of hunger or no shelter should anything go wrong?

Tried and tested deckchair.
Chemical warmers.
Self-heating ration packs.

Rubbish to back of tent. : Wasps. I don't like them. Keeping my rubbish bag at the back of the tent rather than where I sit keeps clashes between myself and vespa vulgaris to as few as possible

Be careful with insect repellants, use avon skin-so-soft. Citronella candle.

Spare spectacles.

Waterproof pouch.

Paper crockery. :

Pack everything in plastic boxes.

Coolbox for prepared food.

Halogen heater.

Phone charger. : "[beep-beep] Hello? My tent's been blown [beep-beep] over/stolen/torched/clamped/stage-dived, can [beep-beep] you pick [beep-beep] me up pl..."

Led torch permanently on. : How do I find a torch in the dark? Without going into a discussion on recursion, the only idea we have is to leave it on. These LED torches are great as they use minimal power, and even if 'left on' for 20 days will still be brilliant.

Label your tent poles. : For anyone who's ever thought their tent was half assembled, then had to restart. Be it colours, letters, numbers. Anything that helps you get the right pole in the right place in the driving rain first time.

Lenor bottle for loo (gents only ) : Wide top, and smells nice. Be sure to check it's empty first though!

Body wipes. : For those days when the prospect of a shower is on a par with one of Hercules' twelve labours

Great ideas there.

I have a few that hopefully will be of use.

a) Invest in a therma rest mat. These are coming down in price now and they are comfortable. Or unless you are car camping and have plenty of room for air beds these too are comfortable. But do remember to take the pump. Although personally i perfere the therma rests, they are quiter, take up less room and easier to assemble.

b) Easy pre-packed food, incase you become weaker/slower/pain, depending on condition. Like many neurological conditions they can change rather quick, so having such foods on hand may come in use if setting up a stove etc is too much.