I have been an avid camper over the years and loved nothing more than packing the car on a Friday afternoon after work and heading off into sunshine and sometimes rain into a field to camp with friends.
Since moving nearly 8 years ago and setting up home from scratch the idea of camping was one that went by the wayside in favour of starting a new life but it was the itch I could never scratch.
Last year Joshua and I camped in the garden for a night but after Ollie said he might consider camping but would need to practice first. So with the help of Blacks this year we have the basic camping set up and had planned our first weekend in the garden.
It rained horrifically on the day we were supposed to set up the camp so we called off the big night camp out and instead prayed for sunshine the next day in the hopes we could get some practice putting the tent up and down.
The next morning thank goodness the rain has stopped and the sun was out so we started to get ready for the big moment.
Now I will be honest I could put tents up and down in my sleep after years of putting them up every weekend so I was aiming for a 25 minute record. Ollie on the other hand I think thought I was fooling myself if I kew how to put it up at all.
I have to say The Rydal 600 tent from Eurohike that was sent from Blacks a few weeks back was an amazing choice.
It has 3 arcflex poles so you literally means you clot the poles through the colour coded slots on the tent and then add in the pole keys ( that’s what I call them) these are the little metal pegs that slot into the ends of the poles to give them tension and then its just a case of pegging it out.
I didn’t quite make my 25 minute target but I think I came in as a more than respectable 35 minutes since it has been 8 years + since I last put up a tent.
Thankfully the groundsheet and the bedroom compartments are all sown in so after pegging out there really is nothing more to do other than set up the beds and kitchen area.
As an extra I did order the Eurohike Buckingham Elite Porch that I am told fits onto the side of the Rydal and it will give me a more sheltered space to store the kitchen. However I didn’t put this up as I think I can do that If I can put up the tent!
Both Joshua and Jacob seemed really excited with tent and we even put the SpaceCot in there for Jacob and he seemed rather pleased with it!
Even the most negative (Ollie) was rather impressed with our new canvas home and its now all systems go for a proper garden camp or if I am lucky enough a proper camp out on a real life site.
Keep your fingers crossed I can persuade Ollie to get the campsite booked!
In the mean time if you are looking to camp with little tots you might find my previous post on camping useful, you can find it HERE
Disclaimer: The tent was sent for an earlier collaboration with Blacks. All thoughts and opinions were independently formed by members of The Oliver’s Madhouse
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