Camping Thread

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › Camping Thread

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ... | 10

1923 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 138

#1192196 9-Dec-2014 13:44

networkn:
Geektastic:

If you're just going back garden camping to start with, try making one with him.

Sadly I lack the talent, skill, or objects (and less so, inclination) required to make such an item. Loungeroom forts is about my limits sadly.

If we had lots of trees I might consider it.

Backyard camping doesn't need to be overly elaborate as you can easily head in doors.
My first camping was in the back yard under an old table that had corrugated cardboard walls. There were 2 or three of us kids 'in' it.
Over the holidays it grew to a mix of about 4 structures as neighbours joined., Only one was a tent in the traditional sense and that was a cheap non waterproof linen pup tent with an Indian head logo.
Good memories

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 33

#1192201 9-Dec-2014 13:55

Incindre: I hear good things about Sierra Designs; You can get their gear from Torpedo7.
Their 2014 line is designed quite well. It's pretty nifty how they incorporate the rain cover into the design so you don't have to faff around with a separate cover, like with traditional tents; but I'm not sure if they're available in NZ.

None of the 2014 models were available here when I bought my Zia 2 back in October.

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1192442 9-Dec-2014 22:39

networkn:
Geektastic:
networkn:

So glad it wasn't Knight Rider - he may have ended up called KITT!!

So was that your BMW?

Well Michael Knight was another contender :)

Yup tis my car. :)

Ha! How funny. I wish I could tell you where I was when I saw it but Auckland mostly looks all the same to me I am afraid!

Somewhere between the Pullman and Titirangi, since that is more or less the only route we took all weekend.

Well I was in Onehunga briefly taking an RS4 for a test drive, and then out at Botany testing driving an S4 and various places in between :)

If you can afford the running costs of an RS4, I need to start doing whatever you do...!!

jonherries

1434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 317

Trusted

Subscriber

#1196003 12-Dec-2014 08:08

We camped around Europe for 6 months in a Coleman tent and it was a more expensive model(~$350) We bought it in 2007, still have it and have resprayed with waterproofing agent and it is grand. Bit small now (three man) for us but is great for my son.

Key learnings for me have been headlamps and a thick air mattress for warmth as well as comfort.

jonherries

1434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 317

Trusted

Subscriber

#1196004 12-Dec-2014 08:12

Oh and that my wife's hairdrier makes a good alternative to an air pump for the mattress!

networkn

Networkn
32871 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15469

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1468292 12-Jan-2016 10:39

Well, we are off to camp at Parakai this weekend for a bit of fun weather permitting. Never got to erect the tent I bought my son for xmas last year! Pretty bad.

Will just be one night. I tried to convince my wife we should cook as well, but she wasn't having a bar of it, so F&C it is.

Thinking of buying an electric lantern for hanging.

Are those baby weber Q's any good for camping with, or too big still?

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

frankv

5705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3666

Lifetime subscriber

#1468369 12-Jan-2016 12:25

Go with the F&C... Cooking requires a whole lot of extra stuff to be taken along, washed, and brought home. Forget one critical thing and you'll be eating F&C anyway.

networkn

Networkn
32871 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15469

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1468371 12-Jan-2016 12:27

frankv: Go with the F&C... Cooking requires a whole lot of extra stuff to be taken along, washed, and brought home. Forget one critical thing and you'll be eating F&C anyway.

That's actually a really good point about the cooking/cleaning.

MikeB4

MikeB4
18776 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12767

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#1468376 12-Jan-2016 12:38

if F&C is close enough you are not camping :P

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

networkn

Networkn
32871 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15469

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1468378 12-Jan-2016 12:41

MikeB4: if F&C is close enough you are not camping :P

Heh baby steps Mike. This is my first time in a tent in 15 years, with my 6 year old no less!

Man anyone else sick of the crappy weather forecasters in NZ? 1 Day ago it was supposed to be Sunny Friday/Sat/Sunday. Today it's cloudy. Tomorrow it wil forecast rain and the reality is, it will probably be a Category 5 hurricane!

SepticSceptic

2263 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 779

Trusted

#1468403 12-Jan-2016 13:10

networkn:

Man anyone else sick of the crappy weather forecasters in NZ? 1 Day ago it was supposed to be Sunny Friday/Sat/Sunday. Today it's cloudy. Tomorrow it wil forecast rain and the reality is, it will probably be a Category 5 hurricane!

A weather rock (hung up with a string ) has better odds for weather:

If the rock is wet, it's raining.
If the rock is swinging, the wind is blowing.
If the rock casts a shadow, the sun is shining.
If the rock does not cast a shadow and is not wet, the sky is cloudy.
If the rock is not visible, it is foggy.
If the rock is white, it is snowing.
If the rock is coated with ice, there is a frost.
If the ice is thick, it's a heavy frost.
If the rock is bouncing, there is an earthquake.
If the rock is under water, there is a flood.
If the rock is warm, it is sunny.
If the rock is missing, there was a tornado.
If the rock is wet and swinging violently, there is a hurricane.

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

networkn

Networkn
32871 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15469

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1468404 12-Jan-2016 13:11

SepticSceptic:
networkn:

Man anyone else sick of the crappy weather forecasters in NZ? 1 Day ago it was supposed to be Sunny Friday/Sat/Sunday. Today it's cloudy. Tomorrow it wil forecast rain and the reality is, it will probably be a Category 5 hurricane!

A weather rock (hung up with a string ) has better odds for weather:

If the rock is wet, it's raining.
If the rock is swinging, the wind is blowing.
If the rock casts a shadow, the sun is shining.
If the rock does not cast a shadow and is not wet, the sky is cloudy.
If the rock is not visible, it is foggy.
If the rock is white, it is snowing.
If the rock is coated with ice, there is a frost.
If the ice is thick, it's a heavy frost.
If the rock is bouncing, there is an earthquake.
If the rock is under water, there is a flood.
If the rock is warm, it is sunny.
If the rock is missing, there was a tornado.
If the rock is wet and swinging violently, there is a hurricane.

I can't find any rocks! I suspect weather people took them and used them for brains!

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#1468422 12-Jan-2016 13:33

The weather forecasting really is a joke. I went camping last year and had an excellent 4 days or so in great sunny weather.
Leading up to that the forecast had changed twice a day without fail, with each new assessment.
This swung between great and torrential rain. Same deal when my sister got married a few years back also.

Not trying to be rude here, but extrapolating out the rain radar 1 hour out is about the only forecasting I trust these days.
It is genuinely rubbish otherwise and I wish for once they'd admit it's a best guess scenario, even with a 'super computer' helping.

Actually I intend on suggesting that as a science fair project, comparing the predicted weather conditions vs the actual on the day.

I'm off again camping soon and am fully working on the what will be will be philosophy.

networkn

Networkn
32871 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15469

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1468424 12-Jan-2016 13:35

Last summer we spent 7 days in Whangamata. We had a lot of family staying and the forecast was for heavy rain for 7 days. Reality was PERFECT WEATHER for 7 days.

gzt

18689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7827

Lifetime subscriber

#1468437 12-Jan-2016 13:55

networkn:
frankv: Go with the F&C... Cooking requires a whole lot of extra stuff to be taken along, washed, and brought home. Forget one critical thing and you'll be eating F&C anyway.

That's actually a really good point about the cooking/cleaning.

I prefer to cook portable because it enhances the experience. Paper plates minimise the washing up. Paper towels to wipe pots/pans before washing. There is a wide variety of really tasty food available either as specific camping food or as 'one pot' meals from the supermarket. But easy to cook your own prior and freeze it then it is a simple reheat. Remembering to take it out of the chiili at the right time minimises gas use and cooking time. For one night maybe chilled instead of frozen anyway.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ... | 10