Your Camping Trips

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Adam4868

Legendary Member
I can report the Decathlon awnings do stand up to weather. Someone a few plots down has one and it's been fine in the strong winds. Ours is in the bag awaiting use at Whitesands for a night.
Used ours a lot...got a bit of a tear on a joint but still a bargain for the money.
Stood up to quite strong winds...helps as it's usually tied to the car.Now putting it up in strong winds...that's a different matter 🤣
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Yesterday was wild. The family in the bell tent next to us had to go home as the main pole snapped in a windy squall and rain during the afternoon. The one on the right.

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MrsF has had three dips today, Fishguard, Blue Lagoon and St Davids. Staying in the Premier Inn and chilling in St Davids before camping for three nights in Tenby.
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Yikes! Must have been some strong winds. I've been camping in Tenby many years ago, lovely place.

Grange Over Sands has been wet, but not windy, we're in a forest as well so sheltered though the rain no lighter for it.

Had a nice 17.5 miler around Grange, stopped in Cartmel to pick up some ale then a sharp 20% descent back to tent.

Picture of the bike and tent (I assure you there is a tent in this picture!)



View attachment 785305

I can see it.

Mwnt was a bit wild last two days. Not an issue for our tent at all, but I was surprised another bell tent went, but it wasn't the same quality. I saw the main pole after it bent and it was thin. Ours was a Wiggle special. The tent usually sold for £1.5k. We paid just over £400 for tent, groundsheet and bedroom. It's not a temu import that this looked like. The rope tension adjusters were the tiny plastic ones you get on beach shelters. Ours are big triangular aluminium and with thick rope.

Oh and the land where we had pitched was rock under the grass. I had issues with my big solid v tents pegs and some rock pegs. Standard stuff would have bent.
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Been wild in Tenby. Pitched the tent in record time in heavy rain and strong winds. We had a dry spell on Saturday after pitching so walked into Tenby to dry out in a pub. Weather has been severe winds and heavy rain spells but got out this afternoon and did about 8 miles walk around Tenby. Here till Tuesday when we are doing two days in a Premier Inn in Cardiff Bay and exploring Cardiff before the drive home on Thursday. The Tent has held up well. Had to take the windbreak down as one pole snapped and the rest was going to go.
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
We often take a long electric grill plate when on leccy but didn't this time. Been cooking on gas. Hookup has been for coffee pod machine, charging and fridge. Used the battery pack and solar when off grid for the fridge.

Rough night again. Serious wind gusts and a few raised voices from the lads in the tent behind as they secured their tent.
 

icowden

Guru
Location
Surrey
hi folks
any recommendations for good power bank for charging phones etc (assuming you don't have electric hook-up)
i have a small one but it failed miserably on my last camping trip.
also, how do the bigger power banks perform in the long term. mine would likely only be brought out each summer. something that would last would be nice, would pay a little extra for that.
:cheers:

I use the Charmast version of this:-

https://amzn.eu/d/hTjSXz6

30000mAh - gives about 30 hours of charging for a single device. Charmast seem to have discontinued theirs but they have got a 26000mAh with built in cables.

I've had mine for about 5 years and they still work very well.
 

Dave7

Legendary Member
Location
Cheshire
Been wild in Tenby. Pitched the tent in record time in heavy rain and strong winds. We had a dry spell on Saturday after pitching so walked into Tenby to dry out in a pub. Weather has been severe winds and heavy rain spells but got out this afternoon and did about 8 miles walk around Tenby. Here till Tuesday when we are doing two days in a Premier Inn in Cardiff Bay and exploring Cardiff before the drive home on Thursday. The Tent has held up well. Had to take the windbreak down as one pole snapped and the rest was going to go.

Ahh yes......now I remember why we packed in camping :smile:
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester

Plenty of cars still getting stuck.

We go to Shell Island quite a lot (just down from Black Rock). It's remote, but has it's own pub, camping shop, ice cream shop and supermarket. It does attract all sorts though. You make it what you want, and pitch somewhere quiet if you don't want the lively lot - it works. We've pitched in a few spots and never had any issues - pitch depending on weather forecast. It's usually windy though ! Back to basics camping. Sun sets and sun rises are the plus point if you get the weather.
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Spent about 6/7 hours emptying the van, hoovering the sand, and putting the seats back in, then giving it a good wash. Camping gear all organised in the garage. Ground sheet for the tent has been mopped both sides as it was filthy, and rolled up for next year. Tent is still airing under cover though - I suspect it will be a few days before I pack it. Floor mat's washed etc

Not sure if we'll have another trip this year so everything is being dried and packed properly. We're off to Sorrento to celebrate 30 years of marriage - our actual anniversary was whilst camped in Portmeirion in the campervan park, so the two week tour was part of that. We didn't get divorced in the process. The Italy holiday is the main one, but in October as my Wife doesn't 'do' October too good as it's the anniversary of her brother and father's death's - her brother died of a brain tumour in his mid 40's - bear in mind we're mid 50's and he was over 10 years older than MrsF.

Benllech campsite - lovely, facilities and location good. Down side, plot got very soggy and muddy with a bit of rain (confirmed by a chap that's camped there for years - was in a tourer) Avoid bank holidays - gets mad with kids.

Portmeirion - fabulous (if you have a camper). Facilities great, entry to hotel and pool included, restaurants great. Staff go out of their way to help. Last visit I'd hobbled 1/2 mile to the Castel and back on crutches for a meal. When checking in, they said that if the weather isn't so great, book transport. Weather was fine, but I booked it, hoping to get the golf buggy. A van turned up. Anyway, they suggested asking on our return to request the golf buggy, so I did that and it came up especially to collect us.

Mwnt, lovely location, down some tiny lanes, in a van... thank got for the sensors, beeeeep beeeeep.... Not much there and very exposed. Would have been fabulous if the weather was better. Getting decent tent pegs in was a nightmare as it's very rocky under the surface. Serious amount of swearing. Do not pitch with the 'coat hanger' pegs. Could only get my pegs in half way.

Tenby - only camp site near the town. Plots aren't level, so a slight issue in a tent. Plots had been hammered all summer so we had a dirt patch, and mud when it rained. Very exposed site, but has lovely views. Facilities good, but ground doesn't dry well after rain despite the topography. Also expensive, but that's because of the position to town. Would I stay again, maybe, but only in the van. Tenby is lovely though.

We visited a lot of bays for MrsF to swim - some amazing places. Zero cycling for me, as we had too much other stuff, but I'm feeling it, not having ridden - general stiffness etc.
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
I'm still hoping to get away again this year after the Ribblehead trip. Possibly N.York moors or Peak District. It'll be an October trip so need to wrap up.

We usually do one last trip to Shell Island - it's usually a bit wild at this time of year, but our "cat sitter" is on holiday (daughter). TBH, if you watch the forecast, you can still get a great trip away, although a little nippy at night. Less bookings give you that flexibility to go with the weather.
 
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