Camping routine

For the non-campers – here is the typical camping day – just different to normal living and part of the attraction of a change in routine – plus the added bonus of fresh air living, eating outside and vivid dreams!  Have had every meal outside for 2 weeks, including restaurants and cafes.

7.30 ish  Emerge out of sleeping bag (slowly in cold, but 2nd campsite now warm enough not to complain about not having heater in tent!)

7.30-8.30 – Wash etc in lovely warm buildings and individual wash rooms – standards are getting higher and higher

and posher and posher – current washing facilities including fountain in central foyer!!!  Not as you remember camping!

     Go to shop and buy fresh croissants or rolls  + cheese/pate etc for lunch -put kettle on and make tea/coffee.  Rolls/jam/honey breakfast

8.30 –9.30 – wash up and get ready to walk for day – make up packed lunch

9.30 to 3 or 4ish – out for day – at least one coffee stop at mountain hut with brilliant views and sunshine.  Lunch at another similar spot.

On way back – forage for evening meal and alcohol at local village.  Campsite shops more expensive but good for emergencies.

Mid afternoon – siesta/read/internet/prepare evening meal.  Full set of kitchen equipment except the sink – campsite provides those!

5pm onwards – beat Germans to the showers!  Not so important at campsites here, as great warm and dry facilities – and usually in other years not so many people camping in Spain and France at this time of year.

6 pm bar opens cold beers + bottle of local wine

7 pm latest for meal as goes dark just after 8

As darkness approaches – wash up in warmth and great facilities

Last visit to washrooms

Bed - as we don’t have electric light – good camping lights and head torches, if want to read – occasionally, but usually tired and full of fresh air so snuggle into sleeping bags (well padded on 2 self inflating air mattresses) and out like a light.  Any overnight requirements satisfied by portapotti in separated room in tent – no dashing across fields in the dark for us!

Start all over again next day – a very tough life as you can see.

On changeover days – 2 hrs or so to de-camp and put up, so either B&B somewhere on the way and use the day to do something/walk, as this time, or drive to next site.  Always eat at campsite or local restaurant on changeover day as a reward for the hard work!

Rest Days – need a break from all the enjoyment sometimes, so have a washing day around every 5 or 6 days – washers and driers and often drying rooms or put up washing line at site.  Read, internet, walk campsite and gawk at £100K motorhomes (and wonder if we should be considering the smaller £40-£60K ones), people watch, local walk, laze by pool, drink at bar.