Carry on Camping

It frequently occurs that whenever we stop and set up camp, someone wanders over and asks us about our ‘rig’.  We find it amusing that the person invariably has a luxury caravan equipped with air conditioning, colour television, microwave, washing machine and all the other luxuries.  By comparison we could be best described as ‘basic’.  Perhaps the thing that appeals to the questioners is the speed with which we go from arrival to a fully rigged camp.  It usually takes us about ten or twelve minutes.

Let us describe how this highly skilled and well honed team works (in my dreams!)

Upon arrival we drive around a bit until we find a level site about twice the length of Vin Rouge and arrange it so that any breeze comes towards the front.  This ensures that the cooker is protected from any draft.  We park, get out and check around to ensure that there’s no ants nest or other nasties around.  Then it’s a matter of unzipping the tent cover and releasing a couple of tie down straps.  The tent is then exposed in its folded condition on the roof.  One half of the ladder is pulled out from its storage place under the mattress and slotted into the other half that is fixed to the tent base.  It’s then used as a lever to open up the tent.  Six springy things hold the air vents and rain hood in place and a lightweight frame holds open the large protective flysheet at the back.  By the time this is done, Kim has released the elastic cords from inside.  These help to fold the tent neatly when it’s packed away.   

The duvet (known as a doona in Australia) remains in the tent.  The two pillows, used to lock our storage boxes in place inside the car, are thrown in and the tent is ready.

Next is the awning.  Three straps to release and the cover rolls out.  Two metal arms fold out and the cover is hooked into place.  There are no poles to worry about.  

 

Both the tent and the awning have built in electric LED lighting, so there’s no additional setting up necessary.

Chairs and a table are usually set up under the awning.

The galley, a two burner stove and grill, drops into place on a fold out shelf mounted on the back door.  A hose from a gas bottle simply plugs in.

Water is taken by gravity from the centrally mounted tank.  A hose simply plugs into a tap fixed to the galley shelf.

Then it’s either kettle on for a cup of tea or pour out a glass of wine and we’re done.

Packing up reverses the process and takes about 15 or so minutes.  Not luxurious accommodation but adequate. 

If the weather turns against us, we can set up a sort of ‘skirt’ under the tent that keeps us dry and can be opened up as an extended awning.  We also have a special mat for dusty conditions.  This lets the dirt drop through but prevents it coming back.  It sounds crazy but it works.  If it’s really wet we put down the waffle boards to stand on.

So that’s it, what we call our ‘two storey tent camp’.

We’re experimenting with a ‘washing machine’.  That’s a posh name for a plastic drum mounted inside a milk crate on the roof rack.  The idea is that movement when travelling agitates the washing inside the drum.  When we arrive somewhere in the evening, the washing is taken out, rinsed and hung up to dry.  With luck it will be dry(ish) in the morning.  Kim is trying out some soap nuts, something the aboriginals used apparently.  Half a dozen nuts that look similar to acorns are placed in a bag which goes in with the washing.  There’s very little suds and of course, no detergent to get rid of.

Trial one was a bit of a failure as there was no water in the drum after a day of driving.  Trial two began with Mike having an unplanned shower as he put the drum in place.  That demonstrated the problem experienced in trial one.  The application of a little silicone grease sorted out the seal and tomorrow we’ll find out if trial three cleans the clothes as we hope.

  

This is being written in a clearing just outside a small town called Broke.  Very appropriately named for us we think.  Having spent rather too many dollars on camp sites, this one is free.  The clouds have cleared and the shadows are lengthening as the sun goes down over the eucalypts.  Cicadas are tuning up for their evening concert, a car can be heard in the distance but it’s masked by the crazed laughing of a couple of kookaburras.  It must be rush hour, a pony and rider with a couple of dogs are meandering along the track and my glass of wine is getting warm.  Must be time for dinner.