The Camping Expedition - Part 1
Having performed the impossible by packing a 6 bed tent, complete with mattresses and sleeping bags, full camping utensils including a laden chill box, clothes bags, 4 bicycles, 2 children, 2 adults and 1 dog into my rather compact Fiesta; we set off for Dorset.
Even the heavy skies and threat of rain storms could not dampen our spirits as we headed out of sunny Sussex and into the dull clouds of the south west. Ellie knowing that something was going on had stuck herself, most awkwardly, to my leg all morning. Adamant that wherever I went, she was not going to be more than 2cm away.
Several times she had jumped into the boot, a little surprised at knocking her head on the lid as she clampered over bags and boxes in search of a space to park her butt. Eventually settling, most contentedly, between my legs in the front foot well.
A couple of hours later we arrived at the camp site, not quite what we had expected; a little bedraggled, if you can use that word in explanation, but we found a pitch and started erecting the tent. Ellie was totally fascinated by the whole experience; continually running across the tent chasing the poles as they were pushed through and then tangling her paws in the guy ropes as she was chased off.
The continual giggles of the children only encouraged her to bound about even more; her playful exuberance making us all smile. Finally we were up and sorted and within minutes large splodges of rain started to splash onto the canvas.Phew!
The large sploges became larger…and faster….and bigger….and louder until some 40 minutes later we were huddled in the tent with the deafening squall of the storm right over us. Well, the planned cycle ride was not an option that afternoon so we settled on a trip to the tank museum.
It was at this point I wished I had packed the wellies, and Nev, bless him, wished he’d packed a coat or waterproof of some or any kind! As we raced to the car getting soaked by the second and Nev muttering unmentionables as his trainers sank into the muddy puddles that were building up around us, Ellie decided now was a good point at which to take a toilet break! Timing!
We spent a great afternoon in the museum, despite getting soaked on entering and exiting. As puddles merged to form flowing cascades of water, we tried to hop, skip and jump around them but to no avail, just landing in smaller torrents and looking ridiculous as arms and legs flayed wildly as we tried to maintain control.
Although we felt a little deflated that night, any thoughts of self pity were soon put to bed as we witnessed the “green tent” families arriving in the torrential downpour and start to erect their tents. They were, thankfully, fully clothed in wet weather gear, but the sight of them spending a good hour being continually pelted with bullets of rain and seeing the drips then drop from their wet and miserable faces, made us feel really sorry for them as we peaked out of our window; however, I’m ashamed to say, not enough for us to go out and offer to help!
….continued in part 2
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