I ♥ Camping

I don't know if it's still too soon, or early days but I have to say I do love camping.
Last weekend I headed back down south again, with a friend this time though and in a bigger tent. I did miss my tent slightly (or at least I thought I did) but I loved having a living area. I figured on the Sunday morning that it was the sense of escaping I missed, not my dinky tent.
We didn't take a stove and so coffee meant Starbucks or Costa... which defeated the object of waking up and relaxing.
But I'll talk more about that later.
After finishing work and travelling 200 miles down south I landed on the camp site, literally on or next to the one I was on last time.

By the time we'd gotten the tent up it was about 8-9pm, had a quick dash for some snacks and then chilled out for the rest of the night.

Saturday we had a venture to Boscome Beach, walking in to Bournemouth, having a Cornish pasty and playing mini golf.
I peaked with a hole in one on the 2nd hole though and after that, it went down hill, and I lost.
That night the site had a van there for pizza which was amazing, even if it was £7 for a 9" pizza... it was b-e-a-utiful.

To kill some time we had a drive through New Forest and I love seeing animals roaming freely.
Horses were everywhere and it was a sight to see.
At the end of our route, we ended up at a Marina in Lymington which is a gorgeous place and a lovely walk to admire the boats you wouldn't even dream about.

Near the sailing club I nearly had a heart attack though when I saw this!

Literally stood drooling over it!
That night we chilled in the tent until about 11pm and then called it a night, after a McFlurry.
Unlike last time I managed to get a few hot showers in which really helped the weekend. When I got back I reserved a new tent too, to try and make it more of a home away from home and I'm hoping to get away in July for another break. I literally love to relaxing without too many people about.

My First Solo Camping Trip.

Even with the car packed up I had my doubts about actually going. But I'd told so many people about it, that I kind of felt like I had to regardless of my own head.
200 miles is a long way from home to ask for help and anything could have gone wrong.
But, On Sunday the 23rd of April I managed to hit the road and head south to St Leonard's in Bournemouth.
I arrived around about 12:30-13:00 and checked in. The owners were amazing and even popped over to help after explaining that I had never put the tent up before, but I managed it.
I'm not saying it was right, but it was up and it stayed up.

After getting the tent up on Sunday I travelled to Southampton to watch the Southampton Mustangs play baseball which is the only thing and the most important thing I wanted to do and yet I chickened. out. I got to the car park fine but their were loads of people there and I just couldn't get my feet to walk over and plonk my ass down.
I went back and had an early-ish night after have tea... twice.
I had a camper van in the plot behind me and two caravans in my field both at the opposite end with me in the middle and during the day I felt conscious. However I did stop and speak to one couple and their dog Lottie for a little while and they were amazing.

After a cold night, but not freezing I got up Monday and drove to Southbourne Beach in Bournemouth. My intent was to just walk to Boscome beach... but 2 hours later I'd gone further and for longer in search for their Harry Ramsdens there. Because let's face it if you're British and by the sea, fish & chips are standard procedure. I also needed to relax my legs too.
Then I had the joy of walking back with my legs burning and my feet collecting blisters. But it was nothing a paddle in the sea couldn't solve.

Back at the tent, knowing that the night was going to drop chilly I snuggled down earlier in the hopes of missing the chill so to speak. I woke up a few times with the wind but other than that it was nothing really. However the caravans and the camper had gone home so I was completely alone! You don't think of the night during the day!

Tuesday I got up and headed to Burley, famous for it's white witch, Sybil.
I popped in to 'The Coven of Witches' store and got a few more crystals, then down to Burley fudge for well, fudge! and the kind gentleman there helped me out with a decent tea room which I stopped at for a coffee and lasagna called The Old Farmhouse. They were so nice and the lasagna stuffed me!
I wasn't there nearly as long as I had intended but the fact I took 3 wrong turns getting there almost made it worth while to prolong the day.
When I got back I made a call to my dad who I think was one more day away from having a heart attack just for being away alone and he kind of coaxed me in to going home.

I had booked until Wednesday morning but I didn't see the point in waking up just to pack up and leave, so had planned to leave Tuesday night... but I left about 2pm.
After a couple of coffee/call breaks,a detour around an accident and the actual 3-4 hour trip... I made it leisurely back home around 8pm, through rain and thunder.

My feet and legs are still killing me BUT I would happily do it again. Yes I felt lonely at times but reality sucks a whoooole lot More than that!

Oh, S**t!

I'm currently wondering, now that I've made my essentials order and booked a site if this whole thing is really me?!
I'm a bag of nerves over driving for more than 3 hours and setting up a tent and spending time on my own in a field...
Will I sleep?
Will I hide in my tent for 3 nights?
Will I just not bother?
I'm literally a bag of nerves over this but yet, I can't wait.

The only source of electric I plan on having is my phone which I'll charge in the day while out and I plan on  making simple but tasty meals on my gas stove provided I take the kettle off it long enough to cook.
I also started questioning my sanity when I wondered how I was going to keep my Kindle charged and then remembered that books still exist and that's kind of exciting. Reading a real book.

Although I'm not camping out in the wilderness, I wanted to be as basic as possible. Yes I could pop to some fast food place and grab a meal but I can also do that at home and to be honest the thought of losing touch with modern day life seems really appealing because we depend far too much on it.

I'm really looking forward to making meals over one hob and yet making them tasty, #preplan.

I want to wake up, have a cuppa, make breakfast, get ready and head out somewhere scenic! I want to abuse my camera and then come back and chill out with a book and my tea.

Can you tell I'm nervous considering how much I've planned it in my head?

Roll on April, lets get this done.