MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Petermac on October 14, 2011, 10:02:42 PM
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If you live in south-east Queensland right now (as I do) you may have copped some fairly ordinary weather this week. I was planning on taking the camper out for the weekend, but it's forecast for another inch of rain tomorrow, although fine on Sunday. At this point I'm planning on staying home to avoid the wet stuff as being trapped in the camper with two little boys (5 and 2) may not be the most relaxing way to spend a Saturday.
My only real concern is that they say we are in for a wet summer, so if we keep this behavior we may never get out there!
So what do you reckon myswaggers? Sensibly selective, or just plain old soft?
Petermac.
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rain hail or shine i am there :)
i got some great vids of us camped in 60-80kmh winds and rain at inskip point, put up with it for 2 weeks at xmas 2010
it's all apart of camping i tell the mrs put up with the good n the bad and she has learned to accept that. (THANK GOD LOL)
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There is nothing worse than being cooped up in a tent with a cranky family in rubbish weather. Sensibly selective I would say for the sake of the family. No one can call any one soft for putting family and your sanity first. :cheers:
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There is nothing worse than being cooped up in a tent with a cranky family in rubbish weather. Sensibly selective I would say for the sake of the family. No one can call any one soft for putting family and your sanity first. :cheers:
Well said Snow, Thats when I leave them at home and take the swag!! ;D
Rich
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this thread will come down to different strokes for different folks ...... :cheers:
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I don't think so.
I can't see how being in a tent in a tropical storm is any more brave than being safe in a house. In fact, I would think it is a bit borderline risky, especially when you have young children.
If my husband tried that tactic of "put up with it"...well, let's say he would never have even tried to utter such words to me... >:D
Considering the storm we are getting now, I am certainly glad I am not out in a tent and that I am in my house. However, if I was out in the tent, I would either be battening down as best as I could and hoping it would weather the storm or packing up and hoping like heck that I got to a safe refuge.
Being a hero and camping in any kind of weather isn't what it is about for me.
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Petermac
the people best off to answer this question would be Bullfrog & Hem19x.......these pair are the rain gods of the Northern Rivers >:D
everytime they look like showing the canvas to the sky all hell breaks loose :'(
Bullfrog has three girls to entertain while the rain is on so he would be the 1st choice to ask ;)
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I go camping to explore the GREAT OUTDOORS with the emphasis on OUTDOORS. Went up to Flinders for a week in late September and spent a day in Wilpena Pound. It was quite cool and constant light drizzle. Because we were only staying overnight we didn't put up the awning, so we were stuck inside.
Top fun...........not!
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Glad to see that it's not just me that won't be heading out into poor weather given the choice. I must admit there are actually some severe weather warnings floating around SEQ today which has influenced our decision. And our 5 year old had already started driving us batty this morning wanting to play trains / monopoly / lego before breakfast - now imagine putting that in a tent all day long with his little brother.
But having that new camper in the garage and not being able to get it out for the past few weeks is KILLING ME!!!! :'(
Petermac.
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I agree you are not soft opting to stay at home, especially with two little ones....don't see the point.
And you add wind to that rain and it usually sends not just our kids but all of us batty!!!!!!
Hopefully you will get some good weather up that way because you guys have copped a hammering this year.
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With a current 80% wet trip rate, we really savour dry packups ;D
Give it a miss if the camper is new, You will need to stand in the sun with a stubbie to contemplate your next step. And you dont want to get wet.
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Hi,
if it is wet and miserable, and we are not propped in a long term camp, we would stop overnight near a picnic shelter or similar for a bit of dry out door space and the kids could amuse themselves keeping a fire going and doing some thing useful like boiling a billy or cooking some chops.
The rain keeps the picnickers away and we often can have the place to ourselves.
cheers
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We do not plan to camp in wet weather, but if rain is forecast during my pre-booked leave it will not stop us from going, it just becomes part of the experience. Strong wind is the thing that causes us considerable despair >:( , rain in tropical or warm conditions is allmost pleasurable I think, but wet weather in cold climates (Southern Aust) can be very uncomfortable indeed.
It's up to the individual at the end of the day, if you don't mind the wet then don't let it stop you, if you don't like it stay at home ;D
bubba :cheers:
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Let me add, that when camping and a few showers come thru, it can be quite cosy and intimate ;D. but to be kept inside the little CUB for more than a day would send me running into the bush screaming like a looney.
One thing did arise from being in Jail !!!, is that we need a little cartridge cooker and we will be O.K.
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What beautiful weather today in Brissy ... ;D
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being just me & the wife, I don't mind camping in the wet, it would be nice to go camping in the dry once and a while, but wet is fine by me I've always got a book or 2 in the car to keep me occupied.
If we had kids in tow i don't think my sanity could handle being holed up in the camper for a full weekend
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We went away on the long weekend with our 2 kids(1 and 4) and our friends 4 year old.It belted down for 24 hours but the kids were happy going between our camper and their jayco expanda.We had lots for them to do,portable dvd player with movies,toys,colouring etc and they were fine amusing each other until it fined up.
Im not keen on strong winds when the kids are with me i must say...
When its cold we take a small 5 fin oil heater and put it on a small sheet of 9mm ply and that keeps things cosy.It help if your canvas doesnt leak....
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Petermac
the people best off to answer this question would be Bullfrog & Hem19x.......these pair are the rain gods of the Northern Rivers >:D
everytime they look like showing the canvas to the sky all hell breaks loose :'(
Bullfrog has three girls to entertain while the rain is on so he would be the 1st choice to ask ;)
They must have put their tents up today, for it is forcast for thunderstorms...but I will put them up against my mate next door. This bloke attracts rain, went to Lightening Ridge 2 weeks ago...got 10mm of rain the first night the canvas went up.
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I can handle a quick shower when camping with the family, but all day showers or severe storms then I’m happy to cancel and just stay home. Trying to entertain 2 small kids in the tent section or them being scared during thunder storms is anything but relaxing.
Plus also not keen on bent poles from camping on the beach during thunder storms.
Mind you without the kids I’ve had some of my best camping experiences in wet weather, but you just have to make sure the fridge is fully stocked as when nothing else to do, you seem to drink a lot more.
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being just me & the wife, I don't mind camping in the wet, it would be nice to go camping in the dry once and a while, but wet is fine by me I've always got a book or 2 in the car to keep me occupied.
If we had kids in tow i don't think my sanity could handle being holed up in the camper for a full weekend
X2
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For this time of year we decided we will now carry our very solid 5.5x6m tarp from the tent days plus extra poles ropes and pegs that go over the whole show. Ours has re-inforced eyelets, they're hard to get these days as most camping shops sell them with D rings that tear out
Not that we are lovers of wet weather camping just that if it happens we can hunker down and ride it out because it's a fact of life that rain happens when camping, might as well cater for it
The tarp is awesome in hot weather, really drops the temp underneath so we will use it more often than not, up with an air gap when the sun's out or pulled down against the frame when it rains
Kids are teens now but when that weather hits they know it's time to play one handed poker, fast game and we use M&M's as chips
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Get out there and take a chance on the weather. IMO the forecaster's don't have clue. "fine with a chance of rain "? yeah sure. Just came back from 2 weeks in ballina very ordinary weather (2 hailstorms in one week) with 2 x one year olds in a soft floor, Makes you appreciate the good weather. And yes can be a handful sometimes you just gotta get out for a drive.
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I am one that will go camping any weather with the two little ones. We just go for a drive when its wet and have a look around, its a bit slippery but thats half the fun. We carry a laptop loaded with movies just in case and the kids will happily watch them laying down on the "big bed" weekends as a family are not to often so we get out there whenever we can
GG
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If you don't give it a try, you will never know if you don't like it ... kids or no kids ... I don't think that matters much IMHO. Ensure a plan for wet weather is in the bag and you will have fun ... take wet weather gear NO MATTER WHAT THEY FORECAST ... because 50% of the time they have no idea what's gonna happen.
This was our weekend to head out, but we decided not to. I had relatives here who left lunchtime Saturday ... and he had stuff to do around the house ... so we didn't end up going. I kept my eye on the radar though and where we were going to camp did get 3 seperate storms that were "in the red" rain wise ... but I got some yard work done and the car cleaned out so ... it was a win win for me even if I was bored beyond tears by lunch Sunday. We'll definitely go in a fortnight regardless of the forecast.
I'd rather be packing up wet canvas after a relaxing weekend than wishing I was packing up wet canvas after a relaxing weekend.
Kit_e
65% - 75% chance of rain simply by opening the CT ... ;D
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I can handle a quick shower when camping with the family, but all day showers or severe storms then I’m happy to cancel and just stay home. Trying to entertain 2 small kids in the tent section or them being scared during thunder storms is anything but relaxing.
x eleventyseveralteen
I'm not sure if I hate drizzle or bucketing rain... Depends if its all day or short time...
... drizzle when it sets in kills the mood for doing much
... bucketing down kills the fire, and socializing.
Thunderstorms are ok to watch :) We had a stunning one at Knockwood last year... we sat round fire, me and my son with the most awesome lightning show, went on of hours, but there was no rain! :D Win/win!!!
More than 50% of the last 10 times camping it has rained and some of them were pissing down rain - no campfire type rain, where most people were crashed out by 9pm - with some of them actually going home. It certainly has taken the edge off wanting to go camping for the rest of the family which is a bumma...
As someone said, being stuck in a tent for 48hrs, bucketing down rain with 2 kids could be suicide, you may as well be at home in comfort and the kids up the other end of the house :D
But everyone is different.
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Have just got back from three nights away camping in SEQ, including Saturday mornings downpour and saturday nights fantastic storm, complete with lightning and hail.
If you are set up well for it, I don't think camping in poor weather is hard with young kids. My 6 year old just told me his favorite thing on the weekend was playing UNO with the adults, when it was raining. I was astounded given all his school mates were there and they spent hours playing together in the creek.
I think we have done 18 nights in the trailer since we bought it 6months ago - a few longer 3 night trips but mostly just Saturday nights away. The only trip i can remember where it didn't rain, it was very cold (frost on ground).
The only thing that really puts me off is packing up in 'cats and dogs' rain.
Would be interested to hear how others cope with this.
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This was our weekend to head out, but we decided not to. I had relatives here who left lunchtime Saturday ... and he had stuff to do around the house ... so we didn't end up going. I kept my eye on the radar though and where we were going to camp did get 3 seperate storms that were "in the red" rain wise ... but I got some yard work done and the car cleaned out so ... it was a win win for me even if I was bored beyond tears by lunch Sunday. We'll definitely go in a fortnight regardless of the forecast.
I'd rather be packing up wet canvas after a relaxing weekend than wishing I was packing up wet canvas after a relaxing weekend.
Kit_e
65% - 75% chance of rain simply by opening the CT ... ;D
Kit_e,
I don't know where to start responding to that post... I am a religious follower of your blog and am a bit gutted that we're not going to see another report this week - I was keeping my eye out for it 8)
After opening this discussion up and reading the first few comments I looked out the window and thought "stuff it", so my wife and I bundled the kids in the car, hooked up the camper, and headed off. We got the tent section of the camper up at 4pm at Fingal before the storm came thundering through. Back into the car until the worst of it passed, and then completed the setup.
Sunday was a magic day - well worth the late and wet setup on Saturday.
So maybe in the end it's a question of risk and reward - sometimes taking on the elements can pay off big time, and other times it won't. Maybe the uncertainty makes it all the more enjoyable... :cup:
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So maybe in the end it's a question of risk and reward - sometimes taking on the elements can pay off big time, and other times it won't. Maybe the uncertainty makes it all the more enjoyable... :cup:
That comment can sometimes be so true, I remember last year we took the Monday off work to have a long weekend camping.
We leave early Saturday morning with fine weather, but around 4am Sunday morning the heavens opened and it rained continually until 8am. In what looked like a short break in the weather everyone camping around us started packing up and heading home. We were about to join them in the packing up, then for some reason decided we are going to ride it out.
About 10am the clouds cleared and turned into the most magical day/night with the whole beach to ourselves.
Mind you another time I decided to stay because I thought the rain was going to miss us. How wrong was I because the canvas on the camper is still stained from the mud, kids were crying because the camper was being blown so much and the sound of the wind was a little scary. Then the next day we had real drama’s getting through a creek due to the water rising and what was a nice firm dirt when I drove in became a muddy sloppy track on the way out.
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I too had to convince the wife that a trip away last weekend was required.
we got to Ballina and set up, weather held off while setting up but bucketed down early morning ans looked set in for the whole of Sat.
lucky the rain disapeared and we had fun at the beach and kayaking the lake.
storms again Sat night, but fin sunday.
Sometimes you just get lucky witht he weather regardless of what might happen- the rain didn't worry us and the weekend escape was one of the best.
will still have to convince the waife again next time we have a booking and the forecast is not the best..... :cheers:
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Kids are teens now but when that weather hits they know it's time to play one handed poker, fast game and we use M&M's as chips
How do you stop them eating the chips!! LOL We gave up playing 500 against our 19yo daughter as we could never win. A combination of luck and good playing I assume but has been like that since about 5yo. Scary!! We thought she used to cheat but ended out she wasn't.
Last two times we have been out it has rained & we had wet canvas to come home with. Have to set up the CT in the drive to dry it out while we go to work on Monday, not secure & a bit worrying as it is on a cement drive with no pegs in. Just got to hope there is no strong winds come up. Other wise the CT is waterproof to a degree and the rain doesn't worry us too much.
Our kids used to be scared of thunder too until we came up with the story that God must be having a driving lesson & must be banging into other cars up in heaven. Kids are now teens & still recount that as a good story. Worked too as they weren't scared after that, just remarked that there goes another car!!!!