Basic camping

Hi DD

Depends on whether you are looking at short holidays or long term touring - even permanently 'on the road'. I believe in keeping camping simple, and although we put television and DVD player into our caravan, we don't use it. As we have taken 'grey nomad' holidays lasting several months, and being older and less agile than in our tenting days, we take a few home comforts. No more pumping up air beds by hand :)

We could have water pumps and fancy filters, but if drawing water from a lake or river, i use straight from the bucket rather than via the caravan tanks. I cook on gas and don't take heavy and bulky electric appliances. We can last on minimal water if we really have to, and are low power users although we have plenty. We don't have a huge fridge, and can manage with very little fridge space if need be - after all, we had no refrigeration when camping until our first Engel.

GPS is a safety tool which helps find our way out if lost, and helps us stay heading in the right direct so as not to get really lost. It also gives information of interest, such as following altitude and flags features of interest.

Solar power is important to me. We carry a generator for emergencies (more often for others than ourselves), but it was not used in five months touring six states last trip.

Motherhen

I enjoy the camping off my own back with only the gear you can carry (fuel stove, dehydrated meals, 2 man tent etc). My wife and I also go away for weeks in our sea kayaks so we have all the gear to survive with this also which we utilise with our 4wding trips.

Like the creature comforts when 4wd camping but within reason. Banks of lighting and generators etc will never be allowed on my trips away. If you can't see the stars from the amount of light in your camp site then you might as well stay home in my opinion :)

Cheers,

Basic depends on your perspective Dougie.

As a kid we used to ride about 20km to a camping spot with a roll of canvas tied to our push bikes.

I large knife , 1 box of matches , my .22 and mother would give us about 10 bullets, the rest was up to us.
She would however come back following our expected route should we not be home by dark on sundays.

One thing I have learnt is that there is no right way or wrong way to camp - there is your way and what works for you.

That said my boss carries on about how he is going 'camping' and spends his entire time in a caravan park at a powered van site (in a tent) watching DVD's. I can't see the allure of it personally, but then again I like going into the boonies where there is only a long drop and a freshwater creek as the required amenities so we will never agree lol

I was a bit of a purist like you... but as the years have gone by I'm able to enjoy all 'camping'. The gas stove and light seem to be not so basic though!

I tend to be pretty basic most of the time, but as I travel for work and camp.... sometimes a few comforts help.

Then living on a farm I can 'basic camp' for an hour or so any day. Just an old fashioned wood barbie gets the feeling going.

I guess we are such a diverse race in such a diverse country that there is no right or wrong way to camp.
I know as a teen i was big time into basic camping as i have a passion for the great outdoors and i simply couldn't afford to do it any other way. As the years slide past and family comes along there are creature comforts that are 'demanded' but i still keep them limited. No genny, no dvd, no telly.. we actually only have one tv in the house, (anti social pieces of equipement they are). We like to get out there and enjoy what mother nature offers. Star shows at night, birds twittering, possums rustling, that sort of thing. It still makes my hair stand on end when i see a big red moon rising over a dune..
How ever my parents, although beit on a tight... very tight.. budget, like to caravan. powered sites. a TV.. and OLD 34cm remote color tv, the first one ever made i think.. a micro wave.. but they want to see the sights and enjoy the country without forgoing home comforts and can't afford to motel it and like the independance of the van.. Each to there own, and for mine as long as you're out there enjoying what you are doing, being respectful to others and putting some coin back into the australian economy, i say do it however you damn well want to but just make sure you do it!

DAN

I always think that the cup of tea I make early in the morning tastes better if the water has boiled in a billy on the morning fire than in a saucepan on the stove. Having said that we do take a DVD player for the kids in case of emergency!
Jo

Thoughout the year I go to many bike rallies. Very basic. Tent and nowadays one of those gas stoves that look like a briecase when folded. I take a tent because I take my nine year old with me.
Often at these rallies I see some of the oldtimers still using a sheet of black plastic tied to their bike or fence, with some rocks holding it to the ground.

More and more though I see many bikes arriving with a camper trailer towed behind them. One of them sets up bigger than the camper I tow behind my Patrol.

Depends on your purpose. Camping for the sake of camping and getting away from it all. Touring, where camping is just a means to get to the locations you want to check out.

Some would say that your over doing it with tent, gas stove and a light.

D

dougie
"Recently went away for a couple of nights"

You must of seen a lot of this country.

Why spend your money on a tent, you should have slept under the car.

If you ever intend to travel this vast country like 4 weeks & one weekend in four every year.

You will find a few more comforts become a necessary, especially with age.

Continue to enjoy your "couple of nights camping".