Virgin campers!

Another First

Easter weekend was approaching, later this year, so potentially warmer than previous year. Also the winter had been milder so this was helping with the increased temperatures. This time last year there was still a significant amount of snow on the ground.  We decided to camp. It seemed the right thing to do, even though I somehow have managed to get to my 50's without ever camping in a tent.  My family had a static caravan when I was a child but that didn't count.  However, with two dogs, it seemed the most appropriate accommodation as we had previously stayed in dog friendly hotels, spending the night trying to keep them quiet every time someone passed by outside our room.  So the decision was made.  We set off on our trip to a beautiful spot at the foot of the moel y gest mountain near Porthmadog in North Wales.

It was challenging to fit everything into the boot of a Mini Countryman, two dogs on the rear seat and maximum use of boot space like jigsaw. I am not a woman who travels light and could be accused of "Glamping".  But we did managed to cram it all in and set off on our new adventure.

After a three hour journey we arrived at our destination.  We were bathed in the rays of the warm sun as we set up our tent,  working as a team, staked the dogs out and then cooked an outdoor feast. As it was Good Friday, fish and Mussels in white wine, cooked on the camping stove and barbecue were the order of the day. I was proud of my efforts, relaxed and happy.  Thinking things just don't get better than this. Even the dogs were content to be tied to a stake and lay in the warm sunshine, just happy to be outside and in our company.

Evening approached and we walked the dogs to the village, watching the sunset on the beach at Black Rock Sands before settling down for the night as darkness fell.  The site was basic, so no electric hook ups or mod cons of that nature! Torchlight, but also no form of heating. It soon became apparent
that it is very cold in a tent during the night in April. Our sleeping bags were no match for the cold April night air. A beautiful night under the stars also equates to a ground frost at this time of year! Oh how I wished we had brought that duvet with us. Even the dogs were shivering with the cold.

We had to resort to zipping the dogs into the bedroom area of the tent with us,

covered ourselves in the dogs blankets, all huddled together trying to keep warm against the cold night air.

Eventually, the sun started to rise, birds were singing their morning chorus and we sat outside the tent, drinking coffee and eating porridge watching the sun rise over the mountain. The fattest wooliest sheep grazing on the hillside accompanied by lively little woolly lambs. Suddenly the coldness of the night was forgotten.

After a quick visit to the shower block, we decided to visit some of our childhood haunts and set off to Criccieth, also visiting Abersoch and Pwhelli.   Shared memories of childhood holidays with our respective families, talking of caravans and realising that things don't really change. More families doing the same things that we did back then.  Skimming stones on the beach, flying kites and playing games. But oh how I felt pangs of envy, looking at the people who had motor homes and touring caravans with their heaters powered by leisure batteries.  Note to self, buy a car that can tow and a caravan.

Returning to the campsite, we made our way to the village to try out the nearby pub and sample the local fish and chips.  Bliss, a feast eaten from the paper! Then once again a serious drop in temperature as night fell.  We braved it until about 4 a.m but it's really hard to sleep when your teeth are chattering. An executive decision was made to pack up and return home. We had planned to leave that morning anyway so it wasn't such a big deal to go early. The sun started to rise and we started our journey back, appreciating the beautiful Snowdonia in the early morning mist. Through Bewys y Coed and off home to plan our next trip.

The cold wouldn't put us off, we will  just do it better next time. It's a learning curve for the virgin campers!