Going for Camping ? Don't forget to carry.....

Summer is at it's best, temperature is perfect 25-35 degree, kids are having good time. Everyone is thinking to heading for camping or some have their cottage reserved.

Each year we go for Camping. Me and my wife both try our best that we shouldn't forget anything, but it never happened.

I thought let me write something on that note.

1) A butane lighter. Now this could be just a cheap cigarette lighter, but it would be far better to carry one of those butane ‘wands’ for lighting the stove or campfire.  A far better alternative than ordinary matches, but don’t forget the matches – just in case you experience a butane gas leak! 

2) Garbage bags have endless uses.  You can use them to wrap over things – even your backpack, and you can cut them in half to lie flat to protect items from rain and moisture.  Hey, you can even put your garbage into them to carry it off your campsite ready to discard in a more environmentally friendly place. We have used one or two to protect our bedding when having to decamp our wind-up camper in foul weather.

3)  Wet wipes or baby wipes will help you conserve water.  You can use them to wipe your face, hands or feet, and even wipe down preparatory surfaces. When you are finished with them you can throw them in with the garbage (most are biodegradable), or simply cast them into the campfire. Choose the plain ones that contain no scented additives.

4) LED flashlights or head lights.  This is amazing technology and these things seem to last for ever.  The head lights we find particularly useful as they leave both hands free to tend the BBQ or find your way to the amenities on a dark night.  Keep a couple close by, they are cheap enough – cheap enough to give to the kids as a night time toy.

5) Games.  Never mind the TV and DVD player, or even the electronic hand held games.  Sometimes the trusted favorites such as cards or Scrabble just hit the spot.  You can also purchase cheap books or ebooks of card games, so you never need to get bored with the same old game.  Scrabble is always a good leveler – fun too! If you are really adventurous how about a game of chess – mate?

6) And lastly,   You’re camped. You want to go out hiking, and you don’t know what to carry or where to put it.  Get hold of a small knapsack.  We have one that my wife used on her Kontiki trips around the world many years ago.  It is still water proof and has come in useful on many occasions.  It easily carries water, snacks, camera and showerproof jackets, but as it’s small it is also easy to stow away when not in use. 

I hope this got you thinking.  Happy camping folks! For more little things to take