Let The Countdown Begin!

[Merlin the Elder]

The TRF dude said $5 for showers, Bonny, with no time limit.  They may rethink that later on...

[Bonny Pearl]

7'2"!  That's....errrr....hmmm... Two of you!   

Let the shin kicking commence! 

The TRF dude said $5 for showers, Bonny, with no time limit.  They may rethink that later on...

LMAO!! 

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, my... and over AHE or Celtic Christmas, the only two times of the year we generally get down there (only once per season, though), it's usually pretty chilly at night, if not downright COLD!!!  That I don't want to deal with, because we've been down there and frozen before, with our dome tent that was also "well ventilated"... and we need something that is closer to at least a 3 season tent.  My renlet is older now (12.5), but still, it's hard on her to try and sleep in 28-35* temps when the cold air comes right up under the rainfly.  We have never used a tent heater, because I'm kind of nervous about fumes... but I'm considering getting one this year just to warm up the tent for an hour before bedtime, just so it's easier to get to sleep.  Once we're snuggled down under the warm covers it's not really an issue, but trying to GET warm can be rough! 

Another reason the pop-up sounds good to me!  Although... I've just recalled you can get a French bell-wedge period style tent for about the same price, so now I'm all in a quandary, again!  LOL


Oh, and I suppose a $5 shower is doable... although it would certainly cut into the "treat" fund!  I probably wouldn't spring for more than one for each of us for the weekend, much as I wold enjoy a nice hot shower every day we're there!  Especially for the longer weekend! 

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Rani, I believe that is the one I have also.  If it is, yes there is plenty of room to stand on each side.  The big issue I have with it is that the entire top is mesh (didn't realize this when we bought it), which is great when its warm, but miserable at 35-40 degrees!!   

LoL   If I recall correctly I think I only had to duck my head down a bit in the corners.
But yes, the entire top is a mesh. Which does make it pretty much ambient temperature. 

one word... TARPS.  One under the rain fly and one over it.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

45!!! Holy crap!  I still have to get kilts to the cleaners!  Damn!  Leather needs oiled!

[Rani Zemirah]

Rani, I believe that is the one I have also.  If it is, yes there is plenty of room to stand on each side.  The big issue I have with it is that the entire top is mesh (didn't realize this when we bought it), which is great when its warm, but miserable at 35-40 degrees!!   

LoL   If I recall correctly I think I only had to duck my head down a bit in the corners.
But yes, the entire top is a mesh. Which does make it pretty much ambient temperature. 

one word... TARPS.  One under the rain fly and one over it.

Fraser, I agree... that does work well when it's cold out!  It helps when it's really misty out, also... it keeps that fine mist from seeping up under the rainfly and dripping on you all night long!  Nothing worse than trying to sleep when you're cold AND wet...

I'm really wanting to see one of those Wenzel Airpitch tents in action, though!  I found one for around $230, including shipping, and I like the idea of pumping up the "legs" of the tent in under 3 minutes!  There aren't a lot of reviews of it, yet... because it seems to be pretty new, which worries me a little.   Wenzel is pretty good about standing behind it's products, though... so if there was a problem with it I should be able to return it.  It doesn't seem to have a separate rainfly, though... which is odd.  Still... extra rainflies are easy to come by. 

[Rani Zemirah]

Ok... I'm all atwitter, now!!! 

We will DEFINITELY be there for AHE!!! 


!!!!!!!!!SQUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!


AND... we will be able to get the tent we want, also!!!  WewT!!! 

[Bonny Pearl]

That's awesome Rani!!  Can't wait to see y'all! 

[Hector_]

... we will be able to get the tent we want, also!!!  WewT!!!

The Blow up tent?  I reccommend a rechargeable pump (got my coleman at walmart). Very interested in seeing it in action!

[adding tarps to gear list with comment: modify for tent.]

[Rani Zemirah]

That's awesome Rani!!  Can't wait to see y'all! 

It's going to be a whole lot harder to wait, now that I KNOW we can go!!!  If it didn't hurt so much I'd be bouncing up and down in my chair!!!   

... we will be able to get the tent we want, also!!!  WewT!!!

The Blow up tent?  I reccommend a rechargeable pump (got my coleman at walmart). Very interested in seeing it in action!

[adding tarps to gear list with comment: modify for tent.]

Hector, I've got a Coleman pump that plugs into the power outlet in the van, that I've been using for my air mattresses for several years, now.  It works really well, and it's reliable.  I like that I don't have to worry about recharging it, although I DO have to turn on the engine to use it.  On the old van there was a power outlet in the back, but I haven't even looked to see if there is one back there in this one, or not. 

Of course... I'm REALLY tempted to just go ahead and get the pop-up I've been looking at!    heheh  My head is just swimming with possibilities right now!  I probably could... but I'm looking at doing a bit more to the van right away than I had thought, and I'm going to have to pay some labor... so I'd better see what that's going to run before I go buying pop-up trailers, I suppose!  LOL 

[Hector_]

I've had the oportunity to purchase a pop up in the past, but have beat myself up (and beat him up as well), because some part of me refuses to move beyond primitive camping.  Unfortunately the only ones taking the toll are my family.   

But I definitely know that it could solve any issues with rain or cold or mist or...

[Rani Zemirah]

I've had the oportunity to purchase a pop up in the past, but have beat myself up (and beat him up as well), because some part of me refuses to move beyond primitive camping.  Unfortunately the only ones taking the toll are my family.   

But I definitely know that it could solve any issues with rain or cold or mist or...

Those are some of my exact thoughts... particularly now, since I have issues with arthritis in my knees and fibromyalgia.  Getting up from the ground in the morning, even thought I have an air mattress, just hurts these days... and the alternative is to spend $140 for a collapsible cot platform that I can put my queen size air mattress on... because I'm just not sleeping in a twin size bed.  I spent too many years camping far more primitively than anything you might find in a campground, but I'm grown up enough now to want my comfort! 

I would actually like to have something very similar to this to sleep on... with slats and an air mattress, of course... in a period canvas tent!  I think I could make this pretty easily with the right tools.  It's just simple mortise-and-tenon joins, although I would rather have longer tenons secured with pegs.  It's easily collapsible, though, to break down in just minutes and pack away.  The problem with the canopy, though, is that the posts are long enough to require at least a 7' trailer to haul them around... so a shorter, non-canopied version would be more practical, I suppose... but it would be really nice to have some way to hang heavy curtains around the bed on those really cold nights!!! 

I like carpets for the tent floor these days, also.  I just really want a Gypsy/Arabian Nights tent that I can hang with silks and brocades, and big throw pillows everywhere... with half naked well oiled men to fan me with palm fronds and peel grapes for me... 


Oh, uhhh... sorry... I forgot this was the Countdown thread, and not the Fantasy thread!  Oops...   

LOL 

[Bonny Pearl]

Rani...As long as there are some pillows and manservants for me too, keep at it lol!!

[Hector_]

Rani...As long as there are some pillows and manservants for me too, keep at it lol!!

I'll volunteer if the upkeep is beer or Scotch Whiskey?

[Hector_]

Le sigh... in 6 weeks I'll be packing my car so it'll be ready to take me to campgrounds after work the next day...