The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Introduction

Hello Friends,

I am here to impart some knowledge, regarding camping. There will come a time in every girls life when she is forced to go camping- be it by family, friends, man-type-friends, or the burning need to see a band play in a field. And I am here to help make your camping experience top notch, so you are focused on the scenery/beaches/music and not how awful your hair looks and how bad your feet hurt.

What gives me the authority to dish camping advice? I’ve been going camping since I was small enough to be bathed in the washing up bowl:

So, I know what I’m talking about, ok?

We will be covering the basic concerns of girls camping:

• Hair
• Face
• Shoes
• Clothes
• Nails

Scenarios:

• Showers
• Choosing a plot/pitching a tent
• Food/Cooking
• Entertainment
• People
• Rain/Sunshine
• Assorted Tips and Tricks

The most important advice page: ATTITUDE.

Thank you for reading! Feel free to ask me anything.

Review: Trekmates Flameless Cook Flask

It's 5am, and you've been woke up by the rain beating so hard on the canvas that you're starting to think maybe it's in your head and you will never ever not hear it. It cold, its wet, and either there are wolves in West Flanders, or that is some serious wind. Nothing would make you feel better than a nice hot coffee...well maybe being indoors might, but lets be real here. There is too much wind for your cooker to stay lit, and you really don't want to have to de-sleepingbag anyway. That's when you need the Trekmates Flameless Cook Flask.

Available here

This little flask will save your life. I can't give you all the technical details, but I am able to give you the jist. It's a stainless steel cup, inside a plastic one. The heating pack chemicals goes into the plastic one, and the water for your coffee goes into the metal one, clip the lid on and wait 10 minutes. Ta-dahh hot water without leaving your tent (It doesn't create any fumes, so it's totally safe to use inside your tent).

It might seem a little gimmicky to you, but that just means you've never experienced a Belgian winter morning under canvas!

I give it 5 stars! Cannot wait to give the rest of this line a try!

Review: Glo-Worms

Glo-Worms

When I first found the Glo-Worms site,  I was giddy. I have a real issue with guy-rope induced toe stubbing, so thought these would be ideal.
They were purchsed from the site, and arrived very fast, within 2 days if I remember correctly.
So when I went camping over Easter, and tested them out.

First hurdle is getting them onto the guys. I was rubbish at it, but it's not difficult, especially if you use a tent peg as a needle to guide the rope through. Then you have to decide which is your main problem, tripping or stubbing. If you're a tripper, put them in the middle of the guy,and if you're a stubbed, move them closer to the ground.
There are two halves (obviously) one is reflective and one is glow in the dark, so whether you have lights around or not your bases are covered. I personally didn't see much glowing in the dark, but I suppose that's because there wasn't much sun during the day, however the reflective side worked wonders for my numerous night time trips to the toilets
I give them 4/5 stars. If you're a girl of minimal bladder size in a world of Beer, i.e. Belgium, being able to see your tent at night is a real treat!

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Nails

As with anything hands-on, your nails will get ruined. Not just the polish, but your actual nails, if you're a grower- prepare for breakage.
I found there are 2 methods to choose from, and you might not like either...

1) Give up trying to have nice nails, either let them chip and embrace your inner grunge, or start the holiday with no nail polish, just cut short and coated in a nail strengthener

or

2) Use a dark thick colour, which every time it chips you can just touch up the ends without it looking awful

For my camping trip next week, I'm going to rock a bright blue, which is opaque in one coat so I can touch them up occasionally (I say that, but honestly 3 days into my camping trips I forget to care! I think that is the overriding message here, camping is too fun to care about your nails or hair or face!)

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Attitude!

Have fun, it’s a holiday, stop worrying about how you look, and that you’re cold and wet, or hot and sticky. Be cool, chill out, have a beer.

Try to enjoy yourself no matter what. I’ve been camping since I was 1, and I routinely throw a strop cause I’m exhausted or burnt or soaked to the skin, and its ok to take 20 mins or so to be in a bad mood, but then try and see the funny side, try to lighten up- its everyone else's holiday too, and they’re in the same boat, and they’re not kicking up a fuss, so man up.

Play in a fountain:

Stalk a pro-cycling team:

Ya know, make the most of it!

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Tips and Tricks

This page I will update as and when I think of things.

1. If you wrap beer in toilet paper, or a sock, and wet it, then leave it in the shade, as the water evaporates, it cools the bottle- just like sweating cools humans down.
2. Avon Skin So Soft Oil Moisturiser is a cracking bug repellant. Even the army uses it. Plus it leaves you smoothy smooth.
3. Often shower blocks are warm, and showers certainly are. If you're camping in the cold, a long hot shower might seem tempting, but at night, it's only going to make outside seem colder. However in the morning, if you're going to be up and about, a hot shower after a cold night is a good way to start the day.

If you have any handy camping tips, comment below!

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Weather the Weather

Sleeping under canvas is a noble endeavour, but it gets cold sometimes, and wet…and snowy. Ever had icicles on your guy ropes? It can be chilly. Ever woke up in 3 inches of water? It gets wet too!

Don’t let that put you off, you just need to be prepared. Own a water proof coat, have a proper down sleeping bag, and if it all goes wrong, be prepared to sleep in your car….

I will do some reviews of weather based items, coats, tents, sleeping bags etc, so keep your eyes peeled.

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: People

Camping People are the greatest! Some of my favourite interactions ever have been when camping! My number 1 was this: In France for the Tour De France, and one morning we were practising our yells for all nationalities: ALEZ! for Tommy Voeckler, ARRIBA for Mecardo, and GOOO ONNNN for Cavendish…we paused a while in thought regarding a non-racially sensitive way to yell for an Irish cyclist, The Young Roche I think, when a 7 year old French boy nearby perked up with a perfect “Top o’ the Morning to ya”

It KILLED me. It was one of the most perfect things to ever happen.

Camping people are the best. We’re respectful, helpful and chatty. Make sure you know a few basic words and phrases of where you are going, and people will be so impressed you tried! Know your pleases and thank yours, hellos and goodbyes, and you’re set!

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Entertainment

Picture the scene: You’ve put up your tent, your beer is cooling, and you’ve got no plans for the rest of the afternoon, what is there to do in a campsite?

You’re in a simpler world now kids, and there are simple pleasures to be had. I can assure you, your campsite has a ping pong table. Challenge a small French boy to a game; he’ll beat you with one hand behind is back.

If your site is near a town, stroll on in, see what you can see. My favourite campsite is one with almost no amenities, but it’s right outside Ypres in Flanders, which is my favourite place in the world, and in a 10 minute walk you’re in the centre of Ypres, which is just so beautiful.

And if all else fails- card games, word games, 20 questions…its a time for chilling out with your people, you don’t need the internet or the PS3 to have fun...Seriously, 20 questions can provide jokes for years. A camping holiday I went on with my family when I was 12 has resulted in jokes which can still kill us laughing now 10 years later.

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Cooking/Food

This really depends on where you are. For me, one of the best things about camping is eating local cuisine (for breakfast and lunch though, dinners in my camp is always the same, pasta and knacki and sauce- cooked in one pot, on the little cooker). 

In Belgium, eat frites and waffles! In France, go to the baker’s first thing and line up and bonjour your way to some amazing fresh bread. As my camping holidays usually involve sitting on a French roadside waiting for the cyclists to whizz by, lunch is usually a rustic affair- French bread and ham, but breakfast is where its at! Pastries and cakes and waffles !

Ok, I got a little carried away there, lets go back to basics.

Little camping stoves. Pretty easy to use, make sure you keep your matches out of the rain, have a kettle you can put on a hob, and if you only have 1 hob rather than 2, plan meals you can just put in one pot- stews, pasta etc. Washing up wise, there will be some nice big sinks in the sanitaires, it’s a nice time to make polite conversation with fellow campers- I know it’s very unbritish- but you’re not British anymore, you’re a camper.

Also, if you’re in Europe, you’re in the perfect situation to sample the local alcohol! If you’re in northern Europe, you’d be an idiot not to try those Belgian/Dutch/polish beers, obviously if you’re in France, wine and champers. 

Even if you hate camping, you’ve got to love drinking and eating.

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Choosing a plot/Pitching a tent

Depending on the campsite, you might be allowed to pick your plot, and that my friends, is serious business. There are a lot of things to consider:

• Proximity to the sanitaires
• Ground quality
• Trees/Bushes
• Neighbours.

Proximity to the toilets is an obvious one, you want to be close enough that a 4am dash to pee in the rain isn’t a harrowing thought. Although you don’t wanna be too close, else you might have a constant stream of fat frenchmen in speedos trapsing past at 6am before you’ve even had a coffee to settle your stomach.

The rest of the things you need to consider I think are skills you pick up over time, but it’ll try to help a little: Not picking a rocky plot is an obvious one, as is not picking a slopey one, hard ground is good, solid ground isn’t, trees will provide shelter from the sun, but are annoying if it’s windy or raining, but they could help you out up a washing line, or a hammock. And when it comes to neighbours….well. Most campers are the same, we’re friendly folk who like a drink, and a chat in stunted french, and being quiet and chill, but there are often school groups camping, and if you can help it steer clear of them, they are prone to loudness.

Now, if you’ve never pitched a tent before, it could be tough, even if it’s an easy pop-up one, all tents are different so I cant help you with that but I can say, wear shoes with a solid sole so you can stomp the pegs in instead of using a mallet, and guy ropes are SERIOUS BUSINESS. Peg ‘em out wide, and look carefully when you’re walking around your plot….my guy rope and tent peg injuries are in the 100s.

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Showers

Showers

The Shower block is a fearful place if you’re not used to it. At most festivals, the showers are communal in the real sense of the word- i.e. you want to wear a swimming cozzie/bikini. In campsite, they have cubicles! In france, they’re called sanitaires, and as I was raised on french camping, I always refer to communal showers as such, sorry. Your basic sanitaire will have 2 halves, a toilet and sink area, just like any public toilet, and then the shower half. Each shower cubicle will probably look like this:

As you can see, there is a little shelf, slightly sheltered from the water- don’t trust it, it’ll get spray. Try your best to hang your clothes and towel up, on a hook, or over the door. Your stuff won’t get stolen, in europe atleast, campers are a special breed, and we respect each other! The only other thing worth mentioning about sanitaires is cold water…your shower may be cold. Deal with it.

When it comes to toilets, luckily no campsite has squatjobs anymore really, but if you’re just driving around and stopping at whatever campsite you find, it’s worth looking at the toilets before you put down your tent. Some municiple campsite toilets are just too spartan to bear, even for a seasoned camper like myself.

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Clothes

When it comes to clothes, its just like with shoes- you've got to think practical. The boot of your car is full of tents and sleeping bags, you just don’t have room for a giant suitcase with 4 different clothing options per day you’ll be away.

You want to consider the weather- and you want to consider the cross-over value of items. I will be camping in Belgium, in March, and it gets cold, so the most important thing is sleep wear. PJ's are too cold. Sweatpants? Perfect. Plus they are useful for travelling days, or when you just cannot be bothered to wear real clothes. 

Cross-over value is simple. You have a shirt which requires another shirt underneath it? That undershirt better be wearable on its own, or as PJ's, or under another shirt.

For my my main issue with cross over value is shorts. I love a pair of short shorts, but I always wear them with leggings, and wouldn’t wear them alone..so they’re a no go. A midi-skirt however, I can wear alone, or with leggings if its cold. There's the cross over value. Essentially, if you can only think of one scenario in which you'd wear it- is it necessary?

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Shoes

You’re a girl- you probably like shoes. I know the score,  we all like shoes, but be cool. Do you really need 5 pairs for a week long camping holiday?

Think of the scenarios you’re going to be in, for my camping holidays its the following: Lazing around the campsite, strolling through towns/museums etc and hiking on a mountain…those are the 3 main things I do on camping holidays. You might have some other activities like the beach.

If you’re going to a festival you really only need one thing: Wellies. So I will ignore that, and consider the other options.

No matter what activities you’re undertaking, there is one type of show you ABSOLUTELY need: Flip Flops. You are using communal showers- you do not want to go in barefoot. You can pick up flip flops for £1 at primark if you’re not a flip flop person and don’t want to spend cash on something you’ll only wear for 5 mins a day for a week. They’re also better than shoes for campsite wear- they don’t require faffing with laces when its 4am and you need to visit the sanitaires.

If you’re comfortable walking lots in flip flops, they might be good for trekking around cities and scenic towns etc, but for me, I’m going for comfort. If I’m spending a day walking around Bruges, I am spending THE WHOLE DAY, and as such, Walking boots.

These are mine- Northwest Storm. And I am in love with them. Everytime I wear them I seriously consider never wearing normal shoes again…why do people wear normal shoes when walking boots exist? They’re honestly so comfy, and perfect if you’re strolling around for hours on end. And they’re not that geeky, honestly! They make your feet look smaller, they make you taller, and I cannot stress enough the joy of ankle support when you are used to normal flat shoes. 

Basically what I’m saying is just use your brain- you don’t need heels and 5 different pairs of sandals. 

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Face

Don’t let anyone tell you wearing makeup when camping is stupid. It’s a holiday, and Holidays = Photos, and honestly whats the point of having a photo of you at the top of the Eiffel tower if you’ve got an oily blotchy red face and no eyes? You won’t want to commemorate that moment, will you? No. So bring a little slap with you, it won’t hurt anyone!

But keep it subtle. Personally I take foundation (going for a BB cream this year) powder, and eyeliner and mascara. I think eyeliner and mascara are a must as on holiday I wear contacts, so I can wear sunglasses, and without my glasses I don’t have eyes.

Just remember to take makeup wipes  so on those nights when you’re too lazy to go to the shower blocks to wash your face, you can still sort your face out.

People say it doesn't matter what you look like on holiday, as you’ll never see those people again, but some fool will be taking photos of you and showing the world your stupid naked face. No.

The Girly Girl's Guide to Camping: Hair

Right. If you are anything like me, the idea of being in a field without electrical sockets, makes your hair cry. My hair requires blow drying, and straightening after every wash, else I’m the proud owner of candyfloss Afro hair, and that's just not feasible in a campsite.

How do we avoid this? We just don’t wash our hair. Luckily my hair is so dry I can easily go 5-8 days without it getting greasy, depending on what products I put in it, but if you’re not as blessed, you’ll need some tricks.

Tactics

So you’ve decided to not wash your hair for a week? You’re going to have to come up with a shower plan. Sure you can just avoid getting your head into the shower, but what about when you’re washing your face? What about the spray, or the humidity in the shower blocks? I think its time you invest in a shower cap my friend!

This little owly-chap was from Primark for £1.50, looks towelly, but has a waterproof lining.

OK, so keeping your hair dry is the easy part, keeping it not looking like a chip pan is harder!

Products

1.  Dry Shampoo. I favour batiste, but whatever your dry shampoo of choice, it’s a must for camping.

2. John Freida 3-Day Straight. If you straighten your hair, 3-Day straight is a must for going days without washing your hair. It’s pretty much magic.

3) Hat. It might be hot/sunny hat weather anyway…a good hat can hide a multitude of hair sins.