My daughter is 9 and she also loves just camping in the garden. 

Nick, i'll put together some ideas on here and anyone else is welcome to join. 

I'll keep an eye out for any deals on things and post them in here.

I'm going to the 'caveman site' in Orpington soon, it's been on hold because lockdown.  Would join if something else is arranged, or badgers are welcome to join me & Steve The Courier in the woods.  There's no clingfilm to poo into unless you bring it though.

No-one knows except Steve.  I get off the train at Dunton Green and jump in the van, he parks up somewhere nearby and leads me into the trees.  He's usually prepped the site and prepared kindling etc, but it's just a secluded copse really, no idea why it's been revisited so many times over the years but it works for me. 

I think someone was living nearby for a bit, there was a very impressive looking hut a few hundred yards away in 2014ish.  Which became less impressive and more dilapidated each year before falling down completely, so we eventually burned it so we didn't have to bother chopping/sawing trees down to keep warm.

Edit: A few years before the hut appeared there were loads of twigs tiny wigwam things where the hut appeared, so that was the witch den obvs.  Which is where we took retroking1981 to watch The Blair Witch Project for the first time on a Blackberry.  #Funtimes

He's a slightly eccentric ageing biker who built a scaffolding high hide and a bunker in his garden.  He sounds pretty odd on paper but he's one of my favourite people.  Plus he only kills folk if they deserve it.

Moot_Geeza wrote:

I think someone was living nearby for a bit, there was a very impressive looking hut a few hundred yards away in 2014ish. 

I think it might have been Steve.

Everyone loves Steve.

Diluted Dante wrote:

I think it might have been Steve.

It can't be ruled out.

Despite the risk of Steve, I'm hoping to go camping this year. Getting folk to sign up is a nightmare, mind you. Probably worried about Steve.

If I could take the thread slightly off topic, I'd really like to do some kayaking on lochs and rivers. I nearly bought a kayak during lockdown but storage and transport are an issue. I was going to get an inflatable but don't want a shitty one.  I won't be doing any white water as my shoulder couldn't take it but some light stuff on flat water would be nice.

Alpacka packrafts seem to be the best of the best but you're looking at a grand for one of them.  I recently found Anfibio which seem to be more in line with what I'd spend at the high end while not being cheap, Amazon specials.

Anyone got any experience with inflatable boats?

The good ones are apparently pretty resilient but the cheapo, Amazon ones seem to regularly arrive at your door with a puncture already provided and need to be repaired before you even start. Not the end of the world but it's definitely more of an issue when you're out in the middle of nowhere.

That's quite off putting. Not that I'd be going to the ends of the earth with it but even being stuck at a local river could be dicey.

Nick I’m looking. There aren’t many as it’s illegal so you’ve got to spot them on forums or comments on YouTube videos

There's a big one north of you.

Bought a kayak. It arrives Monday.  Just need to choose a suitably safe place to test it out.  There's a reservoir nearby that I think would be my best bet.

Aye.

Lovely stuff. Was camping in the garden for the London snow earlier in the year, forgot to close the little window window on my side and woke up with a freezing/wet bum.

Im sure there used to be a guy on here that used to do bare foot cross country marathons. Who was that mad man?

Definitely need some practice getting in and out but overall the first outing was a success. Now I just need to find space for my camping gear and I'm off to the races.