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Post by peridot on Jul 16, 2008 22:36:52 GMT
Right, I'm sure we're all planning our accommodation arrangements for the festival. So what are you using ? Have you invested in a nice new piece of canvas (or polyester) especially for the occasion, or have you a tried and trusted old friend that has seen you through many seasons? Are you thinking portable party venue (rain shelter  ), or intimate 'close quarters' arrangement  Have you been really savvy and booked a luxury suite in the Crickhowell Hotel as you were leaving last year  So go ahead ... post, with pics if possible. It will be good to share 'tips & tricks' for our various options. Be warned though that if you're planning on bringing something like this www.outwell.dk/Administration/Images/Images/MainLargePicture/129.jpg, you will need to ask for help in carrying it from the car park. Obtaining such help will not be a problem as we will immediately declare your pitch to be an unofficial fifth venue and you will make lots of new friends over the course of the festival ;D |
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Post by Chris on Jul 17, 2008 9:19:57 GMT
I'm taking my trusty dome tent, veteran of three festivals now, along with a gazebo. I took a pop-up gazebo last year and it blew down - I think that was partly because the poles are too complicated and easily fouled on the pop-up ones to withstand much more than a breeze.
This year it's a cheapy one (nice simple, straight poles) and plenty of extra guy ropes to keep it upright. I've got some of those side panels in the garage, it was a godsend last year to have a place to sit outside of the tent for tasks such as getting waterproofs on and off.
Hot tips for gazebos...
1. Don't put it up somewhere where it will annoy other people.
2. They aren't fully waterproof, if it chucks it down you will experience a sort of fine drizzle underneath your gazebo, so it might be worth investing in a cheap tarpaulin from B&Q to put over the top.
3. Tie and peg it down thoroughly - they aren't designed to put up with much punishment from the elements, and when the wind gets under them they try to become a kite.
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Post by Chris on Jul 17, 2008 9:21:40 GMT
PS - although it isn't far from the car park to the camping areas, it's not a flat journey, so it can be difficult if you try to take vast amounts of gear all at once. Two easy trips from the car is better than one difficult one.
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Post by peridot on Jul 18, 2008 21:27:17 GMT
Pictured below is the Peridot family charabanc  It's a somewhat aged but pretty much fully functioning (bit like myself) Dandy folding camper. It was partly our experience at last year's GM that decided us on some sort of towable unit that holds all our basic equipment and that we can pitch and strike quickly. We went for the PVC covered Dandy as, unlike similar canvas units, it can be folded away wet. We haven't any space at home to open it out so this was a great advantage. At GM we can drive straight into the 'live-in vehicles' area, unhitch the Dandy, unload all our other paraphernalia from the car and be enjoying out first beer in half an hour. The car goes back in the car park to allow us to go off site when we want to over the weekend and on Monday morning we can bring it back down to load up and head off. I reckon that's well worth an extra £35 for the 'live-in' ticket  |
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Post by bobharford on Jul 18, 2008 21:36:21 GMT
Are the bits on the side the sleepy bits?
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Post by peridot on Jul 18, 2008 21:46:53 GMT
Are the bits on the side the sleepy bits? Yep ... there's a fixed double bed on one side and another double on the other side that folds up into a sofa during the day (with storage for all the bedding behind) The central area has a table with two fixed seats (this can fold down to make a fifth berth) and a kitchen unit with cooker and sink. They're not pretty but they are very practical |
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krasnyi
Respected Member
Posts: 176
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Post by krasnyi on Jul 21, 2008 12:42:39 GMT
Just invested in an Outwell Colorado 7 tent with 3 'bedrooms' (the aim being to separate our two kids and ensure a reasonable amount of sleep). Not sure we'lll be able to fit anything else into the car though. Here it is in all its glory:  |
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Post by peridot on Jul 21, 2008 23:12:09 GMT
Just invested in an Outwell Colorado 7 tent with 3 'bedrooms' (the aim being to separate our two kids and ensure a reasonable amount of sleep). Not sure we'lll be able to fit anything else into the car though. Fantastic tent krasnyi I take it you'll be giving us a shout to help with the trek from the car park I'd be only to happy to help - on one condition. That is that you get the kids playroom to go with it, and you let me have a go in it ... please ... please ... pretty please ;D  |
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krasnyi
Respected Member
Posts: 176
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Post by krasnyi on Jul 22, 2008 8:44:18 GMT
Would have loved to get the kids inner tents but would have had to get two to prevent serious conflict and at £50 a pop it would have been rather extravagant. I can actually pick the thing up - its 29kg but i was figuring on rolling it down from the family car park!
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Post by steviehdg on Jul 22, 2008 21:01:30 GMT
the kids arent coming so it'll just be the little three man rather than the rather roomier 8 berth....blimey that means cooking outside!
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Post by steviehdg on Jul 22, 2008 21:10:06 GMT
....or would it just be wrong for us to use the 8 man just for the 2 of us....i'm increasingly tempted........and the Mrs wouldn't complain about having anywhere to hang her clothes......yikes i can see it now...trudging from the carpark with a wardrobe strapped to my back....dilemma!!
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Post by peridot on Jul 22, 2008 21:25:24 GMT
...and the Mrs wouldn't complain ... I think you've answered your own question ;D What's a bit of pain at the start if it avoids grief over the weekend. And if it rains (which it won't) you'll be glad of the extra space. Hell, I even know people who've brought extra tents to festivals to pitch empty beside them for space and storage purposes  |
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Post by jimmyjames on Jul 24, 2008 7:50:08 GMT
there are 3 of us coming to green man this year, last year we had a tent each, but my friend has purchased an 8-man tent, i pointed out that he will have to carry it from the car park to the camping area and i think its around 30kg, has anyone come across a decent trolley for something like this, i've had a look round b+q, wickes, go outdoors etc and all the trolleys in there have tiny little wheels, if the ground is at all soft I cant see them going very far, so has any body seen a trolley that will take 30kgish and has decent wheels that wont cost the earth?
thanks
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Post by Chris on Jul 24, 2008 8:18:50 GMT
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Post by jimmyjames on Jul 24, 2008 10:55:55 GMT
thanks for that, after a bit of googling, these are known as fishing trolleys or barrows, and can be bought for around £20 , i'm going to nip over to my local fishing shop ( for the first time ever) and see what they have, argos do one for £40!!!! so steer clear
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Post by peridot on Jul 28, 2008 21:05:49 GMT
Aldi do a little folding one from time to time. I think it's usually around £17.
If you have a MachineMart near you they have a good range of options.
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peepz
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by peepz on Aug 1, 2008 12:25:44 GMT
Aldi do a little folding one from time to time. I think it's usually around £17. If you have a MachineMart near you they have a good range of options. Anyone thought about converting an old collapsable pram. Perfect if you are taking the bus. Plus you can buckle your tent in and hold beer in the pockets. |
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Post by Chris on Aug 4, 2008 9:03:57 GMT
I've got a pram frame in the garage, and I did consider it as a festival trolley once. They're very large compared to a folding trolley, so it wasn't an option for my car boot. Excellent if you're in a vehicle where space is no object though!
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Post by cyfarthfa on Aug 4, 2008 9:29:18 GMT
Me and kids are about to get the tent out to proof the seams and since its new since last time see if we can get anything else in the car. I fear it may be two trips this year.
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Post by awontroba on Aug 5, 2008 0:24:11 GMT
I'll not be bringing my newish camper van awning, as friends want to camp next to me.
I'm not overjoyed with the awning. It is a Outwell Movelite XL. The design is good, but its lightweight nature means that it has suffered, and I have my doubts about it surviving to the end of the year. I'm miffed that the warning that it should be taken down in strong winds only comes with the tent, though I suppose it is implicit in the name. To be fair, it has survived The National Acoustic Festival, Sunrise (aka Mudrise) and The Wickerman along with some other less weather intensive festivals.
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), or intimate 'close quarters' arrangement 
