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I ran a camp for a couple of years for the YMHA. There was no electricity, no buildings (just tents). And I had to provide a Kosher diet (though, without electricity for a fridge I had no place to keep it. And the nearest kosher food store was a good hundred kilometres away.)
I also ran a couple of day camps in the city for the YMCA.
 
We had to bail a Guide leader out once as she forgot to take any toilet paper - which no one realized till they'd dug their latrines for the weekend.

The 1991 camp was outside of Edmonton and other than my sis and I, everyone thought they were really roughing it as they had to use propane stoves (we'd never used one prior to that camp) and only had one fridge to keep the perishables in (we'd never been to an outdoor camp that had any access to a fridge, just coolers and items submerged in the lake that were safe to submerge to keep cool).
 
imho, sleeping in a tent requires giving up a surface (like a pillowtop mattress) and an environment (insect and extreme morning dampness free) necessary to some persons to actually sleep.
 
BetteTheRed said:
imho, sleeping in a tent requires giving up a surface (like a pillowtop mattress) and an environment (insect and extreme morning dampness free) necessary to some persons to actually sleep.
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Only if that's how you choose to go about it Bette. We sleep comfortably on a mattress in our tent and have yet to experience the "extreme morning dampness" of which you speak. Having the experience and know-how to select the best sites is key. Ahh tenting, it's the life.
 
I quite like our cottage on wheels. Aka the C.O.W. It has a comfy bed and most of the comforts of home. I'm too old for tents and sleeping on the ground.
 
BetteTheRed said:
We're all adaptable to different comfort ranges. In a comfortable, well-equipped canal boat in England, sure.
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Whatever floats your boat Bette. Enjoy. To each their own. As for my family and I, we prefer the authenticity of camping in tents. I know it isn't everyone's style. Some want the pampering of an RV. To each their own.
 
Tenting...the joys of having stray cows visit you in the morning...the joys of having your tent blow away on you in a sudden summer storm...the joys waking up soaked to the skin because of sudden summer hail storm that shredded your tent....I could go on and on...
 
Redbaron said:
Seen on a tee shirt (again):

I AM NOBODY
NOBODY IS PERFECT
THEREFORE I AM PERFECT
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Nice!

Shortly after high-school I had this epiphany.

Tomorrow is another day.
Yesterday is also another day.

Tomorrow is Yesterday.

Immediate second epiphany in the same vein.

Tomorrow is another day.
Today is another day.

Today is tomorrow.

I referred to them as sillygisms.

That was the end of my philosophical comedy.
 
BethAnne said:
Tenting...the joys of having stray cows visit you in the morning...the joys of having your tent blow away on you in a sudden summer storm...the joys waking up soaked to the skin because of sudden summer hail storm that shredded your tent....I could go on and on...
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Sorry to hear those experiences have happened to you BethAnne. They never have to us. Again, choosing the best sites is key.
 
BethAnne said:
Tenting...the joys of having stray cows visit you in the morning...the joys of having your tent blow away on you in a sudden summer storm...the joys waking up soaked to the skin because of sudden summer hail storm that shredded your tent....I could go on and on...
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Having to sleep in the cars because the tents wouldn't stay in the ground because it rained so hard then the wind blew. Having a leak in the tent, right by your head. Having the air mattress slowly leak so you're lying on gravel in the morning.......
 
I've done tents in the past but I'm not sure my back would go for it now. Last time I know for sure we did it was our first anniversary and we've been married nearly 24 years. We have talked about the RV option before but it depends on what happens over the next few years as we approach retirement.
 
BethAnne said:
Tenting...the joys of having stray cows visit you in the morning...the joys of having your tent blow away on you in a sudden summer storm...the joys waking up soaked to the skin because of sudden summer hail storm that shredded your tent....I could go on and on...
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And you see, none of these things have happened to me because I have resisted every available temptation to sleep in a tent. It has happened several times in my life. It has never been a happy experience. My mother had never in her life lived anywhere other than very large cities, so she was certainly incapable of introducing us to any sort of rural life. I can make do quite happily in a little cabin in the woods, BUT it must have a comfy/organized outhouse, it must have comfortable beds and bedding, it must be critter-proof and dry, there must be some facility to shower, there must be heat, should be wi-fi and hydro.
 
We have a comfy bed in this thing. The windows are open at night usually allowing fresh air to enter. We hear the patter of rain on the roof and stay dry. We are wakened by various bird songs. We get to sit by the campfire and be eaten alive by mosquitoes. Comforts of home and the fun part of camping. I've done a lot of time camping in tents in the past. I'm good with having comforts now.
 
BetteTheRed said:
And you see, none of these things have happened to me because I have resisted every available temptation to sleep in a tent. It has happened several times in my life. It has never been a happy experience. My mother had never in her life lived anywhere other than very large cities, so she was certainly incapable of introducing us to any sort of rural life. I can make do quite happily in a little cabin in the woods, BUT it must have a comfy/organized outhouse, it must have comfortable beds and bedding, it must be critter-proof and dry, there must be some facility to shower, there must be heat, should be wi-fi and hydro.
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The beauty of tenting in Ontario's provincial parks - comfy outhouse? Better. Comfort stations with sinks and flush toilets. Comfortable beds and bedding? We have them. I imagine most do. Critter-proof and dry? Our tents sure are. Facility to shower? Check, in the comfort stations. WiFi and hydro? There are sites that offer those things for those who want them. My family and I really enjoy tenting. Including not having to pay exorbitant fuel prices that RVs incur. And not doing as much damage to the environment. However, as I've said, to each their own.
 
Best Tent experience was during one heck of a storm in southern, Ontario summer of 84.

Thunder was so close that it shook the earth and the trees around us. Lightining was so bright it left Retina flashes on closed eyes.

I had gone to sleep at the beginning of it. The tent started leaking at the door so I tossed a sweater at it to stop the stream. And then another and then another until I fell asleep. Woke up neck deep in a puddle.

Sloshed my way outside to the rest of the staff and huddled campers.

As it really cut loose.

I remember staring at one frightened camper in front of me. I said, "We will probably all die." with much sarcasm just then lightning and thunder happened right in our ears and a young tree fell right between us. The whole camp froze, eyes wide at the near miss. Not missing a beat I offered, "Cool, death is going to toy with us for a bit first."

We eventually beat a retreat to Walsingham United Church where I rung my clothes dry and curled up on a pew to finish my sleep.
 
I had a similar experience in Parkhill many years ago. It thundered and poured rain. The wind whipped up and our tents would not stay in the group. We slept in cars. The next morning we learned we had been at the tail end of a tornado. It snowed one day that weekend (May 24) ànd we half froze. We all ended up with sunburns because it was blistering hot on Monday. The joys of camping in Canada.
 
My godparents have a cabin in the woods of southwestern Ontario. When it first began, it was a transport trailer (Sears, actually) with a few old camp beds and a food prep area. I remember rainstorms sounding like a million tiny elephants on the roof.
 
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