In order to prepare for the aforementioned camping trip, I have been reading a camping book from the late 1960s called (aptly) Camping and Hiking, by the incredibly groovy sounding Falcon Travis (you can see it in the photograph below). I wish my name was Falcon Travis. How cool would that be?
Anyway, here are some of his top tips for a good camp out:
1) To make matches waterproof, dip the heads in nail varnish.
2) Long trousers are better in rough or hilly country. Flannel or wool is best.
3) On bell tents - The bell tent is fast disappearing from the scene. Compared with modern tents there is little to say in its favour. [Really? Oh, come now Falcon!]
4) The opposite of routine is muddle, and muddle wastes time and energy and can take the pleasure out of camping. [I guess it's a lot like life in that respect. Note to self, stop the muddle!]
5)[My favourite] Have an all-over body wash daily, or cover the whole area in installments of a half or a third at a time (!) Ha!
I could go on, of course, there's all sorts in there, different types of cooking fires, how to make a lean-to shelter, menu planners (all of which are alarmingly meat heavy, featuring such delights as tongue, pressed beef and spam, yum), cooking without utensils, knots, lashings and how to read clouds. All terribly useful stuff. So I'll definitely be tucking this little tome into my ruck-sack (the German word for back-pack dontchaknow?)
I'm really hoping for this...dreamy huh? Taken whilst camping in the New Forest last summer.
In other news, I won a giveaway on Postcards from Behind The Hedge and Beyond and it arrived this week, adding a splash of Indian romance and sunshine to another rain-soaked day. You can see more of Louise's stuff here.
This was also my contribution to Desk Thursday, which is shaping up to be a super-fun group on Flickr, do check it out!
Have a happy (dry) weekend everyone!
6 comments:
I think I may have a crush on Falcon Travis. Is there a photo of him?
only in my head! perhaps it's better that way, then we can all have our very own Falcon...
I love that caravan! Still showing off Falcon Travis, hmm?! You're proud girl! :) K
Firstly, Paul would never fit in that caravan, it is the size of a thimble!
Secondly, there's nowt wrong with tongue - although I really do draw the line at spam, blek.
Finally, wool trousers always seem like a good idea until you wear them in damp warm conditions (what? like an English summer?) then they become unspeakably heavy and itchy and you wish you'd gone with a skirt and tights after all.
x x x
You wouldn't believe it - that caravan is nearly identical to the one my parents had when we went camping around Europe when I was three years old.
I really don't know how they did it: a three year old, an eleven year old and a thirteen year old all squished into rather confined quarters.
Love your photo from the New Forest - gorgeous! xx
What a nice giveaway to win! I'm jealous. :)
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