Camping Adventures - the Beginning

As a kid our family never went away for holidays – unless it was to visit an uncle or aunt who also lived on a far flung property – in order to help them with some task or chore like fencing or shearing. Dad had been in the army and maintained he had done enough camping for a lifetime. We had been on school camp to Lamington National Park on the Gold Coast hinterlands and been on day bushwalks as well as some exploration of family members back blocks of their properties. However, my sisters and I got a real taste for it whilst completing the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Mary-Jane – bless her cotton socks - organized all our horse expeditions where were would set off along dirt tracks, tether our horses and camp under the stars, Adrian on the other hand had been a cub, then a scout. His family had numerous weekends and holidays away camping or caravanning in remote national parks. He carried this love on through his teenage years and into adulthood but completing a number of solo throughwalks and bushwalking. Our camping experiences and styles are just a little different. Adrian still has his kit that he used for his hiking treks – cut down toothbrush, tiny containers and lightweight everything. As mine had been done mainly on horseback, I had no real concept of having to pack lightly or compactly.

I learnt quickly about packing the necessities whilst backpacking throughout Europe. This was reinforced without motorcycling holidays in the UK and Europe – some camping, some in youth hostels. However, it’s a whole new ball game when you are taking small children – one still in nappies – camping. AND there is so much STUFF you can now buy at camping stores. I feel like a recovering alcoholic passing a pub - if I go past one – it screams to me, sucking me in, tempting me with a gadget or item I don’t yet have.

We have now gone camping as a family three times this year and intend to choose a camping spot each month and head off into the wilderness. We have decided to do this for a few reasons.

• Adrian is really stressed at work and feels calmer away from technology and the internet.
• We want to encourage family time as fun and active.
• Last year really sucked for us being a family – we went our separate ways and had little common ground. The future is different.
• There are a lot of lessons to be learnt – especially on being resourceful – when you are camping. If I could gift my kids with one attribute, then I would wish them resourcefulness – with that you can obtain everything else.
• I want our family to be able to work together as a smooth unit and not end up some dysfunctional, detatched group of people who share a name.
• I feel alive and free looking up at the stars, surrounded by bush, in front of a crackling fire.
• One of my goals is to do the walk to Machu Pichu – a difficult 4 day trek in South America. It seems so big , so unobtainable at the moment, but I know with each walk we do, I am building stamina and endurance.
• Along our journey – before Machu Pichu – we will be walking the Cradle Mountains and the Milford Track.

So – there you go… watch and share our progress…