The Friday gang Wally campout

Its now a tradition that one of the many camping trips of the year is to Wally with all Lily's little friends that used to meet up on a Friday. With most now in pre-school and with parents working it was a slow start. I roll in just after midday and found our spot under the trees at the end of the site.



Within a couple of hours I was pitched, showered and sipping ice cold cider in the chair before falling asleep reading a book! Soon the tranquillity was shattered by the arrival one after the other of the five families joining us.



Much pegging and erecting and we had a little village of tents. Dinner was rustled up and soon it was bedtime for the small ones. Herding nine children to bed is never an easy task, but by the time it was dark most were snoozing away. Leaving the adults to natter until midnight.





Saturday dawned bright and sunny and soon everyone was up, pancakes were made for the kids and a variety of fried efforts fed the adults.







As is the norm we set off for town, coffees and lunches were taken to the Castle grounds where a picnic under the trees gave enough energy to climb to the top of the castle hill and back.







On to the splashpool to cool off and ice creams before the majority headed back to camp for the afternoon. A couple of us went hunter gatherer and bought meat for the BBQ.





With three hot grills going we turned £50 worth of meat into feast and left many with the meat sweats. Then a round of smores were served up, choccy biscuits with melted marshmallow in the middle.















With the knackered kids far easier to get into bed we again settled in for a night of natter and cider.





Rain greeted us on Sunday, but it soon cleared and after a mammoth breakfast of bacon, black pudding & mushroom wraps with optional fried egg we packed away dry. The children sat and read books and before long it was goodbye time.







We trundled into the town and parked up for a quick walk round and a coffee before the slow cruise back. It was another successful weekend under canvas/tintop. The adults got to relax (a bit) and the kids all played nicely, there were no broken bones (just!) and now the planning begins for the next one!



Steve.

The little Wally Campout

Another year rolls round and its time to start camping again. Starting off like last year I booked up a trio of pitches for us, Lily's friend Rupert and his family, our friend Steve and Kims old friend Emma. During the week the weather was slowly getting worse and Friday morning it dawned very damp. Undeterred the camper was packed and I headed the long way round to Wallingford.



Rolling in we were given a new pitch under some trees and pitched. The last of the showers eased up and the sun came out. With the three pitches filled we lazed out for the afternoon. The kids running together and the first of many trips to the old tractor.









After tea the temperature dropped as we got the kids ready for bed. With them all eventually tucked up we donned a variety of blankets and honchos to stave off the cold.





After a few hours chatter and freezing cold by now, the adults clambered under layers to sleep. A chilly nights sleep dawned sunny and bright. Awake we rustled up breakfast and planned the day.





The plan was the same as most years. Slow wander int town. Look round the shops, get some lunch and picnic by the castle. Let the kids burn off some energy up the hills before getting some meat in for a BBQ and relaxing round the campsite. First stop the tractor.







After raiding the charity and bookshops of town, Emma joined us from London for some food and a wander round the castle.









A trip to the local park gave the kids another chance to run around before we split up. Kelly took the kids back to the campsite for an ice cream. Kim and Emma headed for the fabric shop. Ian and myself headed for the local butchers. For years now we've been getting fantastic meat for here and once again they came up trumps with burgers, minted chops, sausages and ribs. A brief stop in the supermarket saw everything for a grand meal. Back on the camp, the kids were now providing a puppet show before the coals were heated and the cooking started.











We dined well. There was nothing left and everyone was stuffed. Once again kids were dispatched to bed and we wrapped up for another nights nattering. The conversation was very random and never to be repeated! As the sun set the camp was quite again. The predicted rain that had threatened the spoil the weekend finally arrived about 11pm










Sunday was wet, the rain came down as we got up, but eased enough for a"finish up the leftovers" breakfast before packing away damp.

 





Much bird poo was scrapped off the awning and gazebo (note to self, avoid those trees next time!) And we slowly loaded the Camper. With Kim on hike training, Lily and I headed off home, by the end of town she was asleep and only woke as I backed on the drive.



The sun shone as we arrived home so I rebuilt the camp in the garden to hose off and dry everything. Our next camp is over a month away at the moment. We can't wait.

Steve.