Be Prepared
Tents!
For reasons that I’ve forgotten but seemed to make sense at the time, I got the notion to take our tents out of storage in the garage and pitch them to see what kind of condition they’re in.
We’ve never been a camping family as such. There were early adventures in tents at the Cambridge Folk Festival, but we haven’t been there since 1985, and that was followed by a disastrous trip to Devon which would have been wonderful had it not been torrential rain for much of it–torrential enough to breach the waterproofing on the Vango tent we had with us.
Inside the Zephyros
The three we have (I thought there were four but seemingly not) were bought for specific purposes. One, which has survived a remarkably long time, was a cheapy from Tesco bought for the sole purpose of being something for the kids to play in and occasionally camp out in the garden. There’s also a good Coleman 3-person tent that I bought for a Holmfirth Folk Festival, knowing I’d probably need the space for wet gear (and I was correct: that was a wet weekend as well). It’s too heavy for walking with, but in very good condition otherwise.
midnight sun
The third is a Terra Nova/Wild Country Zephyros 1, a very lightweight one person tent I got for a spot of wild camping up in Sutherland that didn’t happen in the end. It’s only been used once, on a trial run in the garden to learn how to pitch it. It is snug for me (I’m 5’10” or thereabouts,) but it’s OK. Of them all, this is the one I’d still like to get some use out of next time we get to the Highlands, and preferably Sutherland and one of the remoter beaches).
I did have a fleeting notion to sleep out there tonight, just for the novelty of it, though what the foxes would make of my snoring I don’t know. A difficulty is the time of year and the light. The third picture was taken from my bedroom last night at midnight, looking northeast. This is not a problem if you’re on a West Highland beach slathered in midgie cream: it is an issue in a suburban garden with sufficient distractions to prevent sleep without the added one of the light.
All three are staying out tonight as there is rain forecast for overnight. This will let me know that they are all still watertight. Assuming they are, I’d like to get some more use out of the Zephyros at least.
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And I don’t have much more to say about today, except I continue to be worried about family and friends in the US as the CDC has now said there is just ‘too much virus’ there to control.
The coronavirus is spreading too rapidly and too broadly for the U.S. to get it under control as some other countries have, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday.
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Music: It is now 100 days since we went into lockdown. I’ve posted something here every day since 15 March, which has not always been easy. I’ve put a piece of music here every night since about then too, and, as far as I know, haven’t repeated myself.
Anyway, some comfort music for Tuesdays
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