camping
Camping was fun, so much so I shall devote to it an entire update!
Niall and I decided, due to lack of Electric Picnic tickets, to have our own camping trip. So off we set at about 7 o'clock on Friday night to find a spot. We drove for a long long time, and eventually came across the Guinness estate. You can drive around the side of the cliff and look down at the house by the lake, its so beautiful, one of my favourite views... Nothing artificial about it, just the lake, the mountains, the blue mist. We pulled into a little spot somewhere up a mountain anyway, headed off into the forest, and pitc1hed the tent on some slightly too-slanty ground beneath the pine trees. It was... an experience! Despite the slantiness, it was comfy enough thanks to the squishy pine needles. Also, we were sleeping on top of a sleeping bag when was made of very slippery material which meant we sort of slid over to one side of the tent.
We awoke early, breakfasted and headed off towards bray. We stopped at Djouce (what a place name) along the way to scope out a possible second campsite but didn't find anything too brilliant. We decided to wait until we got the guys and then find one all together.
So after the inevitable mix-ups, pickings-up, detours to Everest Music, Tesco and the chipper, we rounded up Damian, Rob, Stuey, Chris and Des and headed off towards Trooperstown. This is a good place for camping- everyone take note! There's a wide shallow river with a bridge across it- however some thoughtful soul also put stepping stones in place, across which, we, of course, decided to cross. So I had to jump from rock to rock with an enormous rucksack on my back, and a huge bottle of water in one hand. I almost very nearly fell in, but I made it! And so did the others, much to the disappointment of the 2 groups of people watching in astonishment... In fairness we were all wearing army-style clothes, carrying many many bottles of beer, and Des had a little Mr. Bean style suitcase.
We had spotted a clearing across the river so we hacked through the trees, climbed, crawled and stumbled until we found it. But it was worth it, it was a perfect camping spot, right beside the river, surrounded by trees. So we were protected from all angles from the knackers near the car park. We all pitched camp and started a fire, then it was revealed that I was pretty much expected to feed everyone seeing as how only Stuey and Niall had brought food. So everyone happily consumed my pasta, my stir in sauce, my brownies, my cookies, my cereal bars, my bread, and used my knioves, forks, spoons, plates and cups... good thing I was there or they would have been rather hungry...
Des amused us all by putting on a pink satin corset and climbing trees, but then decided it would make a ncie flag so we stuck it in a tree. And what else. We played Never Have I Ever, then tried to tell ghost stories which didn't go down too well... the art of storytelling certainly appears to be dead and gone unfortunately. I'll have to learn some for the next time.
It was a great experience though, just sitting around the smoky campfire, drinking and chatting. No cars, no lights, just the fire and the trees and the wind. And I got to curl up next to Niall and fall asleep.
Leaving and packing up didn't take as long as I had expected, but its never as fun and arriving and setting up. And I was home in time to get ready for work, and shower. The shower was particularly important! I smelt very smoky.
But all in all, camping was fun.
Niall and I decided, due to lack of Electric Picnic tickets, to have our own camping trip. So off we set at about 7 o'clock on Friday night to find a spot. We drove for a long long time, and eventually came across the Guinness estate. You can drive around the side of the cliff and look down at the house by the lake, its so beautiful, one of my favourite views... Nothing artificial about it, just the lake, the mountains, the blue mist. We pulled into a little spot somewhere up a mountain anyway, headed off into the forest, and pitc1hed the tent on some slightly too-slanty ground beneath the pine trees. It was... an experience! Despite the slantiness, it was comfy enough thanks to the squishy pine needles. Also, we were sleeping on top of a sleeping bag when was made of very slippery material which meant we sort of slid over to one side of the tent.
We awoke early, breakfasted and headed off towards bray. We stopped at Djouce (what a place name) along the way to scope out a possible second campsite but didn't find anything too brilliant. We decided to wait until we got the guys and then find one all together.
So after the inevitable mix-ups, pickings-up, detours to Everest Music, Tesco and the chipper, we rounded up Damian, Rob, Stuey, Chris and Des and headed off towards Trooperstown. This is a good place for camping- everyone take note! There's a wide shallow river with a bridge across it- however some thoughtful soul also put stepping stones in place, across which, we, of course, decided to cross. So I had to jump from rock to rock with an enormous rucksack on my back, and a huge bottle of water in one hand. I almost very nearly fell in, but I made it! And so did the others, much to the disappointment of the 2 groups of people watching in astonishment... In fairness we were all wearing army-style clothes, carrying many many bottles of beer, and Des had a little Mr. Bean style suitcase.
We had spotted a clearing across the river so we hacked through the trees, climbed, crawled and stumbled until we found it. But it was worth it, it was a perfect camping spot, right beside the river, surrounded by trees. So we were protected from all angles from the knackers near the car park. We all pitched camp and started a fire, then it was revealed that I was pretty much expected to feed everyone seeing as how only Stuey and Niall had brought food. So everyone happily consumed my pasta, my stir in sauce, my brownies, my cookies, my cereal bars, my bread, and used my knioves, forks, spoons, plates and cups... good thing I was there or they would have been rather hungry...
Des amused us all by putting on a pink satin corset and climbing trees, but then decided it would make a ncie flag so we stuck it in a tree. And what else. We played Never Have I Ever, then tried to tell ghost stories which didn't go down too well... the art of storytelling certainly appears to be dead and gone unfortunately. I'll have to learn some for the next time.
It was a great experience though, just sitting around the smoky campfire, drinking and chatting. No cars, no lights, just the fire and the trees and the wind. And I got to curl up next to Niall and fall asleep.
Leaving and packing up didn't take as long as I had expected, but its never as fun and arriving and setting up. And I was home in time to get ready for work, and shower. The shower was particularly important! I smelt very smoky.
But all in all, camping was fun.