It’s been decades since either of us have camped in the proper sense of it. Getting back to basics is very special, although some of our friends and family think we’re mad, but there’s nothing new in that. Madness tends to follow those who embrace it, and we do that with gusto!

Packed with almost the kitchen sink, the car groaned it’s way on a circular route to our destination. We took the via path to view our tent once again in its pitched state at the place where we had purchased it a few weeks ago. Having viewed the end result, we headed straight to the place and space where we’d put our rusty tenting skills to the test, not far away from home, just in case we had any problems.

The campsite we chose is Cobleland, a forestry commission site near Aberfoyle. It lies adjacent to the River Forth, with pitches for tents and caravans on the river banks. First impressions were most favourable, and having checked in, we headed straight to our pitch and began to lay out the elements of the tent. Given that we hadn’t eaten since a very early breakfast, a quick bite and a cuppa were the order of the moment, before we set too to erect our home for the next few days.

We’d read reviews by other purchasers of the tent, and knew that following the instructions attached to the tent bag was a useless pastime. Tenting knowledge from years gone by flooded back as each pole was pushed into place, and each guy-line unfurled to become hooked to an angled peg.

We didn’t fall out, the air wasn’t blue and within an hour and a half, the tent and it’s inner sanctum were in useable condition, albeit a bit of tweaking was needed later on to adjust angles and make things a bit tighter.

Empty and new it looked pretty good, which was more than we did, with sweat dripping off our reddened faces. We were pretty tired, but we had succeeded and were pretty pleased with the outcome.

Then of course we had to bring in the ‘stuff’ of camping; the gear that turns a clean, new, and tidy space into a home from home. Beds, sleeping bags, chairs, food, utensils, cutlery, trays, tables etc. etc. etc. By the time we were ready to have lunch, the place looked like the proverbial tip!!! Home from home it certainly was!!!

The facilities at the site are excellent, beautiful loos and showers, useful washing spaces for dishes and clothes. We visited them in turn, then visited the dog walk THREE times much to Dougal’s delight. He has had a swim, we were tempted, and we’ve cooked and eaten our first meal on our wee stove. It was an unusual mixture of curry, beans and nan bread, finished off with a cup of brandy ( with lemonade added) some dates and a bit of cake.

The birds are still singing as they have since we arrived. Fish are still leaping to the surface of the river, and lots of creepy crawlies are around and about waiting till darkness comes before making their way into crevices and corners. Joan reckons our sealed inner tent will keep them out, but I keep telling her they’ll find a way to gain their prey!!!

All in all a great start to our new enterprise!!

End of day one…….