| What is it which makes an otherwise sensible | | | | difference between camping and roughing it. |
| family leave a modern home in the suburbs with | | | | A few creature comforts are almost essential to |
| all its mod-cons and substitute it all for a canvas | | | | a successful and enjoyable camping trip, especially |
| roof, leaky airbeds, camp stove and dig-your-own | | | | if it involves the whole family. |
| toilet? | | | | Kids really enjoy the experience and the freedom |
| I guess there are many reasons depending upon | | | | of being outdoors and they can learn much from |
| the individual - all of the cliches; getting back to | | | | the experience. Even getting involved in the daily |
| nature, bonding with the kids, the adventure or | | | | chores is more appealing than it is back at home. |
| perhaps, just to prove that you can survive | | | | My very first camping experience is still indelibly |
| without the cyclic defrost fridge, or the VCR. | | | | etched into my mind - it was without doubt the |
| The fact is that if you want to experience some | | | | most miserable, uncomfortable, generally |
| of our best unspoiled parts of Australia, you have | | | | unpleasant night that I have ever spent. At the |
| to consider camping. That's because these great | | | | age of 10, I had just joined the Boy Scouts and |
| places are often accessible only by camping. | | | | we all know their motto of "Be Prepared". Well, I |
| Also from a fishing point of view the increasing | | | | wasn't! I didn't have a sleeping bag or ground |
| pressures on our fisheries means we are often | | | | sheet, just a couple of blankets and in the |
| seeking out the same remote places. So it's not | | | | torrential downpour of that night, the tent took in |
| surprising camping and trailer boat fishing often go | | | | water in astonishing quantities and deposited it all |
| hand in hand. | | | | on me, regardless of where within the tent I |
| Certainly towing a boat can restrict some of the | | | | moved. |
| areas you can safely access, however you can | | | | It wasn't a great experience for the others either, |
| still get off the beaten track and stay there for | | | | but because they had the right gear they did |
| some time. | | | | remain comparatively warm and dry. |
| Having said that, the trailer boat can be a | | | | Overall it was a good lesson. Sometimes, even |
| restriction. For example we recently took the TBF | | | | with the best of plans and intentions, things can |
| Edge tracker up to Fraser Island for a week of | | | | still go terribly awry and having the appropriate |
| camping and during that time covered much of | | | | gear can see you through it with less discomfort. |
| the island, often with the boat fully laden. | | | | Be warned though, sooner or later it will happen - |
| We ran into trouble only once and that was trying | | | | the unforeseen southerly buster accompanied by |
| to negotiate a very steep and soft exit from the | | | | the sudden appearance of animals lining up two by |
| beach. After traveling many hundreds of | | | | two! |
| kilometers on mainly soft sand tracks towing a | | | | A few years ago at Port Campbell in South |
| trailer with small diameter, narrow wheels and | | | | Australia we were literally blown away when a |
| next to no clearance was a challenge. However, | | | | violent storm with gale-force winds hit during the |
| despite that it's amazing where you can get to | | | | night. The travelling tent that we were using on |
| with a little care and patience. | | | | that trip was simply not up to the task of |
| One huge advantage of taking a boat is it allows | | | | withstanding wind strengths over 100 kph. |
| you to carry the extra gear which makes the trip | | | | Very few tents would have survived this gale to |
| all that more enjoyable. | | | | be fair, but I believe we would have had a better |
| Be Well Prepared: | | | | chance in a modern dome style. We at least |
| Whatever the reasons, there is a real thrill and | | | | found out just how quickly we could pack up the |
| loads of pleasure to be derived from camping. | | | | site, or rather what was left of it. |
| However, I also have to add that there is a | | | | |