Camping Chaos

Time for another walk down memory lane.

As the Easter long weekend drew to a close I was reminded of all the wonderful times my family have spent camping. For almost as long as I can remember Easter was the dedicated time of year to get out the camper trailer, folded chairs and shower thongs.

The lead up was always chaotic. Mum would start buying food a month out and those big plastic containers would slowly fill to the brim. Dad was in charge of making enough ice to last us the four days whilst Cint and I counted down to welcome Mr Bunny.

Everything would come to a head the night before as we packed up what felt like our entire lives. There were collapsible cupboards, self inflating mattresses, suitcases, barbecues, camp beds, eskies and the kitchen sink. The trailer wasn't complete without bikes on top and gas bottles tided to its sides.

I used to love waking up the morning of our camping trips. It was always a little too early and the sun barely awake, the true essence of a road trip. Typically the other families would meet at ours before embarking on the holiday and we would inevitably leave at least half an hour late.

What follows are memories of the last 10 years.

My first ever camping trip was an absolute disaster. At this stage we weren't glam enough to have our own camper and were borrowing one off of our friends. I think the first few days were relatively okay but the last night was a absolute shocker. My parents had left and I decided to stay with a few friends in a tent. There was a massive storm, torrential rain and a flooded tent. I really don't know what encouraged me to go camping again after sleeping in a puddle.

We also spent many years at Borumba Deer Park in Imbil, our traditional Easter getaway. Whilst highlights include our camp being approximately 200 metres aways from the ice-cream freezer you can't quite beat the yearly disco and karaoke nights. The water rapids were also pretty great and I spent a lot of time canoeing in the creek. The worst part was being on the hill above the kids playground. There was absolutely no chance of a sleep in as kids were up at the crack of dawn.

I can distinctly remember one trip to Bundaberg where each family was given a radio. We were constantly talking to each other through the drive and it just felt like one big happy family. I think that is most important about these memories. Every time I think about our camping adventures there is a sense of togetherness and bonding. On this particular trip we left our dodgy campers and tents behind and lived it up in six secluded cabins. We had the entire place to ourselves with our own beach, cooking area and TV's. This has to be the pinocle of camping. I did however manage to get severely sunburnt on the first day and consequentially lived in my togs for a week.

On our last few camping adventures we opted for a three hour drive to Lake Boondooma. The lake was seriously impressive and this spot was extremely relaxing. I can remember finally be old enough to enjoy a few alcoholic bevies. The biggest let down was seeing everyone on the lake with their jet skies and boats whilst I was borrowing someone's canoe.

All in all these adventures have a very special place in my heart. Whilst I love 5-star hotels and living it up at the Gold Coast there is something significant about sleeping in a camper trailer with your family and having to walk a mile to the toilets. For all of the shower line ups and zip up the windows there isn't too much I would change about the memories I made.

Sadly camping seems to be behind me now as I work throughout the holidaying periods. Hopefully one day I can head back out to Imbil and show my kids just how fun those discos really can be.

#ashleighdwan #beyondthestory #journalism #camping