Tweaking with Lisa Curry Kenny

So the latest camping trip which I recently mentioned went well.  Yes, I think we are pretty much seasoned campers these days although looking around at the set up that others have, including some on our recent sojourn, it appears we pretty much have no idea.

Now my car is not small, but not huge.  However, Horse Girl manages to squeeze herself into the back seat with about 3 cm around her as breathing space.

After all, we have a few bits and pieces to pack.  This time, we didn't need to pack cooking gear as others had plenty, including a customised cooking trailer set up ( wtf???), so I thought there would have been a bit more space.

Not to be.

I did manage to transform myself into a baking queen in the few days prior to set off and this meant I had to fit the baked goodies in. As well as two eskies, filled with premade  meals ( I know, I almost scared myself!!!), there was the plastic box filled with food, tents, beds, doonas, pillows, towels, 1/2 a kayak ( just keep reading), a box from the liquor store, and three hammers ( don't ask, I don't know why!!!).

I said 'box' from liquor store didn't I???

So, on arrival, as mentioned the tent was put up within a matter of minutes.  Then upon looking around, we realised that ours wasn't so much a tent as a piece of nylon barely held up by a couple of plastic poles and a couple of ropes which looked like they were made of cotton elastic.

Home away from Home

Now I did sort of promise that I wouldn't mention real names, but there may be a few aliases thrown in here. Which will mean that some people KNOW exactly who I am talking about.  And I am also going to throw in aliases for the aliases so that even I won't know who I am talking about.

On looking around the team campsite, it was obvious that we were set up amongst glampers!  Carpets, evening lighting, countless iceboxes and some fancy schmancy chairs.  Even wardrobes.  I know.  And we thought we were fancy with our new air pump which blows up the kayak in  record time.

The tents/ camper trailers/cabins inhabited by both old and new friends were amazing. Of course, our little second hand tent did the job, mostly, until the last couple of days when but began to fall off.  Nothing major, just the doors!!!  I know, I am obviously a princess expecting  a door on my tent but needless to say, we survived, just.  On packing up I envisioned throwing the tent in the nearby skip bin but still feeling nervous about so many moves in so few years, felt I should hold on to it.  Mind you, we have been 'surfing the net' since returning home for the next purchase, so I am looking forward to binning that one.  But it did the job, mostly.

Now I know my idea of a holiday may differ to many others, but fortunately most of us had the same idea on this one.

Except for the tweaking.

Not, I didn't say twerking  although I can't but help think that Miley Cyrus could do with a good few weeks away camping by the beach and eating home made bread and raspberry loaf  than whatever building site apparatus she is currently straddling.  But I digress.

It appears tweaking is the new.......  Um.... Hobby???  Ensuring the tent is erected correctly, the poles and tent pegs have been inserted just so, and that the tarp is covering at least 83.7% of the tent whilst sitting at a jaunty angle is apparently the way to go.

And our neighbours!!!!!

Of course, I am saying this out of pure jealousy as this particular set up which had been tweaked within an inch of its life was the bee's knees. Unlike, the Country Gypsies set up which saw the door fall off, the front porch (well front cover thingy) continually fall down, and even the freaking pelicans decided to drop their s#*t all over our set up but not the others.

Now onto the water sports. Being the Lisa Curry Kenny whatever other surnames she now goes under of the Southern Highlands, I was very keen to get on, in or even under the water. Last year being the year of the walking stick did limit my surfing prowess somewhat so was very excited that out the back door of the tent we had the lake/river/some water and just a hop skip and jump away we had the beach.

Just me on a morning paddle

So once the Senior Sarge had inflated the kayak (yes, it is a blow up one!!!) with our newest camping purchase being the world's most super dooper air pumperupper thing, I was ready to go for a paddle to New Zealand.  Oh, but no, we had inadvertently left half the paddle at home (and no, the paddle doesn't inflate). Once the Senior Sarge advised me that the paddle did indeed fall out of the box in the garage and he wasn't sure if he did pick up all the pieces to it (no s@*T Sherlock) that the only place I was going was spinning in circles on the water.

After a somewhat decent dummy spit, Horse Girl and I ventured into downtown Kempsey and in to the fishing/camping/bbqing/ladies wear store where I duly asked for the cheapest paddle available. The young fellow then enquired what I was going to use it for.  My answer of a game of tennis took a few minutes to sink in where he then realised that this indeed was not an overly happy purchase but that I wasn't driving for 8 hours to pick up the one that was left on the garage floor.


After this, we then excitedly visited ALDI where I managed to find a camping bin for the bargain price of $8.99 so all was right with the world!!! (Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it).

Anyway, upon the return to the commune, I duly entered the water in said kayak with world's most expensive paddle (yes, it did cost more than the kayak) and off I went with my best Lisa Curry whatever impersonation.

Although the new paddle did work a treat!!!

Of course the latest water sport is not actually the blow up inflatable kayak but rather the SUP!!!! Yes, it took a while but this is the Stand Up Paddle Board. Now the Country Gypsies offspring did manage to do this when we had our pre-op sojurn up to The Bay last year and did it with aplomb I must say. Of course, most people start off on completely flat water but not these two thrill seekers, they did it in the wake of jetskis, ski boats, and those big bloody whale watch boats so when they got to have a go on these this time they were very skilled. ANd a huge shout out to the wonderful Aunty Jack and Mutley who kindly lent the SUP's to SS and HG.

Of course it is all I can do to actually stand up straight on solid ground at the moment so I just kept to the kayak (had to get my money's worth from that freaking paddle) but hope to conquer the world of the SUP next summer. Although I can't help wonder - is the SUP the new windsurfer?????

Anyway, enough for now. I have to go look at my new paddle again.  But stay tuned, once I can decipher my notes, there will be further instalments of the Hat Head Hiatus - although I am still unsure as to why a certain male has been given the nickname Bo Derek - don't see no plaits in your hair girlfriend!!!!


Lisa xox