Thomas' first campside

We decided on a whim to go camping this weekend.  Well, on as much of a whim as you can decide to go camping when it involves two children, a full car boot and top box.  We gave ourselves a week's notice.  Marisca was so excited when we told her, mostly about her big green tent and the food that would be in it, and how we would go to a 'campside'.  And of course, that it was to be Thomas' first experience of camping.

So Elspeth booked a nice place 45 minutes up the road at Settle, close enough to jump in the car and come home if needed, but far enough to definitely be a weekend away.  We checked the weather forecast - showers and a bit colder than last weekend - and were away.

We had a brilliant weekend.  Great weather for the Ingleton waterfalls walk, bubbles and balloons at the canpsite, Marisca sleeping in until 8 on Sunday morning, fried egg sandwiches, ice cream farm.  Yes, it hailed while the children wailed as we were pitching the tent.  (They were wailing in the car, not in the hail).  Yes, Marisca's ready bed deflated so we needed to share our thin mattresses with her.  Yes, it was so cold overnight that the tent showered ice on me when I got out in the middle of the night.  But, yes, we had a great time, Tom enjoyed himself, Risky loved it, we've proven that we can take them both camping, the top box and roof bars ensemble worked well, we reminded ourselves yet again how happy we are to live in striking distance of the Dales, and we've now a plan for a weekend camping every month for the season.

I had three almost identical photos like this.  I had to delete two of them as having three made no sense, and it was very difficult to do.  What an amazing, lovely boy we have.

Risky enjoying climbing, again.  The campsite had two play areas, which was fun.  Both were really a little big for her, particularly the steepness of the yellow twirly-whirly slide.  I helped her to the top, and then she just... disappeared.  And then landed with a bump and a wail.  We didn't play any more after that.

The waterfall walk was lovely.  The sun came out but it was still chilly enough to keep too many crowds away.  Marisca mostly rode in the backpack but did do one big long walking bit, up and down steps and over rocks and roots.  I didn't take a tripod with me - a shame for the missed photography opportunities, but not a shame for getting home in time...

A rare full-family shot, courtesy of a kind stranger.  A nice family plus waterfall shot, if you ignore Risky desperately trying to keep her hat on, me quinting, Elspeth's hair going wild, and Tom staring off into the distance.

Another one of a cute boy in a ghost outfit.  What a sweetie.

The ice cream farm is so popular now, we never manage to get a table with less than 45 minutes waiting time.  Thankfully yesterday Marisca was very happy to play on the big outdoor play equipment.  Ladders, slides, things to drive, and she even had a go carting hay around (below).

Ready for an ice cream please Mummy...

And finally a first camping comparison.  Being born in November meant Tom had to wait until he was 5 months old before his first experience, whereas Marisca went at 3 months, and much sunnier it was in August 2010 too.  Tom has already dislodged one button from his ghost, and the way he fills it means we don't think it'll last the season.  A great shame!