Camping Q and A

lived day-to-day in a situation that resembles camping more than the households — with all of their modern, electrical conveniences — that we enjoy today. Spending some time out in nature can bring us back to our heritage. For some, it might have been as short as a couple of generations ago. For others, it could have been thousands of years since our ancestors lived primarily in the outdoors. But, if you go back far enough, somewhere back there your own ancestors lived and communed with the outdoors every day. It’s time for YOU to commune. Get the camping equipment out of the closet (or go ahead and splurge; get yourself some new gear) and get out of the house! This article will touch on some basic questions about what to expect during your own camping trips.

What type of things should I take with me camping?

Let’s see…you will definitely need to take some extra clothing and depending on the weather will depend greatly on the type of clothing you will need. You will need to bring along the following items no matter where you go camping: sleeping bag, food, water, small hatchet for chopping firewood and matches. Other items that some people pack are: coolers for food, fishing poles, tents and a radio to listen to at night. What you take depends largely on how you want to camp and what you want to carry with you.

Are there expeditions that involve camping?

There are some great expeditions that involve camping. Some try to make it a fun filled activity by including horse back riding, canoeing, rafting or even mountain climbing. You should check into some of the different excursions that are available. One of the most popular in recent years involves being flown out to a small island and then being left there for three days or so. You get to experience what true camping is like by providing for yourself during that time. If you are taking small children or elderly you may want to find a more sedate expedition that is a little safer.

What are the best things to eat during a camping trip?

Any store that sells camping equipment will also have a wide variety of freeze-dried food that is lightweight, pretty easy to cook, and surprisingly tasty. For shorter trips, foods like hot dogs and marshmellows are easy to cook directly over a fire and are always a hit, especially if kids are along. Camping and fishing go hand in hand; many folks love to catch some of their meals and cook them over an open fire. Foods cooked in the outdoors just seems to taste better. Maybe there is something in the air that adds a natural spice.

What are some additional tips for camping?

The best tip when it comes to camping is to have fun. This is your time to relax and commune with nature. It does not matter if it is at a camping ground or you have hiked into the middle of a forest. It is about getting away from the hustle and bustle of work and everyday life and just enjoying the time with your family. Kids love being out camping and it is a great way to show them the beauty of nature.

Bruce Manta

Barnet Tourist Guide & Travel Information

Barnet is a borough based in the North of London. For a historical guide to the area visitors can go to Barnet Museum which opened in the late 1930’s to showcase its local heritage. The museum is built in the form of a Georgian house where you can find archives, photographs, paintings and many more historical items that illustrate Chipping Barnet’s past. In the near future, there will be a display area highlighting the battle of Barnet which is currently in the process of being designed.

If you are looking for beautiful landscapes then visitors can go to Wrotham Park, which covers 300 acres of park land and actually sits between 2,500 acres of land, providing a stunning view of the garden landscapes all around. The commonly known place is the 22 acre field, Cow Park which is used primarily for outdoor events. The park features a large house which can be used for parties, meetings, presentations and all sorts of corporate events.

Another great park that may be worth a visit is Dyrham Park Country Club. The park is spread across 200 acres of beautiful park land and stands as a brilliant representation of Hertfordshire countryside. It is located 12 miles from central London with its feature being the Palladian mansion, built in the 14th century, initially occupied by a family and named after them as the ‘Manor of Durhams’. The local county council took ownership of the mansion in 1938 and the park itself became a place of interest by the 1960’s when Dyrham Park Country Club became formally established.

For shopping you can go to Brent Cross Shopping Centre, situated in the neighbouring borough of Brent. This is the focal shopping destination nearest to Barnet which houses over 120 popular retailers and high end brands such as Calvin Klein, Caroline Ferrera, Mac, Marc Jacobs, Mickey Jewellery, Sahara, Samsung, Schott, Sekonda, Jeff Banks, JD Sports, John Lewis, Tag Heuer, Ted Baker and many more exciting designers.

The value of customer service is monitored at Brent Cross as the stores providing the very best service are rewarded for their efforts. A mystery shopper is brought along every six weeks and this is how the level of customer service is calculated, bringing visitors the best results for shopping in the area.

For a more cultural experience of Barnet, visitors can go to the Chicken Shed Theatre. Here you can find workshops for 600 people catering to children and in addition to this there are education courses to facilitate over 100 students. From its opening in 1974, the Chicken Shed Theatre is a place which welcomes everyone from any age, race or background and the company has now produced over 100 performances.

The theatre showcases a diverse range of in house productions, many consisting of casts of over 250 members. There are a variety of dance pieces where the music used is Shed’s own creation and there are also shows stemming from adaptations of historical plays. Some of these shows are exhibited at larger Theatres such as The Royal Albert Hall, The Place, BBC, The Shaw Theatre and many more infamous and culturally renowned theatres.

By : Allan Muir