First night out for father and son (pic heavy)

[Sean the Prawn]

After meeting the one condition that I got a tent to prevent our precious firstborn from being snatched by the boogeyman and then having to acquire a huge bergen to carry all our gear in myself we headed out for the night, first time as father and son.

Destination? Somewhere in here:

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09001.jpg

Making our way in
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09014.jpg

Got set up and before we knew it, nightfall. Owen's job was to tend the fire. I bet there aren't many 6 year olds that get this job these days.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09016.jpg

Campfire conversation centred on Star Wars, whether the sun is hotter than a fire and why we don't go for a wee in the middle of camp!
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09017.jpg

Although it was a clear night, we were under a thick canopy so the woods were pitch black. There wasn't a hint of nervousness from Owen. The dawn was lovely.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09019.jpg

We weren't staying long next day so rather than light a real fire I decided to get a brew going on the hobo stove. The bacon went on after that, oh yes.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09023.jpg

Owen was snug as a bug in a snugpak meanwhile.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09024.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09021.jpg

He finally woke up and attempted a photograph of his Pa.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09026.jpg

Fully awake now and raring to go.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09032.jpg

Looking forward to being to reunited with his Ma. He had a great time. He even marked the camp spot by standing a funny shaped stick up against a tree so he could find it again.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09033.jpg

Man that bergen was heavy. I don't think my spine will be the same again!
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/campingmay09034.jpg

[psudovegetarian]

Superb Sean. I hope he enjoyed it as much as you obviously did.

[SimonM]

First of many I hope!

I remember the "firsts" with my two:


First night in a tent
First night under a tarp
First night in a hammock
First knife

It only gets better, for both of you:biggrin:!

Simon

[Intertidal]

Great stuff Sean. Owen looks like he had a great time.
I remember my first trip out with my Dad (must've been late 60's or early 70's). We camped on a beach near home, caught & cooked fish and found a seagulls nest with an egg that was just hatching. Now, nearly 40 years later those images are still clear in my mind - a great part of the father/son relationship.
Well done.

Intertidal

[Mike Bowler]

Looks like a good night out by all well done Sean and son

[jonno]

This looks like a great night out. I can't wait to get camping again - it's been ages (err, not counting drunken camping in the garden - wheres the shamed smiley ;))

[Bernie Garland]

Nice one Sean :)

Bernie

[sapper]

Brilliant Sean, start them young and they'll remember everything you teach them.

[Andy2112]

Nice one mate, looks like your son had a great time. :)

[nolightweight]

Nice one

[spiritofold]

If thats not a great advert for family bushcraft then i dont know what is! I bet he'll remember those times forever, good stuff ;)

[Cairodel]

Nice one, Sean.
Brightened my day up....:wink:

[Deerhunter]

If only more people did this sort of thing with their kids....
Reminded me of when I used to go out camping with my old man.

[Reddy]

Magic is that, what a lovely way to spend some quality time :):):)

[JonnyP]

First of many nights out now, I bet.. Nice one Sean..

[PJMCBEAR]

Fantastic. The look on his face, sitting with a brew, is great. How old is he? My boy turns 5 tomorrow and I'm thinking of taking him out with me this year. What do you think? I've got the gear for him, I just need to pursuade the wife.

[Andy2112]

Fantastic. The look on his face, sitting with a brew, is great. How old is he? My boy turns 5 tomorrow and I'm thinking of taking him out with me this year. What do you think? I've got the gear for him, I just need to pursuade the wife.


Do it Paul, i took my lad out when he was 3, now he loves camping. He moaned when we went normal camping over the last few days, he said he wanted to camp in the woods. I am trying to bring him to Rough Close for a meet sometime this year, only thing is i will be in a tent with him. :biggrin:

[Sean the Prawn]

Thanks for the nice comments guys, glad you enjoyed the pics.

Fantastic. The look on his face, sitting with a brew, is great. How old is he? My boy turns 5 tomorrow and I'm thinking of taking him out with me this year. What do you think? I've got the gear for him, I just need to pursuade the wife.

Owen is six years old. To be honest I was a bit worried he was going to get bored while I was doing things like setting up/taking down the camp but he found plenty around to keep his interest, climbing trees, looking for bugs, asking what the bird calls where and generally imagining all kinds of role play in the woods. He never got bored or restless once, I think it was a brilliant experience for him.

His mum was understandably worried about it beforehand though. I brought a mobile so I could let her know we were set up and he was happy, she said that helped her relax a lot. If possible it might be an idea to show your wife exactly where you intend to camp, then she can visualise it for herself. Us men are a bit more laidback about things like this because we can see there really is no danger, but for a worried mum her imagination can get the better of her.

[Addo]

Glad you both had a good time. Looking forward to taking my little one out soon, without all the car load of stuff we normally take "normal camping"

[countryboy]

Looks like a fantastic trip Sean. :) My lad is six as well and though we camp a lot, haven't wild camped like that, yet.

Well done sir! :)

[mortalmerlin]

Great to see you taking him out with you. I remember the weight of the rucksack when ours were smaller :)

[Sean the Prawn]

Great to see you taking him out with you. I remember the weight of the rucksack when ours were smaller :)

Yeh it was a good job we didn't go far. I had to be real careful with my steps. His dad twisting his ankle or worse in the middle of the woods with no one around would have been traumatic for him.

[scruff]

Nice work mate.

Looks like a fantastic place too. Just the kinda woods a young lad would love!!

[Simon H]

Great stuff mate, you do properly loaded up with taht bergen on.

[MrEd]

excellent, looks like you had a great trip.

Im gonna pinch an idea from your hobo stove to modify mine if you dont mind lol

[Sean the Prawn]

excellent, looks like you had a great trip.

Im gonna pinch an idea from your hobo stove to modify mine if you dont mind lol

Go for it mate. You've got to tell me what it is though!:)