Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: RedLeader on April 15, 2016

Title: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: RedLeader on April 15, 2016
(http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/images/misc/kidscamping.jpg)

It's been a quiet start to the year, it's time for some outdoors fun. I have a young'un who's absolutely itching to get camping. So this May Day bank holiday weekend I'm aiming to take her for her first camp. Plan is to go somewhere easily accessible for kids, I'm thinking of the wood at Fofanny Reservoir where the Mourne Way comes through.

What : Family Camp
When : Sat/Sun 30th Apr / 1st May
Where : Fofanny Reservoir

I'm saying Fiesta but realistically, that's because Family Fofanny Fiesta sounds clever but I'm really just thinking of chilling around the fire and letting the kids cook sausages and toast marshmallows etc. If anyone wants to bring a Piñata and Quesadillas or sit around and talk about Ford motor cars then crack on ;)

Everyone's welcome with or without kids but we'll want to keep it kid friendly. Obviously if the weather looks dubious closer to the time then plans might change.

Please remember to read and accept the Safety & Responsibility notice if you want to come. You can find it here:
Safety & Responsibility (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=278.0)

Potential camp spot:
(http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/images/misc/fofanny-fiesta-20160430.jpg)
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: Dowser on April 15, 2016
Count me in..! My kids have been asking me to take them camping for months, but the weather has been awful  :'(

Everyone's welcome with or without kids but we'll want to keep it kid friendly.

I guess that means I wont be bringing my favourite toasting forks  ::)

(http://i.imgur.com/ioMiT6R.jpg)

8)
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: fourman on April 24, 2016
Gonna try and make this one with the youngster on tow , will be good to catch up with you guys again.
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on April 26, 2016
Redleader hopefully myself plus one if that's OK

Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: Heggs on April 26, 2016
Sounds great, I was going to bring one or two of my kids camping this weekend. Only thing is, my eldest has a sore ankle at the minute. Would there be much of a walk? If it's not far from the car then we can take it slow and you can count me in!
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on April 27, 2016
make that plus 2
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: RedLeader on April 27, 2016
Great stuff guys. Firstly, we're keeping a bit of an eye on the weather. It's been unseasonably cold and the Met Office can't seem to decide what is happening at the weekend rain-wise. I'm thinking we'll make a decision closer to the day when we can see a rainfall radar. Assuming it's only showery then I'd suspect we'll still go. Maybe if anyone who has a tarp could bring it then we could get a bit of a decent shelter up.

Heggs : It depends on where you want to park. If you look at the map above, there is a car park at the bottom that we're thinking of (it's at the Ott Track).  It's about half a mile from there to the camp spot and the last part is down a decent hill. It's basically following the red line of the Mourne Way. You could also park just on the road at the top of the forest, that's where we all parked at Xmas. However, none of those are secure car parks so everyone would be assuming their own parking risks. The closest secure parking is at Meelmore Lodge which is a bit further away. You can PM me if you want any more specific info.
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on April 27, 2016
Red
Ive got a spare tarp if you want me to bring that with the poles
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: Heggs on April 28, 2016
My daughters ankle has gotten worse so going to have to give this one a miss. Maybe next time  :-[
Red Leader, thanks for the info you posted
Enjoy yourselves guys!
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on April 29, 2016
Well Red is it on or off mate
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: RedLeader on April 29, 2016
I'm thinking I'll still crack on. The weather looks like a chilly-ish weekend with showers through Sat afternoon, dry Saturday night and showers again Sunday morning. Think I can deal with a bit of rain on Saturday afternoon, it's to be okay in the night and if it's too wet Sunday morning I'll just head for bacon and eggs at Meelmore Lodge 8) The wind is also in the SW which should mean Fofanny gets a bit of shelter.

Forecast here:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gceu3yrn3#?fcTime=1461974400

As Dowser sensibly pointed out, it's the Tour of Ulster on Sunday morning with cyclists coming by on the Slievenaman Road at around 11am so I'll probably not leave my car on the road. I'll park there, get the kit and kids down, then take it to the car park. Though I suppose if it was okay Sunday morning we could go watch the race come by.

I'd say I'll aim to be setting up camp around 3pm.

What does everyone think?

Well Red is it on or off mate
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on April 29, 2016
sounds good red however my plus 2 are not able to make it so will just be myself, you still want an extra tarp?
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: RedLeader on April 29, 2016
Yeah, that would be good if you could. I'll have one but another would be handy.

sounds good red however my plus 2 are not able to make it so will just be myself, you still want an extra tarp?
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on April 29, 2016
no problem, hammock or tent advised
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: RedLeader on April 29, 2016
Either would likely be fine but a tent would be warmer. Is defo a cold snap at the moment. Plus if it's showery in the afternoon, hammocks seem to take much longer to put up :)

no problem, hammock or tent advised
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on April 29, 2016
ok thanks mate
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: LandyLiam on April 29, 2016
Bought another new tent this week, probably my cheapest one yet (only £2 in a charity shop) sure its a bit old and heavy but it brought back a few fond memories of camping in the garden as a kid  :) will try and make it up tomorrow night to test it out in the wild.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2016/P1140372%20Medium_zps1nxxqej0.jpg)
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: RedLeader on April 29, 2016
Nice. A classic A-Frame and at a very reasonable price for 1968  ;)

Bought another new tent this week, probably my cheapest one yet (only £2 in a charity shop) sure its a bit old and heavy but it brought back a few fond memories of camping in the garden as a kid  :) will try and make it up tomorrow night to test it out in the wild.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2016/P1140372%20Medium_zps1nxxqej0.jpg)
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: whoRya on April 29, 2016
Enjoy yourselves peeps.  I've opted for a hard top this weekend and am car scanning.  I'll toast you all tomorrow night from the north coast.  Hope you get decent weather.
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: LandyLiam on April 30, 2016
Quote
Hope you get decent weather.

Theres no such thing as bad weather just the wrong tent  :o 8) ::)
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: whoRya on April 30, 2016
Quote
Hope you get decent weather.

Theres no such thing as bad weather just the wrong tent  :o 8) ::)
... in the wrong location  ;)
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on April 30, 2016
any fish in the dam ??
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: RedLeader on April 30, 2016
I have no idea whether there are or what the rules might be. There is a place close by apparently called "Fish Pass" and there is talk of fish in a river that feeds the reservoir.

any fish in the dam ??
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on April 30, 2016
Hmmmm might be worth a wee look
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: LandyLiam on April 30, 2016
Quote
Hope you get decent weather.

Theres no such thing as bad weather just the wrong tent  :o 8) ::)
... in the wrong location  ;)



 ::)
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: RedLeader on April 30, 2016
Very much hoping for lower winds  ::)

That's me leaving now.
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: Rumblebum on April 30, 2016
Hey Guys, unfortunately I can't make this one but hope you all have a cracking time, the weather stays good, and the wine is never ending!

Enjoy! RB. :)
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: LandyLiam on May 01, 2016
As usual I arrived late and was met by this lovely fella floating in the wind, it wasn't there to scare the kids, it was just to ward off the evil ghosts who roam the forest at night  :o
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2016/P1140112%20Medium_zpshbamaxlj.jpg)




Weather was nice, not too cold, so we only needed a wee campfire  ;D
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2016/P1140117%20Medium_zpsvoo4exdg.jpg)



In the wee hours Dowser decided to experiment with a little foliage
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2016/P1140126%20Medium_zpsdxtdqpky.jpg)



and this was the last known sighting of Dowser, all that remained was a little pile of dust which we filled our ashtrays with, just the way he would have liked  ::)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2016/P1140138%20Medium_zpsmaro0jao.jpg)



and yes the old ridge tent did make an appearance, I thought it coped well with the wet weather overnight, until I went to get out and found a big puddle beside the door where the old crappy zips had let in the water  :'( still not bad for the price of a cup of tea  :)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2016/P1140391%20Medium_zpsxgrk0oub.jpg)

Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on May 01, 2016
Great day and better night :BELLS: helped sort that out.
Was good to finally put faces to names and I think all the kids had a great time too,I know Codie did.
Again thanks guys for a great nights crac and look forward to the next outing. (hopefully I'll not forget too much the next time  :-[)



Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: Campervic on May 02, 2016
I have that same little Freeman tent! I wouldn't part with it for £2 - in fact I don't think I'd part with it at all.

I was away campsite camping in Jordanstown Loughshore and we had iffy weather. It was cold on the Fri night (I was cosy with EHU and a fan heater in a Bell Tent) and it was mostly dry with milder temps the rest of the weekend. There were a couple of sharp showers mid afternoon on both days (siesta time, so I didn't care) and it was nice watching the ships coming out of Belfast Harbour. Glad to see you all had a blast and hope you get many more wee camps fitted in this year with hopefully warmer weather.
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: RedLeader on May 03, 2016
Brilliant weekend guys, just what I was after. Charlotte loved every minute of it and slept all night in the tent with no bother, couldn't ask for more. Great to meet Davey & Codie, hope you both had a top time, looking forward to seeing you again. Shame I missed Liam but I was in bed at a respectable hour and as ever he was up and out at the crack of dawn  8)

I think I'll be getting pestered to get out again in the near future so lets think about planning another!

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Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on May 03, 2016
Yes Jonno had a great time  ;D apart from my errors packing lol  :'( and was great to finally meet, Codie has been pestering me about the next one since we got home so please don't make it too long of await or my head will be turned.

 Thanks
 Davy & Codie
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on May 03, 2016
Ps some great pics mate
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: Glenn B on May 04, 2016
Nice one guys looks like it was a great night.
Title: Re: May Day Family Fofanny Fiesta 30 Apr/1st May
Post by: torp on May 08, 2016
Guys do you think we could poss fit another in this next bank holiday weekend?