By: Blonde Two
When I was a Girl Guide (I have already told you about my bedroll) my first ground sheet was one that had come from my grandmother (a most excellent guider). We don’t often carry groundsheets around these days, tents being what they are and having built in alternatives, although I do detect the rise of the ‘tarp’ which is surely just a lighter form of the groundsheet.
My first groundsheet was not rectangular, it had some odd corners and I think I even remember a button. Apparently it was a very clever item that could either be used as a cloak in the rain or as a sheet to sleep on. I never used it as a cloak (despite my tendencies towards Batman impressions) but was reminded of it as I chatted to the happy Scotland travellers pictured above.
Rather than coats, they had elected to wear dark green capes that covered their rucksacks as well. A grand idea I think, in Scotland where even sunny days have a bit of fine rain in them. They did look a tad scary though, walking towards me. I think that if it had been dark, I might have hidden behind a tree. They were looking for a bridge, I showed them it on the map and hope that they found it. What a great photo that would have made!
That has reminded me of my early camping days. My first tent, a heavy cotton Blacks Tinker, had no sewn in groundsheet so we used the bright orange cycle capes [they’ve disappeared as well now] that we walked in. Those capes were similar to the Ponchos, popular on the Continent, in your picture. Recall some awful damp nights on the Pennines but when you are 16 it is all an adventure and you made do.
Do you also remember water pooling in if you forgot to put the edge of the ground sheet over the sod cloth (I think that is what it was called?)
Incontinence comes to mind.
Probably your age…
The groundsheets, khaki coloured, did have a button that fastened up a deep collar – your funny shaped flappy bits. Starfire will remember that all four of us had them and did very occasionally dress up in them for extreme weather. They smelt quite strongly of rubber so I was quite glad when plastic macs came in. We also wore clear plastic rain hoods that concertina’d up into pleats. The tape tied under the chin and was itchy. Then there was the cagoule though my favourite was a beige cloth waterproofed anorak I inherited from your Dad when he grew out of it. Did I at any stage make you wear a navy blue gaberdine school coat? Useless garments that soaked up the rain and needed a flock lining buttoned in for winter that did little for warmth! My parents both loved their army great coats in my very young days. Bring on the gortex breathable light weight fabrics, I say!! Love, B2’s GM
B2’sGM do you remember the pair of us under one army cape, khaki coloured, rubberized, on Beer and Branscombe cliffs in a high wind, heading back to the chalet?
Capes are really useful – I made a bright blue one of rip-stop material. It’s very lightweight. It would have been better green for bird-watching. You can use them to disguise the fact that you are spending a penny, change into swim things under them and take the dog under in a hail storm. They get far less condensation than close-fitting jackets, but you do have to be careful not to get blown away. They go on over rucksacks, paperwork, field glasses, cameras, etc. Mine has a hood but you can duck down through the neck-hole and pull the hood over it, so that you have a mini tipi. Who needs an orange blob when they have that? I haven’t yet tried cooking under it, but spread out, it makes a decent sized tarpaulin for a shelter. I used eyelets and cords instead of other fastenings because they can be tent-pegged down. I have to admit it looks a little odd, but I am of an age to wear purple socks with green shoes if I want!