Camping Beds

In the summer of 2005, we loaded up the kids and joined a bunch of friends for a long weekend camping trip out at Rushing River. Rushing River is a fantastic camping spot. The campsites are spacious (most have electrical), the washrooms are clean, the beaches are sandy and close to the campsites and Rushing River boasts a wonderful waterfall that the kids just love to play in.

My parents decided to join up on our camping trip. However, they travel in the ultimate of comfort and style, in their 21 foot motor home, complete with full kitchen facilities and four piece bathroom. The rest of us were left to rough it in our tents, in true camping style. We had a great a time. Just before the trip, my husband and I invested in an eight-person tent. It was so roomy and even had a divider to make two separate areas for sleeping. My husband, our two children and I, took one side, while two buddies of ours slept in the other. We had full privacy and plenty of room - room enough in fact, to fit the best thing of all: blow-up camping beds!!

I think, those camping beds are what made for the success of our trip. In the past, we've tried roughing it by either sleeping on the floor of the tent with just a sleeping bag, or trying to make do with slippery, rubbery air mattresses. Neither of these options made for a restful night, and more times than not we awoke grumpy with stiff backs or a crick in our necks. This year we were smart and brought along enough camping beds for everyone. These beds blow up nice and firm and have a soft velour coating to prevent you from slipping and sliding off onto the floor. Also, this coating prevented the noise of people moving around trying to get comfortable, with skin rubbing on plastic. Getting such a good nights sleep meant that most morning we woke up bright and early, refreshed and ready for a new day of adventure.

Of course, my parents slept like babies as well, safe and sound in their motor home. However, I am still of the opinion that true camping has to include sleeping in tents, without running water and bathroom facilities within arms reach. So, I am very pleased with our discovery of camping beds. It takes the added edge off sleeping outdoors, and makes for a much pleasanter experience all around.