Basic but fun

One of my greatest enjoyments is getting out into remote areas and far away from other people; there's something quite special about being the only two people for hundreds of miles which makes a person feel small when compared to the vast expanse of planet that spreads in every direction. I like the challenge of it, the skills it requires and the freedom it offers.

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Australia can be a brutal and unforgiving place when one gets away from the populated places; there's deadly creatures, extreme terrain and weather and hundreds and thousands of miles of nothingness - meaning no people and support.

One needs to be prepared and have the skills and equipment (and the courage) to venture out there and I've worked towards being that guy so nowadays I feel comfortable and capable in the wilderness...I had to start somewhere though, it doesn't just happen, and when I first started doing this as a younger chap it was in a very basic way - but a lot of fun too.

Sometimes I had a tent, other times my swag and sometimes just the stars overhead and thin bedroll beneath me, but on each occasion I had fun, learned a little more, gained additional confidence and valuable skills; I also started to build up a good deal of equipment.

I wrote a post recently about looking at buying a new truck (4x4) and an off-road caravan to go with it.

I'll end up getting a set up that is very comfortable and which is suited to my needs at this stage of my life, plus very costly - fun isn't cheap sometimes. In that post I talk about sleeping on the ground and basic camping - I've done a lot of that especially in the early days - and I thought I'd share a few images.

I like simple things and sometimes it's the simplicity of the set up that brings greater enjoyment; it's a challenge, obstacles must be overcome be it packing light, space constraints in the vehicle or backpack, food and water, hunting, navigation, shelter, safety and many other things...putting myself in situations that require such problem-solving has taught me many things and I've enjoyed the process.

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I've been fortunate to have travelled all over the world and loved it but my travels within Australia have also brought amazing experiences and skills with the most basic of camp set-ups usually teaching me the most.

I'm the guy who can walk off into the wilderness with little in the way of equipment and survive, or have the best chance of surviving at least, something I'm quite proud of. Basic set-ups are ok by me, a bedroll under the stars for instance, and I still do it now and then especially on hunting trips with a mate or two but...yeah, some comfort is nice too.

Have you had any camping experiences you want to share? Either do so in the comments or do so in a post within the outdoors and more community.