If you go down to the Woods today......

 This summer has been a poor one for getting away in our van. Mainly due to the lousy weather and also by the fact the van was in the garage for 5 weeks having its gearbox being rebuilt.  So when we picked up the van last week I was itching to get away even for one night. Laura was taking Erin down to London at the weekend and the weather was set fair, so I decided to do a quick lads night away with my six yr old son Joel.
  After much head scratching as where to go, I decide on a spot just a few miles away in a woodland we'd been to before as a family. A few provisions were chucked in the van and off we set and since it was local we were there in less than 30 mins.. It was a lovely warm Autumn evening and it  didn't take long to make camp so we set off to hunt for blackberries near the lake. I kicked myself for not packing a fishing rod as the fish were biting.

  Our appetites were duly built ,so I rustled up some supper for me and Joel just as the sun was setting and shinning into our little clearing on the edge of the woods. Its funny how the mood of a woodland can change as darkness creeps into what had been lush canopy of green with pools of dappled sunlight.Once Joel was tucked up asleep in the Campervan I lit a fire to keep me company and cracked open a beer. I could see the stars through a clearing in the canopy of foliage and now and then a snap of a twig and a rustle in the undergrowth, as some creature scuttled by. At night I was glad of the campfire as my imagination played tricks on me with the dancing shadows all around.
   It may sound a bit spooky, but not really its just that last time we were here it was with a group of people and a more lively affair. I laughed at myself for letting my imagination run away, but then again I loved the peace and atmosphere compared to camping in an open field. I slept well that night as I watched the dieing embers of the fire from the comfort of my bed in the van
  Once again the mood of the woods had changed in the morning as I peered through the curtains..There was a swirling mist amongst the trees which spilled out onto the fields and a hazy sun was just taking the edge off the early morning chill.

  So if you've not tried woodland camping do it , but if you're of a nervous disposition take along plenty of friends and enjoy the "darker" side of camping...sweet dreams.