CICO 2012 Attendee Tips: The Outside

So CICO 2012 is over (for me anyway, have to work tomorrow, some lucky people are staying longer) but part of my personal "mission" <grin> while I was there was to ask anyone I met what accessory or tip they have to suggest. Everyone had wonderful suggestions. Almost all of them are already covered on this forum in other threads, but I'm going to mention them again.

There were so many wonderful tips I'm going to break them up into groupings, from the inside out. So here's CICO 2012 Attendee Tips: When Camped / Outside

- Some type of galley protection, there were suggestions and types for almost every situation:

>> single, just stopping to make lunch, pouring rain, but don't want to get soaked nor put anything up? a tarp attached to galley with clips, just enough to let you stand there and make something.

>> REI alcove can be put up by one personhttp://www.rei.com/product/794290/rei-alcove-shelter

>> Most of the others are sturdier and may need multiple people to setup--but they can be almost luxerious. Screened in, or full walls, etc. I saw a Northern Breeze, and a couple Coleman

- Wheel chocks... but not just any old wheel chocks. get lightweight aluminum ones so they are super lightweight

- washline (to put up between trees or any other stationary objects) -- because no matter what, something is going to get wet.

- solid folding chairs--the type with the attached side table. Because sometimes those camping chairs just aren't that stable. http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Deck-Chair-with-Table/dp/B0055QFQ58

- bungees, bungees, bungees. Just keep an assortment -- they can be useful for so many things.

- tealights, just those little candles that only last 1-2 hours? quite useful and so cheap to just have a little picnic table light.

- RV-type carpet; the type that allows water and most dirt to just fall through. Search for "Awning Mat" if you are web searching--because mostly people want them to put under their RV Awning.

- if you don't have the side tent (or don't want to bother that night) just use a bamboo-placemat; those things roll up small, and you can roll out of bed to put your shoes on using that as a platform instead of the dirt. You might want two: one for bedside, and one for your shower "kit" so you can stand on that instead of whatever might be in the shower changing area. Or even three... one for the shower changing area, and one for the shower itself. I've seen them in any of the xyz-Mart type stores.

- If you have the side tent, check out this thread for the pvc pipe floor stabilizer dyi kithttp://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthre...age=1&Main=357&Words=PVC&Search=true#Post2083 Jenn mentioned that the pipes are just a bit too long to go into the front storage area, so she may modify hers to have additional joints midway lengthwise, just so they can be stored in the camper storage box, instead of in the back of the car.

- over the fire grill ; if you like to grill over wood flames occasionally, this is an easy kit to carry.http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Campf...ch-Diameter/dp/B000NQ5VKU/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2

- Carry with you a quasi-emergency 1 lb tank of propane. Nothing is sadder than running out of fuel when dinner is only half cooked.

- This is more of a tip of what to use those bungee cords for: If you happen to have an REI Alcove, and it is pouring rain, perhaps you've noticed that the roof tends to bow from the rain puddling in the roof sections. Use bungees to make "rafters" from the roof line at the top to the low side. That supports the 'roof' enough to allow the rain to flow off nicely instead of making a pond.