This post is part of the A to Z Challenge.
Well here's the little twist to my letter K post - in spite of having enjoyed many weekends in my Kampa Minnis, three weeks ago and just a few days before Easter I bought myself a new tent!
This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing but a well-considered decision based on a fair amount of internet research and several visits to various camping stores within a reasonable distance from home. I didn't really want to buy a new tent but I needed to get a new one; the Minnis has served me well over the last three years but it has one fault - I can't stand up in it properly. At just less than 5ft tall I'm already halfway to being a midget, and as the top of the tent touches the top of my head I've found myself stooping when moving around in it, so much so that not only am I in danger of becoming a complete midget I also get dreadful backache which has become worse the last few times I've used the tent.
So, a taller and more spacious tent was needed and my research led me to the Vango Midas 400. Again this is a 4-person tent and the same vis-a-vis design as the Minnis but with larger bedrooms, a larger living area, and a height of almost 6ft; my local camping store had a blue one in stock at a good price so the purchase was made and I pitched it for the first time at a site in North Wales at Easter. It was really easy to put up and though it's not a big tent compared to the size of some the space inside is enormous compared to the smaller Minnis; in fact if I left out the bedroom pods I could easily pitch the Minnis inside it.
I spent four very pleasant and sunny Easter days in my new Midas and was really pleased with it, in fact I felt rather like a kid with a new toy - and with the new-found space and height I didn't suffer one single twinge of backache at any time, so I'm now looking forward to spending many more weekends in it. I must admit to feeling a bit guilty though - while I enjoy future camping trips with the Midas my cute little Minnis will be left lying in its bag, unloved and unwanted in a corner of the garage!