Gee on campsite showers.

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Following my earlier rant “Is it real camping” we noticed how different the facilities are in campsites around Europe. One consistant change since the 70’s though, has been that they have all improved. We have showers that have timers on them, some are movement activated, most have sparkling tiles and shiny mirrors above clean white sinks. Some have suites with your own sink, toilet and shower to meet all your needs. Great ways of saving of hot water and money have been found and a great step forward from days of old because there is actually ‘hot’ water. But where’s the fun, where’s the excitement? Showers on campsites should be a mini adventure, they should be a journey into the unknown and a conversation point for the evenings chat with other “adventurers”. Dee returned from a shower on this site in St Omer. “How were the showers?” Said I, “Ok” she said. “Water hot?” “Yes fine” “That’s good” – No it’s not!



A campsite shower should either leave the adventurer with hypothermia through lack of any heating or with one arm suffering third degree burns and the other with frostbite from the inconsistent temperature. You should also leave the shower with your hair unrinsed because the water stopped just as you’d ‘soaped up’! Hooks for your clothes should be designed to work for just long enough for the floor to get wet before they deposit your kit on it. The cubicle should be small enough to shower any remaining clothes hanging up with a side jet from the showerhead and the door should inexplicably open half way through leaving you on public view whilst with your eyes closed still trying to rinse you are completely unaware of the spectacle!

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