The shame:
Our ginourmous tent by
marcus_jb1973, on Flickr
My girlfriend
insisted suggested we got a larger tent, tables, chairs, that sort of thing to enable us to setup camp for a week, not worry too much about the weather etc.
So, I dutifully purchased a Vango Calisto 400 (including, luxurious carpet for the front section!). I've only ever owned lightweight tents - so this one was a bit of a shocker at 15kg (Cass has already pointed out that the trailer we use touring on the tandem is rated for 40kg!).
We've just spent the week down in Cornwall in it - and I have to admit, it was brilliant. It was nice just to be able to sit on proper chairs, eating, chatting etc. in the front section - no matter what the weather. I do however feel I need to undergo some sort of penance - let's say maybe riding my bike through France sleeping only in ditches?