My first Solo Camping experience with Big Red Tent

“2019 is going to be a Travel year. I will go with the flow and let life unravel.” I uttered these words at the dawn of 2019. Post an eventful 2018 where I had to shelve my travels plans, save up for the wedding and tend to other commitments, I am back chasing my dreams and doing what I love the most, travelling.

January, this year, flew by before I could even blink. Moving houses, settling in and adjusting to new surroundings taught me the theory of relativity. I had to make Feb count and I could not find any better way than to kick off my travel year on an adventurous note. I planned a visit to a nearby spot for the hubby & me to relax for a bit, but who knew that he would cancel my plans at the last minute due to some unforeseen circumstances. As fate would have it, this turned out to be my first Solo Camping trip of 2019, albeit a short one. Sometimes things do happen for good! Lol (Yay)

A bit of online research returned some camping experiences in Maharashtra and I stumbled upon “Big Red Tent”. They have various sites across the state. Since I would be travelling alone, I wanted something easily accessible via local transport, not only to cut down on travel expenses but to make it a convenient one for my first Solo camping trip.

Why I chose Vasind for My First Solo Camping:

I picked the Vasind site for camping with Big Red Tent. Located on the banks of the river Bhatsai, this one is a two-hour drive from Mumbai. With close proximity to Mahuli hills, Vasind is an ideal location if you are keen to trek to the nearby forests, explore the village side or simply relax at the campsite and soak in the solitude.

How to reach Vasind BRT site:

A smooth 23 mins metro ride to Ghatkopar station followed by a local train journey from Ghatkopar railway station to Vasind station. You can board a Fast Local (Kasara) or slow train (Asangaon) and alight at Vasind. The overall train journey took me around 90 minutes.

Once you have crossed Kalyan (5 stations before Vasind) you can inform the host who will arrange for an auto to pick you up from the Eastern side of the station. The site is just 10 minutes away from the railway station.

The Camping Site:

The campsite has been segregated to accommodate different types of campers: families, larger groups & solo travellers.

Initially, my tent was pitched in the family area with noisy kids running around. Wherever I go, I tend to attract the crankiest kids of the lot. Maybe I was a cranky kid too when I was growing up (weird magnetism). However, I wanted a peaceful stay away from the noise and din. The host was kind enough to entertain my request and quickly moved me to a quieter zone, closer to the wilderness. An unobstructed view of the lake with a personal bonfire, it couldn’t get any better.

Activities at Vasind BRT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Go Kayaking:

Since I had reached early evening, I decided to go Kayaking just before sunset. It was beautiful out there and my first experience on a Kayak. It was not easy and requires some muscle. How I wished I was a gym rat and had stronger biceps, sigh. It was fun, nevertheless, except for the few times when I struggled to navigate and rowed haplessly.

Binge on Barbecue:

On a cool windy night, when the red hot coals are sizzling to form a wavy curtain of smoke, there is only one inevitability; the barbecue is set to begin. The skewers were set to be brushed in some butter and tossed on coal. The waft of aroma in the air had the campers scurrying to the barbecue site for some delicious Veg and NonVeg Bbq skewers and kebabs, followed by simple homemade dinner. The Food was flavourful and made with love.

Listen or share your stories at the Campfire:

I met many like minded people at the campfire gathering; some shared stories, some strung the chords of their guitar & some sang along. The host, Wayne, joined in as well. Among other things, he is an avid traveller and nature lover, and had plenty of travel stories to share. It was a fun night post a hearty meal.

Enjoy the Little nothings of life:

The campground has a Silent hours rule from 11pm to 7am. I called it a night after spending some relaxing time at the nearby hammock watching the stars and listening to the music in the wind. Aah, the feeling of contentment 😊

I was up early the next morning and wandered around the lake with a cup in one hand and a book in another. It had been a long time since I had gone somewhere alone. I just sat there enjoying the little nothings of life.

The breakfast was simple and homely. The camping package includes Dinner and breakfast. However, if you decide to reach early or check out late you can request for lunch as well which is on chargeable basis, worth every penny.

Important Tips to remember:

• If you are planning to go by train, do check for Mega Block as weekend train schedules are affected and you wouldn’t want to get stranded at the station. I checked out late in the afternoon and travelled back by road with Wayne and his family who were kind enough to drop me till Borivali.
• If you prefer complete solitude, visit on weekdays as it usually gets a bit crowded on weekends.
• You can carry your snacks along as they have fixed and limited options for breakfast.
• Ask for less sugar in your coffee, mine was way too sweet.
• During the colder season, carry a shawl / scarf, socks to cover yourself as the evening gets chilly and you’d have mosquitoes for company.
• Go there and just unwind, sometimes a simple place is all we need to clear our minds and soul.

For my first Solo camping experience, it was a pretty good one and I can’t wait to explore more sites in the near future.

Have you ever been camping? Let me know your experience as I look out for my next camping destination.

Until Then,

TheWickedSoul

Read about my next Solo Trip here