Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,
What is it about campers and getting up at silly-o-clock? Hubby Jack and I have been on the road for six weeks and haven’ managed to sleep through the grey nomad ‘larks’ past 7am! We were excited to pack in work, and hit the open road but this “up and at ’em” mentality is driving us bonkers. We’ve just changed the sound of the alarm clock for the sound of hale and hearty travellers banging, crashing, whistling, greeting, and laughing at ludicrous times. I used to get up at 6.15am so I could get the train into the city. These days that would seem like a sleep in! I understand some people want to go sightseeing, bushwalking or watch the sunrise … but do they have to make such a racket! What is the appropriate time for campers to get loud?
Amanda
Campgrounds are full of all sorts of travellers with different habits. As a rule though, fellow campers are pretty respectful of each other’s space and traditional curfews such as the 10pm ‘quiet time’ rule are generally well observed. Unfortunately, for Jack and you, there is not really such an established ‘morning noise’ time, and travellers do tend to be early birds. Perhaps you could try using earplugs or maybe your bodies will just re-adjust to the rhythm of the road and you too will start going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. It is a lifestyle which is really set up going to bed and getting up with the sun. And, who knows, after a few more weeks of shaking off the exhaustion of a lifetime of working, you might want to take those early walks and enjoy those sunrises.
Jaclyn
Don’t get me started! I think the sound of some early riser scuffling along in their thongs to the amenities block is right up there with fingers scratching down a blackboard. Horrible. And all of these unnecessarily loud and annoying cheerful morning greetings must be against some sort of law. I would suggest you spend more time in remote campsites but those blasted kookaburras can be even louder – and even earlier – than the Mr and Mrs Cheerfuls. Just tell the offenders to have more consideration. I bet you don’t broadcast how much you love being asleep, so why do they advertise how much they love being awake? What’s the appropriate time for people to make noise in a campground? 10am sounds about right, Amanda.
Heidi
