If there were an award for poor planning, I'd have been standing on the top step of the podium. Thanks to my own questionable time management, I didn't roll into Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse until around 4pm on the Saturday afternoon. The real kicker? I had to leave again first thing on Sunday morning. Not exactly making the most of a weekend away.

With everything organised at the last minute, I pitched up alongside Ged(i) and Team Chaos – a cracking bunch of volunteers who have raised more than £50,000 for charity since 2005. They're genuinely one of the nicest groups you'll meet at any event. In fact, if Ged(i) remembers to remind me (and I remember he's reminded me), I'll tell you more about the fantastic work they do soon.

Tent still packed away and camera in hand, I headed straight for the trade stands to catch up with a few familiar faces.

One of the joys of the Adventure Overland Show is the sheer variety of exhibitors. Alongside the usual array of overlanding kit, camping gadgets and vehicle accessories, there are always a few newcomers. This year one of those was Camping Cinema, who provide portable cinema packages for campers and campervans. It's certainly one way to make your campsite the envy of everyone else.

It was also great to catch up with Nigel from Pilgrim Campers, Mark from Nomad Campers and Anthony from Timeless Overland. Hopefully we'll be bringing you more detailed features on each of them in future issues. Anthony even mentioned the possibility of a trip to Normandy, which, as you can imagine, didn't take much convincing.

A wander through the campsite is every bit as entertaining as the show itself. Amongst the sea of tents and expedition vehicles I bumped into Rachel and Gazz from the Northern Monkeys 4x4 group. Sadly, I missed several other friends simply because the camping area is enormous. You could spend hours wandering around and still discover something new.

And that's really what makes this event special.

The campsite becomes an unofficial exhibition in its own right, showcasing probably the biggest collection of overland and adventure vehicles you'll find anywhere in the UK. Everything from home-built Land Rovers that proudly wear every dent and scratch they've earned, right through to towering 8x8 ex-military MAN trucks that look capable of driving to the moon and back. Whatever your budget or ambitions, there's inspiration around every corner.

Even the scruffiest-looking builds have clever ideas worth stealing.

By the time I wandered back to the Amarok, the smell of barbecues was drifting across the campsite, fire pits were glowing, beers were flowing and groups of friends were settling in for the evening. It's that relaxed atmosphere and genuine sense of community that keeps people coming back year after year.

For reasons that were equal parts practicality and comedy, I'd decided to leave all my larger, more respectable tents at home and bring my ageing Smartent instead. The moment Ged(i) saw it he burst out laughing and, quite rightly, took the mickey without mercy. I probably deserved it.

Tea was next on the agenda. Out came my trusty Coleman Unleaded stove, which found its usual place on the Amarok's tailgate while I heated up one of Muddy Madam's homemade Bolognese meals.

It would have been spaghetti Bolognese...

...if a certain idiot hadn't forgotten to pack the spaghetti.

As darkness settled over the campsite, Ged(i), myself and the rest of Team Chaos wandered over to the main marquee for an evening of live music and a few beers. That night's entertainment came courtesy of a Madness tribute band, who had the place bouncing.

By the way, if you're wondering why I insist on calling him Ged(i), it's because he has an almost supernatural dislike of Star Wars. Adding the little "i" to the end of his name serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever other than making me smile every single time.

Eventually tiredness caught up with me and I made my way back to the tent.

Considering its size, the little Smartent performed brilliantly. It was admittedly a snug night's sleep, but perfectly comfortable. My only mistake was forgetting just how cold the ground can feel through its base on a chilly night. A sleeping mat would have made all the difference, so that's definitely going on the packing list next time.

Sunday morning arrived cool, damp and just a little too early.

After immediately knocking over a full mug of coffee, I approached the second brew with considerably more caution before enjoying a bacon and egg butty while contemplating my less-than-graceful start to the day.

Sadly, there wasn't time for one final wander around the show. I needed to be at Volkswagen UK's headquarters in Milton Keynes by around 10:30am, so after saying goodbye to Ged(i) and Team Chaos, I packed everything away and pointed the Amarok south.

My visit may have been ridiculously short, but it reminded me exactly why this event has become such a favourite. Whether you're into full-blown expedition trucks, rooftop tents, campervans, green laning or simply throwing a sleeping bag in the back of the car and heading off for the weekend, the Adventure Overland Show has something to offer.

If overlanding, camping or adventure travel is your thing, it's an event that deserves a place on your calendar.