We trudged through hop field after hop field, along shady lanes and even a bit along the road. Barely noticing our surroundings and wrapped up in our conversation – a conversation that had been going for several hours now. Frequent breaks, hidden stashes of sweets, Special Brew and Benson & Hedges. A burning hot day and progress was slow. So slow that we were pulled out and transported to the campsite. Continue reading “The Power of Nostalgia”
I’m getting rid of my Golite Jam 50L, bought in 2012. It’s used (obviously), but still got many years of life left in it. For most of my backpacking needs I use a Gossamer Gear Mariposa which suits me fine for … Continue reading Golite Jam For Sale
I’m getting rid of my Gossamer Gear Gorilla pack, dyneema version, bought in 2015 just as the new robic packs were being brought in. It’s used (obviously), but not that much. For most of my backpacking needs I use a … Continue reading Gossamer Gear Gorilla For Sale
In my quest to make a dehydrated meal that isn’t bovine in origin, I finally got around to it, and set about a lamb dish we eat every so often at home. I was particularly drawn to this one because … Continue reading Tales from the Dehydrator: No 5 Lamb Tagine
I’m desperate to increase the variety in my dehydrated meals, as everything so far seems to be beef based, but recent attempts to introduce lamb have been thwarted. The meals I dehydrate are chosen to fit in with the household … Continue reading Tales from the Dehydrator: No. 4 Pasta Bolognese
My dehydrator, an Andrew James model, is marketed primarily as a tool for dehydrating fruit and vegetables and making a bit of jerky. It’s not explicitly promoted as a device for dehydrating wet food into backpacking meals. Nevertheless, before buying I’d seen that someone in one of the Facebook groups had successfully used one for this purpose, and I even managed to find a review of the product from someone who’d done it (although this took a lot of wading through fruit and jerky-based reviews). This is important as the Andrew James costs a mere £40, instead of the £150 plus you’d have to shell out for an Excaliber, for instance. So far, the cheaper solution has worked out fine.
Given that the popular thing is to use this for fruit and veg, I thought I’d give it a go. Continue reading “Tales from the Dehydrator: No. 3 Beans, Apples, Raspberries & Blueberries”
The dehydrator is washed and ready for action again, and having crafted this week’s menu specifically to generate a meal for dehydration, it’s time to get on with it. Today it’s Beef in Red Wine, a sort of poor man’s Boeuf Bourguignon. This is just the sort of meal I like to eat cowering from a biting wind on top of a mountain. I’m hoping it works… Continue reading “Tales from the Dehydrator: No. 2 Beef in Red Wine with Mash”
It may seem odd to plunge straight in and attempt a whole meal rather than just drying out some fruit or whatnot, but there are good reasons for doing so. Firstly Chilli is the one meal I’ve found is consistently … Continue reading Tales from the Dehydrator: No.1 Chilli
The curse of tent greed has struck again, which recently led to me taking an unwanted new MLD Duomid off someone’s hands. This means I am officially in trouble at home. Having said that, I do “need” a shelter that’s … Continue reading A New Toy
So I was reading this review by Catherine Redfern, aka London Hiker (@LondonHiker), and picked up on the point that these atlases include OS 1:25k mapping, which we all know is the best kind possible. I’d been vaguely aware the atlases existed but somehow this had passed me by. I had a look at A-Z’s own site for a bit more detail and the only potential flaw I could see with them was that the paper’s not waterproof. I happened to mention this on a tweet to @LondonHiker and all of a sudden A-Z were offering me a map (and case) to try out. Clearly they wanted to change my mind about these. Continue reading “Review: AZ Adventure Atlas”
By now anyone who’s stuck to rash New Year’s resolutions to get fit after the excesses of Yuletide is probably struggling to keep it up, what with the novelty having worn off and the generally depressing state of being back at work for a few weeks now. What’s needed is some additional motivation. Continue reading “Review: Hi-Tec Trek Go Activity Tracker”
It’s a little known fact** that the version of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist that we all know and love is in fact not the original version serialised starting in 1837. For instance, the most famous scene originally went thus…
…The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook’s uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the Ambronite was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The Ambronite disappeared; the boys whispered to each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbours nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery***. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:
“Please, sir, could we have gruel tomorrow instead.”
It’s been a couple of years since anyone’s sent me gear to review – not because I haven’t had the offers, but simply because I only accept those offers that fit into the type of activity I do and are the sort of thing I would at least consider buying myself. And being able to do the review justice. Continue reading “Target Dry Element Jacket – Updated Review”
In a recent post, I mentioned that I’m giving up on my failed experiment with the Trailstar, and switching to a mid instead – specifically, the Luxe Hexpeak.
The new shelter arrived on Tuesday and I had to wait a couple of days before the weather and the ground was dry enough to pitch and do the seam sealing. And I’ve now had a chance to pitch the shelter for a second time and get her properly ready for use in the field. Continue reading “Playing with the Hexpeak”
As revealed in my last post, I really haven’t got on all that well with the Trailstar, so I’ve decided to pass it on to someone who will and replace it with a shelter that’s more to my liking – i.e. one with a bit more headroom and an actual attached door. I also don’t need the acres of space the Trailstar has.
So anyone that’s interested in buying part or all of the following Trailstar setup, please get in touch. Continue reading “Trailstar For Sale”
