Clive

Owner and author of Clive's Blog.

Trying new backpacking food

/ Backpacking, Camping, Outdoor Gear, Walking / , ,

Richard bought some different backpacking food to try out – we did not take it with us this weekend, just in case we didn’t like it. So I tried it for tea this evening.

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The food comes in a sturdy pouch, that will stand up and has notches for easy opening. You can cook it in a pot or in the bag and, if you pack a microwave you could use that.

I cooked mine in the microwave. Both Jeremy and I liked it. It was a good taste without being spicy.

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There was a good balance of lentils and beans to sauce. The 300g portion is a good size serving after a day’s walking, some crackers would soak up the sauce, or depending on your appetite noodles or rice.

Following this test we are planing to use these in future.

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Walking to Woodhall Spa from Coningsby pt1

/ Backpacking, Camping, Lincolnshire, Outdoor Gear, Photography, Technology, Walking / , , , , , , , , ,

This weekend I have a short walk planned with a couple of friends – it is a gear try out before we go wild camping next month.

Following the trip a couple of week ago, I spent last night making a better job of packing my rucksack and I have got my sleeping mat packed inside the Golite Jam, rather than hanging on the outside. The new compression sack and making a better job of fold/rolling my tent made this possible.

I have a new bit of gear for this weekend. Diana bought me a case to protect my iPhone from the elements as the Watatait Case failed on me whilst away in Scotland in January. I contacted Haglofs, who took the faulty case back and then quickly replaced it – however they did not have my model in stock and so supplied me with a larger pouch which does not have the transparent back panel so I cannot use the camera whilst in the case. However it is a good waterproof case and I will find a use for it in the future.

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The new case is less “hi-tech” than the previous cases I have used, but it is lighter and smaller. It has a velcro roll top and a padded interior to give a little more protection to the iPhone and has that vital transparent back so I can use the camera in the rain. However, contrary to the instructions I do not think it is 100% waterproof – but 100% weather proof – I would not submerse this case but I would carry it in my pocket and use it in the rain.

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I added the paracord and cord grip for security.

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Podcasts

/ General, Technology / , , ,

I am a great fan of podcasts stories and each week a I sync my favourites to my iPhone so I can listen to them whilst travelling between jobs. When walking I use my iPod, synced with the same podcasts and extra audiobooks.

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I follow Tony Smith’s Sci-Fi podcast and this week for the third year in a row, his Starship Sofa has been nominated for a Hugo Award (a pretigous, international Sci-Fi award).

StarShipSofa No 233 Gwyneth Jones | StarShipSofa.

Amy H. Sturgis

This show is particularly good – it has an excellent article by Amy H. Sturgis about English author Samuel Youd, he wrote The Death of Grass and The Tripods. The show also includes the story “Vicar of Mars” by Gwyneth Jones – this is a story that includes aliens and spaceships, what else do you need!

I have listened to several other really good podcasts this week.

Journey Into…: Journey #29 – All At Once by Nathaniel Lee.

EP339 – “Run,” Bakri Says : Escape Pod.

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