Coffee in bed
The lockdown wild camping experience – a trip to the back garden! However early morning fresh coffee in bed is still an essential part of the “trip”, before going in doors for breakfast.
Outdoor Gear
Craigellachie National Nature Reserve
click on the image for a larger version
Craigellachie National Nature Reserve is one of my favourite places to walk, in Aviemore, and it is very near to Scandinavian Village.
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Mug of tea
I have been working all day at Jeremy’s flat on his laptop. Last week, one of our suppliers failed to complete their part of a project on time, so I had to complete the Octagon part today. We will deliver the work to the client on schedule. It took all day as I also had to write a manual as I went along, so Jeremy did my shopping and provided lunch and dinner. But I did get the job done.
When I got back to the campsite, I knew rain was on the way, I’d driven through it, so I quickly settled into my tent.
It is now gently raining on the tent and time for some tea and a book.
Updated website image
I have been tweaking my lightweight backpacking cooking kit.
I have replaced my Alpkit Kraku stove with the latest version. I bought one of the original models when they were released in December 2013 and it has done excellent service, but the o-ring seal became unreliable in September last year. Alpkit sent me some replacement rings but they kept failing – the latest design has a higher valve assembly and a different type of o-ring. So it was time for a new stove.
I have changed my tea-towel for a lightweight pack towel, replaced the battered homemade windshield for another homemade windshield and found an even lighter lid to use as a chopping board.
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New Gear – Alpkit MytiPot 900
Diana and I are off camping later this year and I needed a pot large enough to make “tea for two”. It is made from titanium so it is light enough to carry backpacking if I want to cook a larger meal.
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Walking in the Rydal Valley
The weather improved today so I travelled a few miles up the road past Rydal, parked and went walking and geocaching. Geocache score for the day 2.
I think the rainbow is on Helm Crag
I crossed the river between Grassmere and Rydal Water and climbed up from there towards Loughrigg Fell. It stayed dry and sometimes sunny where I was but I could see the rain in the distance.
Loughrigg Terrace
At lunchtime I found a convenient bench, with a great view.
Grassmere
Alpkit cooking system with Sea to Summit pack and Platypus 1l roll up water bottle
I had a number of visitors when I stopped for lunch
Rydal Water
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New gear – Rab silk sleeping bag liner
The seams on my old silk sleeping had started to fail after over 15 years of service. I had repaired it several times but the silk was still giving way.
Jeremy and Michael bought this replacement for me for Christmas. It weighs less than the old one at 128g against 153g but is longer at 185cm.
Download my current itemised and weighed backpacking kit list here.
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