Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Primus windshield

Last week I bought this wee bit of kit from Bob & Rose at Backpackinglight. Tested over this weekend in the Lakes, I can say that it works a treat, and when not in use it clips, inverted, over the canister, so it takes up no more room in your pack. In fact, many pots and kettles will still allow the canister to be stowed inside with the windshield fitted over it. Perfick!

And to make the stove much more stable, for the past couple of years I have been using the Primus canister foot - a sort of fold-up tripod that clips on to most sizes of canister.

The saving on gas, time and the added safety and stability are well worth the very small weight penalty. 60g for the wind shield, 23g for the canister feet. You can buy them both from Backpackinglight

Monday, April 26, 2010

The 2010 Daunder

It was a thoroughly splendid affair, with a fine route and finer company. As readers of Mike Knipe's report will have noted, speed is absolutely not of the essence in this enterprise. Pleasant walking, fine views and any opportunity for a quiet snooze or a drink and a bit of a natter are the main ingredients. Plus a test and review of the kit, a gentle stretch of the sinews and a check that liver and kidneys are up to the rigours of the two weeks in May that are the TGO Challenge.

I'm delighted to report that all came through with flying colours on a thoroughly convivial daunder.

Words cannot describe ... so here are some pictures (you can click on any picture for a bigger view if you wish). The map is courtesy of daunderer in chief, Alan Sloman.

 
The route for the 2010 Daunder


Assembling at Gt Langdale campsite,   Lunch in Langdale Combe,   Heading to Stakes Pass

 Campsite at Stonethwaite

Getting dressed after a night at the inn proves a challenge


Dock Tarn,      Alan approaches Dock Tarn,      John Jocys on Low Saddle


The team on High Raise,   Gerry takes our photo,   Alan takes in the view from Sergeant Man

Last night - party at Shirl's place

Sunday was not quite as sunny as promised by the met men - Stickle Tarn

So we staggered down the dreadful path to the New Hotel, ambled back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll for lunch, and then we all went home. 

Tired, yes. 

Happy, for sure.

Thanks to all the daunderers for a great weekend!!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Blue door, what’s that secret you’re hiding…?

It’s almost the end of the TGO Challenge, and after swapping tales and enjoying the convivial atmosphere at Tarfside, you face the steady plod to Edzell (and the joys of the Tuck Inn) and then maybe take the path alongside the post office to find the ‘Shakkin’ Brig’ and eventually the long road to North Water Bridge Campsite.

So far, so familiar, and if you’ve done this a couple of times before ... so boring!

Here’s a detour from the familiar trade route, offering stunning riverside scenery, woods and wildlife – and no cow dung! Plus its all quite hidden away from the trudging column of footsore (and probably headsore) Tarfside wayfarers.

salmon sculpture on ruined bridge pierAnd it begins for us at the ‘Rocks of  Solitude’.

It was the name that attracted me – Rocks of Solitude. So a few years ago I diverted from the usual Challenge route on the track west of the river and crossed the bridge at NO574753 and hopped up onto the road. About 3k down the road there is a sign to the ‘Rocks of Solitude’ and, as you descend to the river, an information board which gives no real hint of the delights to follow.

The beautifully constructed path, hacked out of the rock by napoleonic prisoners of war, generally keeps above the river gorge; there are smaller paths down to fishing beats, but the main path is pretty obvious. The woods above teem with wildlife and birdsong, the North Esk crashes wildly through the rocks below. This is a salmon river, and its value to Victorian and Edwardian sportsmen is marked by the salmon sculpture on the rather beautiful ruined bridge.

It’s just over 2.6k before the path leads you to a blue door set in a wall. It’s a little low door – rather hobbit like. You pop out through the blue door and suddenly you find yourself back in the real world – on the B966 at Gannochy Bridge with cars whizzing past.

Roger Boston and Alan Sloman enjoy an ice cream in Edzell
But although the main highlights are over, the walk continues in a pleasant enough fashion. Cross the bridge and take the path on the opposite bank which leads all the way to Edzell and the Shakkin’ Brig, threading through beech woods with fields to the right and the river surging along its rocky bed below on the left. Walk past the wobbly suspension bridge and bear right to emerge in Edzell high street next to the post office. Then turn right to amble down to a well earned bite and cuppa (or even an ice cream) at the Tuck Inn.

This delightful little diversion adds about 1k at most to the ‘conventional’ route. I enjoyed it – hope you do too!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Gearing up

It happens every April. I think I've got everything I need, and then something happens to suggest otherwise. this time it was the ill fated Peebes to Moffat walk , and the experience of sleeping on compacted snow. Frankly, the 11 year old 3/4 Thermarest was a tad inadequate for my old bones - cold tootsies and an achy hip by morning that even whisky induced anaethesia couldn't entirely hold at bay.

So on a shopping expedition yesterday afternoon in search of Miss W's "summer shoes", I strayed into Cotswold and enquired if they stocked the Thermarest Neoair. A young chap produced one (ready inflated) and invited me to try it out ... bliss ... sold... my credit card floated out of my wallet.

I guiltily drifted out onto the street where Miss W strolled up and said, "I've got my shoes, but they were a bit over budget".

Phew - I might get away with this after all!

"Don't worry about it", said I magnaminously.

She spotted the bag.

"What's that?"

"Er ... it's a mattress"

"I see, I've been skimping on shoes and you've just spent - well?"

"You just said that you hadn't skimped on the shoes!" (Touchez!) " Tell you what, I won't ask about the shoes, and you don't ask about the mattress."

"Alright - deal"

Arriving home, Miss W tried out the Neoair. "What do you think?" (silence) "I said, what do you think?"

"ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

Nuff said Lovely piece of kit - and 90 odd grammes saved too!

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