lightweight stove

South West Coast Path walk

I parked in the same place I did on Saturday and walked north(ish) towards Bude – taking as many opportunities as possible to make images.

The light was particularly good as the weather was overcast – so no hard shadows but it did mean the distance was a bit hazy.

First order is the day was find somewhere for breakfast with a great view. With this is mind I found an out of the way drop in the cliff down to a spot – out of the wind but where the main sound was the crash of the waves.

Cliff top spot
This hollow kept me out of the wind
Breakfast on the cliffs
Cliff top breakfast stop
Backpacking food for the day
Food for the day

The plastic box is an up-cycled cake box. Breakfast was home baked wholemeal bread with cheese spread and homemade plum jam. Of course I brewed fresh coffee.

The biscuits (Oreo’s and breakfast biscuits), apple and fried rice is for lunch or snacks. In the box is also milk, curtesy of the hotel, a vegetable stock cube and soy sauce.

South West Coast Path
Rick Strata
Strata
South West Coast Path
Waves

On the way out

South West Coast Path
South West Coast Path
Rick strata
Strata

Lunch is here.

These sheep came to see what I was doing whilst I was eating
South West Coast Path

The Storm Tower

The Storm Tower Bude
The Storm Tower Bude
The Storm Tower
The Storm Tower Bude
The Storm Tower Bude

Bude

South West Coast Path Bude
South West Coast Path Bude
South West Coast Path Bude

On the way back

South West Coast Path
GCHQ listening post
GCHQ listening post in the distance
Lower Longbeak​ Cornwall
Lower Longbeak
Black and white misty coast

South West Coast Path walk Read More »

Walking – Lincolnshire Coast

I went out to the Lincolnshire coast near Saltfleet and Rimac, walking along the beach and across the sand dunes.

Lincolnshire Coast​
Lincolnshire Coast​

Coffee Time and new gear

A new 1.1l water bottle, a nesting mug with a lid, all titanium. The canteen carrier has a shoulder strap and belt loops and a pocket for the lid.

It was a birthday present from my family.

It is excellent. Lightweight, sturdy and well made. The carrier is snug, put the mug and the bottle in first then slide in the lid and cinch down the restraining strap.

The bottle provided water for four hot drinks throughout the day.

Lincolnshire beach
Razor clam
Razor clam
Lincolnshire ciast
Dunes and sky

Walking – Lincolnshire Coast Read More »

Chicken walk

Walking today started in Kirkby Green, went out past a chicken farm and then on towards Martin.

Chicken farm
Ditch crossing
Silverstone muddy field with tracks
Footpath in Lincolnshire

I found a great quiet spot for coffee, a Milky Way and a chance to read for a while.

Coffee stop​
Coffee stop
Lightweight bushcraft cooking gear in a Finnish haversack

I made the coffee today using a Taylor Coffee Bag rather than using my homemade coffee filter. The stove I used was my mini bushcraft wood stove with Fire Dragon fuel.

Alpkit 400ml titanium mug/cook pot​
Alpkit 400ml titanium mug/cook pot

Lightweight walking kit

The gear, including a folding stool, monocular and bush hat,went in my Finnish haversack. Some first aid items, a compass, lighter, coffee, sewing kit, a length of cord, Victorinox field Sharpening stone and duct tape went in a small belt pouch. My Victorinox Camper knife and mini Leatherman went in my pocket.

Today I only needed 500ml of water and a mini Milky Way for a short walk but I could have carried more water, lunch and a waterproof jacket in the haversack.

Railway footpath crossing
Railway footpath crossing
Autumn colours​ and an empty field
Autumn colours and an empty field

Chicken walk Read More »

How to make camping coffee?

I was planning to go out for a lunch time walk and brew some camping coffee but the weather had other ideas – too much rain.

On a recent walk the wind shield I used was not effective so I was going to test out a new one I made from a used food tray. I moved the test to the doorway of the summer house office.

Making camping coffee in the office

The wind break was cut to fit tightly around a Bushcraft Essentials mini twig stove when using an up-cycled Burt’s Bees tin as a gel fuel burner. As the fit was close I punched some air holes low down and on two sides for air flow.

Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox
Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox with homemade wind shield

The idea of this stove is for me to have the makings for camping coffee or soup in my lightweight cookset bag. There is a very small gas burner in the cookset but no gas – the gel fuel for the Bushcraft Essentials stove is carried an up-cycled hand sanitiser bottle in the cookset stuff sack.

Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox adapted for gel fuel
The Burt’s Bees tin for the gel fuel – alight!

To test the stove wind break I made coffee.

Making Camping Coffee

There are many gadgets on the market for making coffee when camping – I have a 750ml titanium bush pot/cafetiere for when I am car camping – but when backpacking and walking I like this lightweight solution.

For a while now I have been using a plastic tea strainer as a reusable coffee filter (see my camping coffee page). Since I wrote that page I have cut down the handle and made some cut-outs so the filter sits level.

Tea strainer adapted for making camping coffee
The notches keep the filter level

The process I use is:

1 I fill the strainer mesh with ground coffee until it just covers the the plastic rim.

2 Wet the coffee grounds and then wait a minute or so.

Camping coffee wetting the grounds
For the best results the coffee grounds need a little hot water and a rest!

3 I then carefully add water to the brim of the strainer and let it drain through.

Coffee for camping in a small strainer coffee making gadget
Care is needed when filling the strainer so it does not overflow

4 It takes about 100ml to 150ml of water to make a strong brew. I top up with hot water.

Ground coffee when lightweight backpacking or camping
I never drip all the water through as it is not necessary

5 I take mine black and no sugar when camping – but I do carry coffee creamer and brown sugar for caffeine and energy boost.

This gadget and method only generates used coffee grounds to dispose of, no paper filters and there is no comparison when it comes to the weight or price of this coffee maker when compared to other backpacking/camping coffee gadgets. And it can be used as a strainer as well!

Light and simple bushcraft coffee gear
This is an excellent coffee making kit for my haversack gear

The 30ml Nalgene bottle shown in the photo when “tap” filled (start to fill the bottle and tap it to settle the coffee grounds and repeat until no more settling happens) can hold two measures of ground coffee.

The Wind Shield

It worked better than its predecessor, keeping the heat on the mug. It will also fold up small enough to store in the stove slip case with the stove and the Burt’s Bees tin.

The next test will be later in the week when I can get out for a walk.

How to make camping coffee? Read More »