I went out to the Blankney Walks today – but before that, this was the view from the office this morning.
There is a useful picnic table near the car park with good views. I brewed Chai tea, on a solid fuel stove I keep in the car and read a book in the late autumn sun.
I missed the rain whilst I was walking and during the tea break although I could see rain around me – however when I got back to Branston there was rainbow.
Just like last week I walked along the River Slea, with a haversack load and made coffee but this time I went in the other direction from the car park.
The wind shield I made earlier this week was a success.
No coffee bags this week – I packed a titanium Sierra cup and I used the drip method.
So I tried the other section of the path but to be honest it is not as interesting as walking through the woods last week.
Walking along the River Slea Read More »
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
3 I then carefully add water to the brim of the strainer and let it drain through.
4 It takes about 100ml to 150ml of water to make a strong brew. I top up with hot water.
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!
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 »
As I had the day off because of the American Football, I made bread and went for a walk, took some photos in what may be the last of the summer sunshine and made some coffee. I grabbed my Finnish haversack and some lightweight gear and headed out before the rain came. (Some of this blog was written whilst I was walking and some when I got home.)
Coffee
I found a log down by the river to sit on to make some coffee.
I have a small twig stove from Bushcraft Essentials, in my cook set but I use gel fuel in it, and use a Burt’s Bees tin as a burner. I carry the fuel in a re-purposed hand sanitise bottle. It makes a truly lightweight brew stove when out walking – when the tin/burner is brim of fuel it can heat about 250ml of water hot enough for coffee, noodles or soup.
Rather than use the ground coffee and tea strainer from the cook set I chose to use a coffee bag – this brand from Taylors makes a good strong brew in the amount of water I had.
Weir and lock
Well there was a lock, weir and associated machinery here in the past.
I used the Camera+2 app for the long shutter speed motion effect.
More Walking
Gear in the Haversack
For lightweight trips the Finnish Haversack can hold enough gear and I use it rather than one of my small rucksacks in the summer when I do not extra clothes and gear.
Contents today:
The little pouch is well packed for a trip like this but when I am on longer trips or away the lanyard and whistle are in use so making the rest of the items more accessible.
All images made with my iPhone 12 Pro Max which I carry in a belt case for lightweight trips like this.
Walking along the River Slea with lightweight gear Read More »
Alyssa and I cooked our lunch outside on the camp stove – bacon sandwiches – one with peanut butter the other with tomato ketchup – I had tea and she had chocolate milkshake.
Having seen a similar lens on the BCC Countryfile I purchased this lens from, of Amazon! You cannot beat the service – ordered after Countryfile on Sunday evening, delivered to me just after 4pm on the following day.
A quick look through this blog shows I make a lot of close-up images – one of my most viewed post is one featuring a series of close-up shots of bees. This lens should get me closer.
Here are some photos using the lens this morning:
Here is the lens:
It disassembles for carrying and to allow for accurate placement over the iPhone camera lens – hence the second lens cap. (I am going to put some brightly coloured stickers on the small lens cap for when I drop it!) A small draw string carrying bag was also provided.
Excerpts from the manual:
I have only used it for a trial in the garden this morning – handheld, with the wind moving the roses. I shot about 15 images and two were usable.
I have a small tripod and a smartphone clamp which I plan to use to steady this lens whenever possible. The lens, tripod and clamp are light enough that I will catty them when out walking.
I know there will be some image quality lost by using an accessory such as this and if I was still working as a professional photographer that would be a consideration, but I take photos for the challenge of making good images and the fun of it.
Watch out for the close-ups in future posts.
Macro Lens for my iPhone Read More »
Headed out for a walk today. it rained a bit but not so much to stop a lunch stop.
