Fully Loaded
The boot on my MX-5, fully loaded for a three night camping trip this weekend.
outdoor gear
Walking – Easter Bank Holiday
Work conspired to stop me camping this weekend – but the weather has not been great so not camping is not so bad.
Walking in Lincolnshire
This morning I took the MX-5 and headed out towards Stickney avoiding any main roads. There is a good place to park in Stickney that leads into a network of footpaths across the fields and passes some interesting sights!
I did not see anyone else on these paths so I felt confident I would not be disturbed if I set up and sat on one of the stiles for my mid morning coffee break.
After several more miles of walking in very poor light for photographs I found a good place to stop for lunch. For a change lunch was a small tin of vegetarian sausages in spaghetti in tomato sauce, crackers, banana and tea. When cooking in my titanium mug, it does not matter how much I stir the food, it always sticks. But it was worth it to have something different for lunch and it does not take much work with a scouring spong to clean the mug afterwards.
Although it was not sunny, I did drive home with the hood down!
Walking – Easter Bank Holiday Read More »
A very wet walk – but a dry Finnish Gas Mask Bag
I chose the very worst time today to go for a walk! I had planned to walk down to the river and make some tea there, before walking back to the office and getting on with some work. I did not make it, the rain was so hard I turned back.
In the positive side I was using my Finnish Gas Mask Bag and it did an excellent job of keeping my Army water bottle, sit mat and backpacking cooking gear completely dry. The only thing to remember, to keep the rain out, is to make sure the lid is fitted correctly when fastening the bag.
The sun came out once I was back in the office!
A very wet walk – but a dry Finnish Gas Mask Bag Read More »
Walking in Lincolnshire
Whilst the weather was good this morning I grabbed a few bits of gear in my Finnish gas mask bag and headed off across the fields near home.
You can see my waterproof jacket strapped to the front of the Finnish gas mask bag using the elastic web I have sewn on to the front of the bag.
One of the pieces of kit I regularly carry when I walk is a pocket sized 10×20 monocular and this morning it came in useful for watching the hares whilst I stopped for my tea. Sitting quietly, hidden, in a gap in the hedge (to get out of the wind) and once the dog walkers had passed out of sight the hares came out, racing across the fields. I saw at least two hares and a selection of rabbits.
Walking in Lincolnshire Read More »
Sunday morning walk – Finnish Gas Mask Bag – First Aid Kit – StarShipSofa
New kit today – Finnish gas mask bag.
I got out this morning for a short walk around the village, just as the early morning mist was lifting. The day was much warmer than I expected so the heavy coat I had on was too much. I had saved this week’s episode of StarShipSofa to listen too whilst on this walk. There was interesting short story in this week’s show a mix of Philip Marlowe and E.T.
There were snowdrops everywhere I looked.
Tea and a Finnish Gas Mask Bag
I found a spot in the sun, tucked behind some bushes and out of sight of the many dog walkers who were out.
I had packed my gear in a bag I bought on my recent visit to Morecambe. There was an excellent stall in the indoor market selling Army surplus at exceptional prices. As well as this bag I bought some military gloves and a Norwegian wool shirt. He is not on the internet or email and just sells in this market, so if you want a bargain you have to go there.
I think this shoulder bag was originally designed as a gas mask bag, for the Finnish Army and is new, having never been issued. It is a useful size, with a third/two thirds divider in the main bag and a selection of smaller pockets inside with snap down flaps. The main bag lid is shaped and also snaps shut securely.
There is plenty of room for my backpacking cook set, water, food, sit mat and first aid kit and pockets for smaller bits of gear.
I have sewn some paracord loops on the bag so I can attach extra gear or a wet waterproof using elastic cord. I also want to add some stronger loops on the bottom of the bag, again to allow me to carry extra gear. (See here for the loops in action.)
The Finnish gas mask bag came with a waist strap, which I have carefully cut off. I did not think I would use it and just looping the belt up made the back of the bag uncomfortable to wear.
This will make a great bag for day walks – I have used my old British World War II gas mask case (which I bough when I was 11!) on some short trips, but age has started to catch up with it.
Sunday morning walk – Finnish Gas Mask Bag – First Aid Kit – StarShipSofa Read More »
Website updates
I bought an Apple iPod Touch yesterday.
This will be a useful bit of kit and supplement my smartphone when I am walking, backpacking or camping.
Read about this and other updates to my backpacking and camping gear for 2015
Water treatment methods and their effectiveness
Whilst browsing Pinterest this morning I found a excellent document published by the USA government organisation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about water treatment methods. This is a particularly useful, one page pdf description about the ways to treat water when wild camping and their effectiveness against various water borne pathogens.
Water treatment methods
a guide for individuals intending to use untreated or poorly treated water as a drinking source
Link to the CDC page – A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment and Sanitation for Backcountry & Travel Use.
More about water – Backpacking water, bottles and bladders
Water treatment methods and their effectiveness Read More »