 | | |
| | |
|
Spaces home  puppy's worldPhotosProfileFriends |  Tools   |
|
|
June 28 The reason why i have done so little walking this yearWell the reason for my lack of trips this year has been the fact that we were house hunting earlier in the year.On good friday we found a house and our offer was agreed. well now we are ready to move.This week we exchanged on the house and we move in on the 12th July. So life is rather crazy at the moment and of course the weekend after we move is the uk bloggers meet on dartmoor which i hope to go to but it may just be too close to the moving in date. a lightweight mountain bike tripLast weekend i finally managed to get out for a overnight trip,but with a difference. We have been talking for years about doing a overnight mountain bike trip and finally we managed to get our acts together and do it. One of the deciding factors was that we now have light enough kit to fit into small bags. There is nothing worse than riding a bike with a big heavy pack on.
So last friday i finished work early and met up with a couple of friends at East Croydon and headed down to the surrey hills. Friday was in fact the summer solstice and even though we did not get to see the sun rise we hoped to see it set but only if the weather behaved its self. We caught the train to Gomshall and were soon in the green of the countryside and could feel the stress of london life washing away. No sooner had we started riding though and nature decided that it would rather rain and a fine light rain started. We were heading for Holmbury hill and half an hour later we entered the forest that cloaks most of Holmbury.A short climb up and we soon found our camp spot for the night,sheltered under a young oak tree. A flurry of activity had the tarps up and a cup of tea on.
Later on we headed up to the top of Holmbury hill to see what the views were like and if we were going to get any sunset,but the rain continued and the clouds showed no sign of a break. The one great thing though was having the hill to ourselves as this part of the world get very busy at the weekends with walkers and mountain bikers.
We headed back to our campsite and got our dinner on the go,vegetarian chilli + rice followed by about a ton of chocolate as we had all packed bars of chocolate and a lovely 12year old bottle of highland park single malt. It was not long before the rain didn't matter anymore!
The next morning it was still raining so a lie in was had.It great some time to just lie under a tarp and listen to nature. We finally got up around about 9.30 and after coffee we packed up and headed out on the bikes.The weather started to clear up and we headed to leith hill and the tea shop that can be found at the top.The tea shop has been a saviour of ours over many years of riding here.It only opens at the weekend but in the middle of winter when you are cold and wet it can be the only thing that keeps you going knowing that when you get to the top there will be a hot cup of tea a slice of homemade cake.
Anyways i degress.Leith hill was reached and tea and cakes consumed then a short blast down to coldharbour and a pint in the plough.A great pub which has a micro brewery,which has been close for awhile due to the owner's battle with cancer,which he seems to have beaten for the moment and he is planning on starting up the brewery again.
From coldharbour its a long 6 miles of steady down hill to the main road at Westcott then a road ride to Dorking and the train home.
All in all a great trip out and after years of talking about doing overnight trips out with the bikes it has given us food for thought. Next trip should be to north wales and a two night trip into to the wilds of Snowdonia national park. May 26 bank holiday weekendBank holiday saturday was spent at the Tate modern watching crazy mountain bikers throw themselves around on some very big dirt jumps.The Qashqui challege had come to London and some of the worlds best mountain bikers were showing London what they can do bank holiday weekend 2Sunday was spent relaxing with my parents down in East Grinstead. The weather after morning of rain turned out fine and i went for a stroll in the local woods
I had my new camara with me and found a few wild flowers from the top
Bugle
elderfloers starting to flower
bird's foot trefoil
speedwell
more bugle
un identified fungus
the last ransom flowers
split tree surounded by ransoms
red lichen on rock
montain bikingso last weekend i managed to get out for a great mountain bike ride in the hills of Surrey.We took the train down to Gomshall and from there headed to the small village of Peaslake.We never hang about to long here as it is a mecca for bikers and gets very busy,so we shot through and climbed onto Reynars hills then picked up some lovely singletrack trails through the woods to drop us into peaslake again then it was short step climb[pushing] to get up onto holmbury hill.Here we stopped for abit in the lovely sunshine before more great singletrack down into holmbury st mary's and the royal oak for a well earned pint and a bowl of chips.From here its along hot climb to the top of leith hill but the little national trust tea shop in the tower is always worth while.After tea and cake it was pretty much downhill all the way to the main road at westcott and a long old road ride back to dorking station.
All in all it was a great day out and it made a change from walking.We are planning a overnight trip out for the longest day and plan to go superlight weight.ill be able to incorporate my lightweight hiking with mountain biking. May 10 A new toyIve been waiting for a couple of months for canon to get their act together and get their latest DSLR out.And last night when i got home there was the little red card from the ever helpful post office saying that i needed to go and pick up a parcel.So this morning i wandered over to the depot and there it was my new shiny canon 450d DSLR.
Now i just need to get out and about and give it a good work out and see what i can produce May 07 forgotforgot to mention that i found a few St Georges mushrooms or Mousseron if you come from acoss the channel.Ive always been on the look out for these and it was the first time that i have found any.Anyways i hada omelette with them with wild garlic and tomatoes as well and jooly nice it was.So if you are out and about this weekend keep alook out for them,and the bonus is that there are no other mushrooms about this time of year[ do use a book for identification though] May 05 A Great DaySo it was a day to get outside on Saturday and get some miles under my feet and enjoy the joys of spring.I caught a train to Eridge in Kent and from there i wandered through lovely southern English farmland and woods full of vibrant bluebells up on to the heathland of Ashdown forest before turning and heading for East Grinstead.
The walk was a real classic wildlife walk with a good list of beasties seen as well as the trees breaking in to the luminous green of spring and the woods and hedgerows ablaze with the spring flowers.Bluebells were everywhere,all the woods were carpeted with such an amazing blue,the natural world still amazes me.
Wildlife seen on the walk,well 9 Roe deer,a very loud shrew/vole who gave himself away,a buzzard,the first i have seen in southern england,though i do believe they breed here now,a sparrowhawk,goldfinch,great tit,blue tits, chaffinch,blackbirds,a thrush, a green woodpecker and a grass snake.I also heard the first swallows/swifts of the year and two cuckoo's.
I managed to clock up about 17 miles of walking and even got a pint of Harvey's in,not bad for a day walk and very happy to have made it out.
The rest of the weekend i have been pottering about in the garden sowing seeds and potting on other seedlings etc,and tonight the BBQ will be used for the first time this year.Ill be grilling Red Dorade over the coals with purple sprouting broccoli,new potatoes and grilled spanish peppers,yum now iam hungrey May 01 my kit and why i use it part 2 cookingSo leading on from a previous post on kit Ive done a run down of my meagre cooking system and why i like it.
So ill start of with my stoves[ i only have two at the moment!]I use a MSR pocket rocket.I first got it a good few years back mainly because it was cheap and lightesh in weight [ 85g ]and Ive stuck by it ever since as it does everything that a stove should do.It boils water very quickly and is great for simmering too.
The other stove is the MSR superfly which i bought when i blew up my whisperlite the day before i started my walk across the alps on the GR5.It turned out to be a good buy as you can use the non screw canisters which are every where in europe.It weighs in at 131g.
Next up is my cooking pot.I use Tibetean 900 Ti pot with lid which weighs 97g , which is the perfect size for me and the lid is tight fitting and a snowpeak single walled Ti mug which weighs 78g.`I have a mug and pot as i like to be able to boil water and drink a hot drink at the same time.During the day i use the mug as a pot to boil water for a hot drink and use the pot when iam in camp.I use a old wooden spoon that was bought in Turkey and weighs 15g but with a bit more sanding will weigh less also i have a mugmate for real coffee in the morning which weighs 18g.Also i use a homemade pot cosy weighing 35g and a piece of aluminium foil [11g] is used as a wind shield
So the total weight of my kitchen is 321g not including fuel
April 16 The Paul Lister experimentSo Ive just seen the BBC natural world documentary on the Alladale estate experiment to re wild Scotland with Wolves, Elk, Bear, Boar.Now iam going to step above the parapet and iam sure ill get flamed for it but i feel it needs to be said.I know the BBC did not give a very fair hearing to the sides who are against this project but,and here we go.
I think the guy has a very good idea.I for one would love to see these wild creatures released into Scotland and i know it would be behind a fence but if it worked and the land started to change back to its original state.And don't forget the landscape of Britain is man made, and i think that we forget this sometimes.It could set a ball rolling for the regeneration of Scotland to a more natural state.I believe that man and Wolves can live side by side but our attitude to this wonderful beast has to change,and only when our attitude changes could the fences come down.The other thing that generally happens with wildlife and fences is that all you need is a power cut and or a big storm the fence comes down and next thing you know is that the beasties have escaped and you really do have a wild Scotland
Now i know that the people of Scotland have fought to get the access rights that exist in Scotland and a fence around his land would be denying people there rights but if Paul Lister agreed to return the land to the government of Scotland once the project had reached its goals,i.e the reintroducing of once lost native species and the regeneration of the native flora as the Tompkins were reported to be doing in Argentine with their land.A national Park with Wolves, Bears, Elk etc now wouldn't that be a great idea.
Right iam off to get the flak jacket and tin helmet and find a big deep hole to hide in  April 14 wild garlic soupIve got a day off today so Ive been out tidying the garden and sowing more seeds.Basil, french marigolds, rocket, salad bowl, tarragon.
Also i made another batch of wild garlic soup and here's the recipe
4 medium potaotoes,peeled and chopped
1 onion chopped
2 leeks, sliced and washed
3 sticks of celery washed and chopped
4 bay leaves
3 litres of veggie/chicken stock
2 big man handfuls of wild garlic leaves, washed
Take all your veggies except the garlic and throw in to a large hot saucepan
fry without colouring the veg, then add the stock and bay leaves.
simmer the soup for about 1 hour
thrown in the chopped wild garlic and cook for a further 10 minutes, season with salt and pepper
blend the soup and voila. serve with crusty bread and a poached egg dropped into the soup just before you serve
Ive put some in the dehydrator and some in the freezer for later in the year when there is not much green veg around.picutre of soupin my piccies to your left April 13 springIve spent the last couple of weeks pottering around in my garden and getting some seeds sown. Also Ive been out Ray Mears style collecting wild garlic and coppicing a few hazel trees near my parents in sussex.The cut hazel will be used to make pea/bean supports and to build a natural looking arbour to sit under in the long summer evenings in my small garden.
The wild garlic grows in the woods near to my parents and there is an abundance of it,growing next to the woodland streams.Ive been using it in my cooking at home and at work.Making mash with wild garlic,risottos,stir frys and even wild garlic soup.Ill be making another batch of soup and will put some in the dehydrator.
On the title heading of spring.It is great to see spring is here with the woods full of wood anemones and the first showing of bluebells.Trees are starting to break into bud and the birds are nesting.
My seeds are starting to show through and at the moment i have borlotti beans, dwarf french beans,coriander,purple sprouting broccoli, cucmber and italian black cabbage up with parsley, chillis, peppers, red kale, leeks, thai basil, tomatoes and courgettes all sown. I love this time of year,the first forays into my garden and the first wild camps of the year. March 30 so whats going onSo what have i been up too since last week.Well last week saw me take a couple of days off to get out camping over the spring equinox.Had a great night out under the tarp on ashdown forest and it was good to see spring has really come.Easter was spent in East Grinstead with my parents and family and was very relaxing.Easter Sunday found me out in our local wood having a Ray Mears moment.The woods were covered in a dusting snow and it was snowing as i wandered through woods on the look out for wild garlic and some good long hazel sticks for my bean poles.It was not long before i had 6 good long poles and a bag of wild garlic which Ive been using all week,soups,in pasta,in mash.Its one of my favorite wild foods.
Also spotted were the first bluebells of the year hidden away under a blackthorn bush which was also in full bloom.
This week has been taken up with a new project,more later when i can release details to the general public.This week i got into the garden and started to sort it out as well as sowing tomato,french bean,chilli,pepper,borlotti bean,cucumber and comfrey seeds.I turned over the compost heap this morning and i now have a 10 litre bag of homemade compost ready to bring my plants to life. March 20 spring equinoxJust a short note just back from a short trip down to ashdown forest for the spring equinox.Just in case you did not know the equinox moved forward by one day due to the leap year,so i was on the 20th at 05.48am http://www.infoplease.com/spot/riteofspring1.html
and this site for dates and times http://www.astrologycom.com/solstinox.html
unfortunatly the sun didn't read the script and forgot to come out for us but we still had a great night camping under a old yew tree and a good walk this morning. My kit and why i use it.Part 1I mentioned earlier in the year that i would post a kit list and why i use it so i have finally found some spare time to write it up.
Ill start off with my sleeping system. I have 4 sleeping bags but only use 2 of them regularly. First up is my Rab top bag, I've had this bag since 2003 when i bought it for my GR5 walk and its been my favorite bag since then. It weighs in at 366 grams and with 200g of down on top and round the foot plug and only a single layer of Quantum fabric on the base but no hood or zip. Its very light but with a manufactures temperature rating down to 0 degree's it's ideal for late spring through to late autumn camping. Though i have slept in it down to about -3 degree's. It has no zip and is a very simple bag but for the lightweight hiking its great and it packs down very small.
My second bag is the PHD minim 500 which is fairly new. It weighs in at 834 grams and has a temperature rating of -9 degree's. This again is a fairly simple design with a small hood and a half zip and so far in the two outings that i have used it i have been very happy with it but i have not had to test it out in cold conditions, coldest so far was 7 degree's. I think this will be my winter bag keeping the top bag for the rest of the year.
The rest of my sleeping system comprises of a silk liner to go inside of the bag weighing 126 grams,i use this for added warmth and to keep the sleeping bag clean.I use a old karrimor kip mat which has been cut down to go from my shoulders to my hips and weighs 225 grams, but this will be replaced this year for a gossamer gear mat.I also use a piece of plastic which i got from work for a ground sheet which is ripstop plastic and weighs 93 grams.
To keep all my kit and myself dry i have a Alpkit Hunka bivy bag weighing in at 401 grams.
A update on the PHD minim 500 bag i used it last night and the temperature dropped to 0.3 degrees.I was warm but i woke with a cold nose which was soon remedy by pulling the bag shut more and sticking my head deeper into the bag.
So thats all my sleeping system next up will be my cooking system. March 18 off walking for a couple of dayoff walking for a couple of day as the title says ill be down in sussex for the spring equinox,just hope we get to see the sun thursday morning  March 09 I didn't think i was that popularJust noticed today that I've had 11400 views to my site,well at least someone out there reads the drivel i post
 .March 06 E-petitionI have been pretty silent on the E-petition to legalize wild camping but i thought i would have my say after having a good think about it over the last few weeks since i signed the petition.Now i have been keeping update with all that has been said on forums and written in blogs and after a weekend illegal camping which gave me time to reflect one all that has been said.Now it seems that the government has written the prtition off all ready.i have hada reply from my local MP, Joan Ruddock and her reply was that the government would not be looking in to this as it would cost too much time and resources,so thanks for listening and letting democracy work.Also after listening to the lord Smith interview we may have a long wait as it took nearly 100 years to get where we are today.
I would love the government to agree to legalise wild camping as it would be nice not to worry about being moved on in the middle of the night,even though i have only ever been moved on once in nearly 20 years of camping but you do get a feeling of uneae soem times when putting up the tarp even in out of the way places.I dont think it would lead to the mass campig that some people are talking about as i think it will always remain quiet a select hobby.
Anyways go to the site and sign up and lets try to get the government to change its mind.
weekend awaySo decisions were made at the weekend and i managed to get a late pass so i could get out for a weekend camping.Saturday dawned bright and blue and after making Adriana breakfast i managed to get the all important weekend pass,so the kit was packed in record time and i was off.I caught the train down to Sussex and was out walking by 1 pm.It was a beautiful day with little cloud and the sun shining,but there was a rather brisk wind blowing. I started out in Ashurst ,Kent and followed the river Medway for a bit before cutting across farmland and making my way into Hartfield,home of Winnie the Pooh.I stopped off in the local pub,the Anchor for a pint of Harvey's and a mediocre ploughman's.
It was great to be out and spring was getting geared up.Wid garlic was up and will be ready to cut in about 1 week and primroses were blooming along with the odd daffodil and bluebells were everywhere and the woods of sussex will look amazing in about 1 month.
After lunch i headed off and before long i was up on to ashdown forest.Wildlife was everywhere.I distrubed a small herd of Roe deer and there was plenty of bird song coming from the hedgerows,Great tits,Blackbirds,a Thrush,Robins and collared doves all have a bit of a sing song,lovely.
I stopped walking about 4pm and found a lovely spot under a grand Yew tree with plenty of deer trails around and it was not long before i spotted a couple not far from me browsing on a Holly tree.I set the tarp up as a lean to to give me some protection from the wind which was blowing quite strong by now.It was time for a cup of tea and a bit of a lie down,and before long i was snuggled up in my PHD bag with a cup of rose hip tea and listening to one of the outdoorstations podcast,Paddy Dillions GR5 AND GR 20 talk with Andy Howell followed by the Lord Smith interview.
Dinner was one of my own dried meals,pasta with black cabbage pancetta and veg.By now it was dark and looking up through the skeleton shapes of the sleeping trees the ink black night sky was ablaze with millions of stars.Its been a long time since Ive seen so many stars.I soon decided to snuggle into my nice warm PHD bag with a cup of hot chocolate and soon after i was drifting of into sleep.
I woke just as the sun was starting to peep over the horizon and the wind still blowing.i had a lazy early morning deep in the sleeping bag with a cup of fresh brasilian coffee and waited for the sun to send its warming shafts of light through the trees.I crawled out of my bag and had breakfast and packed up and headed off by about 9am
My walk for the day took me south then west towards Forest Row then north towards East Grinstead.i was soon leaving the forest and into farmland.I finished off visiting my parents before jumping on the train back to London. February 19 a quick noteran out of time tonight to post about the petition for wild camping,blame it on liverpool and champions league football. |
|
|
Print
