Decorum couldn't make this one due to a damaged leg so .... hope you are recovering Phil and as I didn't stay for the 'day' I am putting up first some early initial thoughts on the visit.
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First of all many thanks again to our host.
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This was my third outdoor weekend this year and by far the most enjoyable (of the previous two one was an outdoor skills course - learned a hell of a lot but got cold one night, and the other was to this same site - great experience but again very cold).
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The enjoyment came from the mild weather and general lack of rain - apart from the Sunday morning when I was packing up, the opportunity to try out new things (some of which actually worked!) , and the great company. This last one is a constant in my experience. And of course the marvellous site:
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TARP SET UPS (1)
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I had asked for advice in a previous thread and after considering comments received I took advantage of the Sports Direct offer on bags. I labled them and used their fastening to hang them under the tarp ridge. My rucksack was empty, apart from small stuff in the pockets:
.
.
This worked really well and I spent a lot less time looking for stuff which noticeably added to my enjoyment of the weekend (just so much less hassle).
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TARP SET UPS (2)
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Steve (Mesquite) has a set up that I really like and he has improved it since I last saw it:
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From behind:
.
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At the front is an additional canopy formed by folding a tarp in half. The clever thing is that you can fold down half of the canopy to give better protection from the elements and more privacy if necessary:
.
.
.
.
.
SWEDISH TORCH
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I took a Swedish torch with me and gave that a go:
.
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I found it quite difficult to keep alight (having used ?fuel tabs to get it going). It continued to smoulder long after the flames stopped and created a fantastic shape (sorry no pics) so I'd like to try again if only for that reason.
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SWISS VOLCANO STOVE
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As others do, I took this simply for when I wanted hot water for a cuppa or for a quickie porridge on the last morning. This worked well. In general half a (?)fuel tab gave a cup of hot water - and my enamel mug made a perfect lid to help the water heat up more quickly:
.
.
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MINE HOST ...
.. took us on bimble through the wood. This was a lovely, light stroll and included my first ever involvement in stalking deer. We could see them running about in the wood but then lost them.
.
He also cooked a great Thai curry in his Dutch oven using an authentic Thai paste. I'm not a great fan of curries but this was good:
.
.
The light coloured round things are water chestnuts - not mushrooms - and they added a good variation in texture to the meal
.
MY DUTCH OVEN
.
I recently bought a Dutch oven and was helped to cure/proof it on the first evening. This worked well, and I used the lid as a frying pan the next morning and it was totally non-stick.
.
So a brilliant weekend - just hope it continued like that for those staying on for the Monday!
.
First of all many thanks again to our host.
.
This was my third outdoor weekend this year and by far the most enjoyable (of the previous two one was an outdoor skills course - learned a hell of a lot but got cold one night, and the other was to this same site - great experience but again very cold).
.
The enjoyment came from the mild weather and general lack of rain - apart from the Sunday morning when I was packing up, the opportunity to try out new things (some of which actually worked!) , and the great company. This last one is a constant in my experience. And of course the marvellous site:
.
.
TARP SET UPS (1)
.
I had asked for advice in a previous thread and after considering comments received I took advantage of the Sports Direct offer on bags. I labled them and used their fastening to hang them under the tarp ridge. My rucksack was empty, apart from small stuff in the pockets:
.
.
This worked really well and I spent a lot less time looking for stuff which noticeably added to my enjoyment of the weekend (just so much less hassle).
.
TARP SET UPS (2)
.
Steve (Mesquite) has a set up that I really like and he has improved it since I last saw it:
.
From behind:
.
.
At the front is an additional canopy formed by folding a tarp in half. The clever thing is that you can fold down half of the canopy to give better protection from the elements and more privacy if necessary:
.
.
.
.
.
SWEDISH TORCH
.
I took a Swedish torch with me and gave that a go:
.
.
I found it quite difficult to keep alight (having used ?fuel tabs to get it going). It continued to smoulder long after the flames stopped and created a fantastic shape (sorry no pics) so I'd like to try again if only for that reason.
.
SWISS VOLCANO STOVE
.
As others do, I took this simply for when I wanted hot water for a cuppa or for a quickie porridge on the last morning. This worked well. In general half a (?)fuel tab gave a cup of hot water - and my enamel mug made a perfect lid to help the water heat up more quickly:
.
.
.
MINE HOST ...
.. took us on bimble through the wood. This was a lovely, light stroll and included my first ever involvement in stalking deer. We could see them running about in the wood but then lost them.
.
He also cooked a great Thai curry in his Dutch oven using an authentic Thai paste. I'm not a great fan of curries but this was good:
.
.
The light coloured round things are water chestnuts - not mushrooms - and they added a good variation in texture to the meal
.
MY DUTCH OVEN
.
I recently bought a Dutch oven and was helped to cure/proof it on the first evening. This worked well, and I used the lid as a frying pan the next morning and it was totally non-stick.
.
So a brilliant weekend - just hope it continued like that for those staying on for the Monday!
