Duty Free

Duty Free, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

Got through security at heathrow. T5 works well. Nice and spacious. Bought a power chimp unit and recharging phone off the supplied aa batteries.

Personal Wind Turbine

This came through on Kirou's newsfeed: the alternative power source HYmini is now available for purchase.

A quick search and there's a longer article on CoolHunting. I'm more interested.

I find the manufacturer's site: hymini.com

I finally see a photo giving me an idea of scale. I'm impressed. I want to see if I can secure it to a pack during the day and use it to generate and store power. Even tie it between 2 guylines overnight.

YouTube search brings up some good videos, for example, this one:

I want one for the next long hiking session. After 3-days, I get concerned about recharging the mobile phone. And finally, it looks like the output is via USB instead of some proprietary connection.

Taking the P155

A couple of power-systems quoted in The Goat during the last week.

Urine Powered Batteries for Sale in Japan

Sadly, only 3-5 recharges, and only 500mAh. But it's another step forward. There is comment about the translation on WeirdAsiaNews, and that any liquid would work, not just urine.

Backpack Straps that Generate Power

Pack straps made from piezoelectric material will be able to convert mechanical strain on the packs into energy that can power small electronics.

A similar (or same) system was reported in Trail a few months ago. I like the idea of generation systems. As previously mentioned, I thing solar power is too unreliable for my use, so power generation systems that rely on movement seem better e.g. wind movement, water movement, human movement (or pet movement?) Unit fuel cell technology advances to the extent that we can just add water to recharge batteries.

Tekkeon myPower Go

I collected the Tekkeon myPower Go unit from the sorting office today. That place is turning more space over to failed deliveries of parcels/packets each time I go there. I wonder if someone in power will see this failure to communicate as a problem for the Post Office, or will we customers keep having to bear the hidden costs of self-collection, or turning over our weekends to waiting for a redelivery.

But anyway... the Tekkeon unit. It's a box. About 80mm x 65mm, and the height of an old audio cassette box (ask your grandparents about that one). Slot in 4 AA batteries (not supplied), close the box and plug in the USB-terminated cable and the relevant connection head. The batteries can then be used to charge devices. There's an input socket, and you can use the myPower Go as a battery charger.

In the box, there's a decent manual, and a pile of connections and a carry bag. If you have a USB cable for a device (eg an iPod), you can use that to charge the device. The manual mentions not watching videos on the iPod when recharging as the iPod batteries are drained faster than the myPower Go can recharge the player.

Spec - weight 4.5 oz with batteries (127 grams). Not waterproof (dry locations only). 18quid delivered from Expansys.

From 4 AA batteries. 6 hours of mobile phone talk-time; 1.5 hrs of media player time; 20 hours of audio playback. iPod times are listed separately.

Rationale for ordering.

Also collected GITS SAC 2nd GIG. All 26 episodes. YT clip. Kusanagi and Co (not Grasscutter, that's from Usagi).

Buy The Power

I was looking through my favourite alternative energy site, ModernOutpost to see what was available to recharge phone and/or batteries.

Solar - well, I have the SolarUno, and to tell the truth, there isn't enough sun in Scotland. But I found that I can use it to take power from AAA batteries and use it to charge up my mobile phone.

George went for the Freeloader, but you have to find a power supply to recharge if the solar panels don't pick up enough charge.

Wind up - I have a hand-wound recharger for the phone, and it doesn't seem to charge the phone at all. I have tried, and the "charging" symbol comes up, but I may be winding too fast or too slow. Never just right.

Hence looking for alternatives. I found the shake-n-light. Sorry, that should be ShakeLight

Onward I looked, eventually finding the Tekkeon myPower Go. The ModernOutpost description says "Use it to charge batteries via USB port, and then use that same power to run your portable USB devices". But the page was incomplete, so off to the Tekkeon website. Expansys sells the unit in the UK for £12.95 plus P&P. Takes 4 AA batteries and uses them to recharge units via a USB output.

I only use AA batteries for the point-and-click camera. The Sony camera hardly drains any power, but I usually carry some spare AA batteries in my pack. The myPower can be used as a recharger. But I'm not looking at it for that, as I'm more likely to buy extra AA batteries on a long hike than spend an evening in a building, recharging AA rechargeables.

A detailed review can be found on gearDiary.com Now, I remember speaking to Darren about rechargers, and he found that some batteries worked better than others (i.e. Duracell wasn't as good as Energizer). I may run some tests, but I doubt that I'll waste the battery power finding out, saving it for a real field test.

Unit ordered.

Back at Work

Helping with some more inductions. If i had just been looking out of the window, this is the view south.

Quiet Weekend

Out of Doors (Radio Scotland) - Scapa Bay, Orkney. Usually I catch it on 'listen again', as the only time I'm up early enough to catch the live show on Saturday is when I'm off hiking. One day I'll be in the right space/time to give them a call for one of the competitions.

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Hope to get to Maplins later on today to have a look at a better quality portable radio. I note that they have the Freeloader solar charger that George reviewed recently. Staying focused, this Eton radio has caught my mind - in the USA, it is identical to the Grundig brand. All this because last weekend I had difficulty receiving the weather forecast. Is it important? I think so, although looking out of the tent at the sky would give lots of information, it doesn't tell me what is happening over the horizon.

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Keeping up to date with Weird Darren's TGO Challenge blog. He's hardly in the Highlands and he's already had deer singing to him. Just keep running if you hear the banjos.

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I reckon that the small .5 litre Platy bottle would hold 6 days of fuel for the alcohol stove. I'd look to bagging it inside a zip-lock bag too.

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I forgot to do this earlier, so added EndurancePlanet's feed to iTunes.

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Backpacker's Club Buff arrived on Friday. Watched the video, and still can't get the hang of the topknot. Turn inside out, twist, reverse. I'll just need a bell on the end and I'll be like sodding Noddy.

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With that I added a 'membership' listing to the sidebar. Ignoring the 2 magazines I subscribe to, and the BMC insurance, it is getting expensive to enjoy the outdoors.

Crying Rabbit

Stopped off at Sainsbury's on the way back from the PO Sorting Office this morning. Ostensibly to look for a dehydrator as they stock the Tchibo range. No joy, but found that they have the "Look what we found!" range of ready-real-meals. Sampling the venison sausages for breakfast, I wouldn't class it as a meal. As a large lad, I reckon it is more of a snack.

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Five's "The Gadget Show" tested mp3 covers for iPods. The Otterbox came out well. Details on their page. A bit lost on me, as I don't take my iPod out on the hills. I took the wee stick-mp3 player a couple of times, but prefer the solar-powered radio. Or a book. Or my own thoughts as I look over a stunning view, listening to the local wildlife. If you need to carry in a full opera company, you're not trying hard enough. But each to their own.

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Lower Pacerpole section definitely jammed, so I'll contact them to return for a repair. I don't know my own strength sometimes.

I'm off to crush a grape.

Valued Landscapes

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to withdraw all subsidies and support to on-shore wind farms in valued landscapes. Deadline to sign up by: 23 February 2007 – Signatures: 981

<<http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/WindTurbines/>>

We agree with the need to find methods to prevent climate change affecting our environment but this must be done with the full support of the public. No attempt can be successful if it destroys the very environment that we hope to save. We call for support for renewable energy projects that are NOT divisive in nature. We call for greater subsidies to small/personal micro-generation schemes such as solar heating. The major mechanism for reduction in CO2 and other greenhouse gasses must be responsible cooperation with the public, NOT imposition of unwanted areas of policy that threaten many households. On-shore wind farms may (when subsidised with public funds) provide large profits to multi-national corporations but their contribution to CO2 reduction is small when weighed against the savings that are possible IF the public feel that they are part of the solution and not having to fight against it!

Trail: March 07

As we're into March, the cover has lost it's snow and is replaced by a walker traipsing down a scary rocky slope, with cliffs over his shoulder, presumably across a valley. Gulp. One of my Grandfathers was a Sgitheanach, and would be ashamed at my woosiness.

Bit of a couples thing going on (but wasn't Valentine's Day back in February?) I'm confused ;-)

Reviews of a couple of new pieces of gear, and then the "must have" section.

"The Mission" is a tale that I've just started reading after skimming through the contents. How could I not, after the Chandler-esque opening paragraph:
It had been three years since Scotland last tried to kill me.

I'll leave others to take contention with the 'riles'...sorry, 'rules' entitled "Don't assume light is right". Cheap and heavy ain't often right either.

I imagine TGO Challenge folk, or anyone heading out overnight in the Highlands, will find the notes useful.

Next is a top 10 of Britain's greatest wildernesses. Nice to see the Hearrachs getting a mention.

As ever, "The Knowledge" is packed with information. I still have a mental image of Alan Hinkes' dramatic escape. Reminds me of a scene from "Ice Cold in Alex". One piece of 'knowledge' is on a tarp, and its defence against insects - I did wonder how tarp and bivvy users cope with ticks.

Crib Goch article has me thinking that Claire Maxted has a death wish. I look at the photos and think of 3 points of contact, and yet she's bounding over them as if sponsored by Red Bull. I'm such a wimp!

Detailed reviews: Jane Grimshaw on women's overtrousers. Graham T on solar panels. No doubt the next thing will be wind turbines...hmmm, part of my brain's going off on a tangent there.

Fitness academy. Used & abused. The Aonachs.

Routes are under the "between the peaks" strand. For, I think, the first time, I can say that I've already been on 2 of the routes. Wayyyyyyy.

Now, I must have missed seeing the YouTube link to the magazine's video clips. There is a note on how to join the readers' polls (p7). Bloggers not listed on Webwatch.

----and now (drumroll please)----

Trail Gear Guide 07.

Not only an introduction "why...are worth every penny", then between 1 and 4 pages of what to look for if buying the item before you even get to the listings by manufacturers.

If that's not enough, there is "other stuff" in there too.

But...more photos of youngsters balancing precariously on rocks. I just want to say "stop it, you'll hurt yourself, lass". I do worry so ;-)

Oh - and on page 108 there are instructions on how you can get your own photo on the cover of Trail.

The Prevailing Wind

Catching up with various blogs on Boxing Day, I come to Andy Howell's, where the topic of wind farms has been raised by a comment from Calvin Jones.

Comments from Calvin Jones include:

• I believe that walkers should be with environmentalists and yes that means with wind.
• There has been increasingly vocal opposition to wind farms and associated works throughout the UK. Mainly by people who “don’t want to see the countryside spoiled”. Such an anthropocentric view of the countryside is just the sort of ignorant and harm full attitude that really does threaten our lands real beauty.
• When a wind power project is proposed near your home, will you protect your most treasured land and support wind?

My democratic position on this is that business is out to make as much money from wind farms as possible, scourging the landscape and saying that anyone who is against them is short-sighted. People in the Hebrides were in favour of windfarms, but then the proposed turbines got taller and taller as the venture capitalists got greedier and greedier. The landowners own the land, and refuse to allow small local developments to go ahead.

If the power is required in the central belt, why not build the windfarms in the central belt instead of scarring tracts of the landscape of the Highlands? That must make both economic, environmental and social sense? But the NIMBY voters of the central belt won't be happy bunnies; better to upset some Teuchters instead.

It should be quite simple to have 'energy miles', like 'food miles'. Draw a circle around a town or city, and say that x% of the power used by that area must be generated by that area. Most houses will have loft insulation by now (heck, that project's been going on for years), so scale it up to domestic solar panels.

So, I'm in favour of community wind farms (local power for local people), incentives for solar panels, responsibly sited tidal and wave power, geothermal power. And whilst countries like China, Russia and America keep belching out greenhouse gases, it will make little difference to the changing climates. But at least make a little difference and can try to hold back the rising tides and be a shining beacon to the world. And where humanity builds a tv where the 'off' switch really means 'off' .

WHW day 5.13

Roughing it outside the Kingshouse Hotel. Look, I'm in my Akto, so I'm roughing it! Covered 12.5miles/20km today. Approx 71.5 miles from start. Around 24miles to go. Woohoo. I hadn't been daring to do a countdown. Back in the world on Friday night, train out of Fort Bill on Saturday morning. Anything quicker than that is just tempting fate. I wonder what the vacana is for today, sometimes it's uncannily accurate.

Trailblazer book gets the thumbs up from everyone. Pacerpoles have been great. I've been using SolarUno primarily as phone recharger rather than solar charger. Not sure about the Roclites - I'd need to do the Way again in my Terrocs, and that ain't gonna happen any time soon. Atmos pack has been great. I've been squirrelling away snacks in the hip-belt pockets and using one pocket to store phone whilst hooked up to charger, dangling from a tie on the back of pack.

Found another blister today, not sure if I missed it yesterday. On right foot, not painful. Life and the 'Way' goes on.

WHW day 2.7

Near Cluan, snack whilst waiting for aquamira drops to mix. Then add to Lomond water. Been milling over arguments for charging people walking the way. Hmm. So far I've walked on forest tracks used by day trippers, unpavemented roads with no warnings to drivers, footpaths used by locals on foot, bike and horse. A post every so often doesn't cost that much to install, surely.

Through-hikers don't spend as much locally, true, but the amount of litter along the trail left by daytrippers is terrible. Idea for ad campaign: the hiker weeps at the litter...then goes to hike elsewhere never to return to Jockland.

The charger indicator on my Sony Ericsson uses power to tell me unit is charging ... But if there is no sunlight to charge the phone, simply having the phone plugged in to solar unit seems to drain the phone battery...but a charge seems to be feeding thru when I put batteries in the solar unit. Hmm. I'm going to have to experiment with that to see if I'm correct. If so, SolarUno become emergency charger from aaa batteries. Sweet.

I'm not risking accessing blogsite from mobile as net access eats power. If someone could text me the current sponsor total and any fun comments, that'd be nice.

WHW day 2.6

Lunch lochside to north of Craigie Fort. Only walked 4km so far. A lazy sunday. Target: Rowchoish. Fallback: Rowardennan. Bestest: Inversnaid. Duck-watching over lunch. Better than watching tv.

Smatterings of conversations as people stroll by. They stop talking until out of earshot. My hearing is more acute as it is tuned in to acorns dropping and flappings of wings; but I'm not interested in the fact that "she's put on weight" or that you "don't like aunty".

Lunch finished. Onwards and northwards. Got the solar recharger hooked up to phone. Not much sunlight, but a trickle charge when phone is off is useful.

Couch 10: No more sleeps

Flying visit to the Blogosphere as I'm in process of packing and repacking. Roughly 12kg of core gear, i.e. not including food, water, batteries and worn clothing.

Osprey Atmos 50 was comfortable even when loosely packed as I stepped onto the bathroom scales. I think it's the back-length that was causing me the problems with the Z-Pack.

Due to the train journey, I'm packing a spare top - something I don't normally do. The cheap Scotland rugby shirt isn't exactly lightweight, but it seemed appropriate.

Also missing from photo are; Sigg oval water bottle, Snow*Peak titanium trek 900, plastic Aladin travel-mug; 'makings' kit, repair kit (Duck tape, paracord, 2 spare tent pegs, solar radio). I'll detail things when I get a chance in camp, or on my return.

Started packing later than I 'd aimed, as I was distracted by looking into mobile blogging. If I forego sleep, I might get something set up. Watch this space, as the saying goes.

Charity total up to £125 online, and £30 offline. Once more, many thanks to you all.

Google Earth have a new Beta out, and the pictures look clearer. I was looking at the WHW on it over lunch today. Very useful free program.

Gear 1: SolarUno (out of the box)

Woohoo. New gear arrived from the other side of the world today. Modern Outpost, in British Columbia, to be precise. The box was well packed, and prtected the SolarUno inside. This 240mm long, 90mm wide device houses a solar panel which can recharge two AAA batteries. It also has a USB port on it. At the current exchange rate, it cost £40, including airmail postage. The 2-3 weeks quoted delivery only took 12 days.

So, in the box is 9" long length of soft plastic, with a solar panel and a box at the back to house two AAA batteries, and a manual. The manual states the device is made by SolarMio.

The batteries are held in place tightly, and 2 rechargeable NiMH750's are included (always handy). The clip also helps secure the batteries in place.

There's one switch and an LED on the top. If you have no batteries in the box, the LED shows if there's enough sunlight to provide a recharge. Once the batteries are slotted in, the LED increases in brightness until the batteries are fully charged.

The USB looks handy, as I have an adapter for my SonyEricsson mobile phone that allows me to recharge it via USB. According to the manual, moving the switch to "USB-on" will divert the solar recharge to the USB port.


Times stated:

• 2nr AAA: 4-6hrs (100% sun); 8-12hrs (60% sun); low performance (30% sun)
• MP3: 2.5hrs (100% sun); 4 hrs (60% sun); 7 hrs (30% sun)

Clips onto the wand holder of the backpack. I'll be able to give an action report after the West Highland Way trek. In the meantime, the unit is on the window sill but the sun is only now at an angle where it will be directly onto the solar panel. 2 AAA NiMH batteries, originally showing "2" notches on my GPS receiver.

Update: an hour in indirect sunlight, and another hour in 40% sunlight, and the 2 AAA batteries had already reached 3 notches on the GPS (4 notches is the maximum).

The manual warns not to over-expose the charger beyond the maximal charge time.

Reason for purchase: independance, pure and simple. I use a GPS system (AAA batteries), and the mobile phone batteries last if I have the phone switched off. Hopefully the SolarUno will free me from worrying about running out of charge on long trips. I worry about these sorts of things, so had looked around for a while, considering rotary chargers, but the SolarUno looked like it covered my needs - battery and USB. Time will tell.