Auld Reekie

The alarm goes off early. I hit snooze. I then thing “did I hit snooze, or did I just switch the alarm off?” So I get out of bed, so I don’t fall asleep and miss my train. The alarm goes off when I’m shaving.

The trip down is good, and I listen to 2 1/2 albums on my HTC Desire, and the battery only goes down a wee notch.

As the train nears Montrose, I recall that it was the TGO Challenge dinner last night, and text Darren (he’d have been awake anyway), and say I’ll keep an eye out. I see one chap with rucksack on the platform, as he moves, there’s a flash of a t-shirt. He gets into the same carriage, and  sits near me. I don’t recognise him, and leave him to stare at the beautiful Scottish scenery. Thinking that he’s thinking “I walked across that”, resolves me to my Summer plans of getting out to the ‘Gorms. But I’ve been there before. As the train nears the end of the line at Edinburgh, I say a few words to him. It’s JH on his way back to Taunton. We’d had chats on forums in times past. Hand shakes hand, and he’s off to wait for his train, while I wait for an old University pal.

The rest of the morning/afternoon is spent chewing the fat and buying books. I’ve a cold and he’s got things on his mind, but it’s fun to catch up again. Waterstones is raided, and I apologise to the lass at the till for leaving big gaps in their Scots poetry section:

• “Gair nan Clarsach/The Harps’ Cry”, ed by Colm O Baoill, translated by Meg Bateman [Birlinn]
• “Duanaire na Sracaire/Songbook of the Pillagers”, ed Wilson McLeod and Meg Bateman [Birlinn]
• “Chuckies fir the Cairn”, ed Rab Wilson [Luath] – purely for the title

At the nearby gallery I get Walter Benjamin’s “The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction”, and Elisabeth Couturier’s “Talk about design”. I have a hankering for something new to get me motivated.

On the way back, I switch on GPS (for 5-10 minutes) and wifi and download app updates on 3g and reply to emails … and watch the battery life drain down to the orange warning. Switching off the power-hungry apps, I settle into 30 minutes of an audiobook on MortPlayer, and reading a PDF book. The battery life remains steady.

I do notice that the image above appears much sharper on the HTC Desire’s AMOLED screen than it does on the LG LCD monitor at home. I looked at file sizes and ruled out a quality difference, as the file on the phone and the file on the pc were identical copies. All I can think of is the difference in screen quality. Or maybe it is something else.

Resupply Drop

I went through to Braemar to deliver a resupply pack for George.

With all the weather, I made sure that George had some sun-lotion as it was a blistering 23’c, but I needn’t have worried as he was ready of our mixed weather.

Soon after reaching the quiet lounge of the “Fife Arms”, Andy Howell and Humphrey arrived. Shirley soon joined us and toys were brought out. Walking 2/3rd across Scotland and people are just having fun, enjoying themselves.

Err, it wisnae me, Shirl.

TGOc 09 - Braemar

I went out on Friday night to meet Darren at the designated rendezvous point near the Linn of Dee. If he wasn’t there, we would meet up on Saturday morning.

After a wet drive, with localised flooding and some tree debris to be avoided, I arrived at the Linn of Dee. I left his resupply box (and some extra goodies) in the car, and had a short walk to the clump of trees we had agreed on. There was no-one there. Considering the weather, and that for him the west-east walk would be into the wind, this was not a surprise.  The movement that I had noticed further along the track was a small group of stags.

Dropping off the road, I moved amongst the trees in case Darren’s tarp was concealed from view, and then chose a sheltered pitch and put up the tent.

In the morning, the weather had not changed much, still wet, but the wind had died down. I pulled on Paramo trousers,  showerproof Montane jacket and treated boonie hat.

Some slugs had to be cleared off the tent and boots, and other kit checked for the slimy wee things.

As I started to pack and think about breakfast, I noticed a couple of walkers heading east. One “helloooo’d” me across the glen, and I waved back. They carried on walking, and so it couldn’t have been Darren.

A few minutes later, I was greeted by the sight of a pair of man-tights (leggings) at the tent door.

We chatted and headed off to the Linn of Dee. He had crossed the Geldie that morning. The holler had come from Vince, first-time Challenger, but who had walked in other countries.

Seeing a red squirrel by the bridge, and an advert for free brew for Challengers and tempting accommodation price at Mar Lodge (good one, NTS). I headed back to the car, leaving Darren to walk into Braemar,where I would meet him en route for a snack break.

Outside Inverey, I gave a ‘helloooo’ to Vince and introduced myself. The scout group camped near the Linn had treated him to breakfast. It is great when visitors to our country are treated like this.

I made a quick trip into Braemar for a thermos, and then caught up with Darren after boiling up some water at the roadside. We were joined by Andy, who I’d met last year. As the cakes were shared out, I got a friendly ribbing from a passing Babyfather John Manning about my weight – guilty as charged.

Returning to Braemar, I met Shirley “Peewiglet” (and was rewarded with a hug) and Andy Howell (handshake). After Darren arrived, we waved at Bob and Rose, then lunched - and Vince came in as we finished; then joined by an other Challenger. The two of us then went to the Fife Arms for a healthy drink and I get another hug from Peewiglet, and a few words with John Manning and Bob “no bones broken” Cartwright.

After making sure Darren has his resupply box, and extras (including a required phone charger), I leave the Challengers to their trail-tales, renewed friendships and then to walk across the rest of Scotland’s width.

The Adventure Show TextCommentary

Me: Did you remember to set the recorder for the adventure show?

Him: Yes, days ago. Set to keep as well.

Me: It started on time. There was Martin.

Him: What about me

Me: Half o face obscured by fishing boat mast. Beside Dawn. Mark Alv's on now.

Him: Saw Martin.

Me: So far better coverage than I thought.

...

[gear section with Chris Townsend starts]

Me: Watch for the midges

Him: Oi, Chris isn't that small

Me: He'd commented on how bad the midges were n walking into loch to escape them.

...

[sfx: play loud music to drown out interview]

Me: Did the bellringer follow the challengers?

Him: Bellringer O_o

Me: New Englander saying what Freezerbag Sarah said about hiking in the US mainly in woods so no view. I recognise the unnamed 1st year chaps. One reads my blog

Him: Bob just been on is a great guy

Him: Mr Grumpy

Me: The [larger] of the two?

Him: No, bearded guy

Me: I'm losing track

Him: 5555555

....

Ended with some chatter about the new DVD that Cameron mentioned across on his blog, spotting John Manning, Chris, Kenneth Knight, Alan and Phil. I won't bother with the usual nit-picks. Others can do that. At least the BBC decided that the 29th year of this massive duration event was worth covering, and what was shown was a good cross-section of people. Well done to all involved.

Back to Reality

In the last 4 weeks I have been mainly keeping my left leg elevated and following the doctor's orders. She's been a great doc, and my leg is merely itchy now, and breathing a lot better. Enough for me to get back to work yesterday (with the obligatory "welcome back" interview with HR), and thank my workmates for picking up 4 weeks of classes. Strange how much work changes in that time of absence, even when keeping in touch via emails.

So, I've a pile of things that I haven't tested yet.

The TNF Hedgehog GTX XCR trail shoes, bought on 12 hours before I phoned NHSDirect (no link implied). I refuse to wear them on my short walks that I have to take in the last week after my meds changed.

The Blackfly#3 that I bought from Tinny in the USA  - kindly resent when the original never arrived.

The doc was concerned that I couldn't look after myself - I did point out some of my recent hikes, and how much food I had in the flat. But I've still to try some FreezerBag recipes, as I'll need to find storage space in my kitchen for all the ingredients currently living in a box on the floor.

The Aquagear Survivor water filtration system needs another trip out before I write up my report. I have a Nalgene bottle carrier to strap it onto my belt, so I can access it when walking. It should allow me to carry less water in Camelbak, as I like to drink without stopping. It is important to keep hydrated, otherwise strange things happens to the body's systems.

Mike collected the Akto's inner from Tiso's. Good repair job, good price. Oh, and I measured the cord length again, and it is the recommended 165cm.

Dawn's had another clear-out, and I've a pack-full of excess gear to collect on my way down to Dartmoor later in the month. I'll need a dust-off before then, especially to make sure that my leg is up to a weekend of exploration.

In week 2, I was able to elevate my leg and use my computer at the same time (footstool with 4 cushions on it did the trick). I caught up with some tech podcasts, mainly from the TWiT stable. I lodged my interest in the new iPhone with O2, and was really enthused watching Steve Jobs' keynote speech, but was less enthused the more I listened to podcasts like MacBreak Weekly and Today in iPhone. I gave up on Trail magazine and will not be renewing my subscription, but have been reading the BPL.com forums - I haven't bought a membership there, merely the magazine subscription.

Watched a pile of dvds, highlights "Doctor Who: The Beginning" (first 13 episodes from 1963), and "The Day the Earth Stood Still", lowlight "King Arthur" (not as bad as Braveheart, but sodding close. Great kit, good sets, poor - really poor - story). Finally bought a copy of "Scottish Hill Tracks" and can see why people on the TGOc like it, and why it was useful for Gayle and Mick in route-planning their country-long trek. Also realised that I didn't have Paddy Dillon's "The National Trails", so rectified that as well as buying "Walking on Dartmoor" by John Earle.

As it is impossible to paint while keeping leg elevated and major dosage of anti-biotics setting the daily routine, I've been unable to paint figures. I have, however, been planning my trench system, and would love something as detailed as this, but doubt I can achieve that level of realism. I treated my research to a blast of the "Charley's War" reprints - I forgot how realistic they were. Pat Mills answers his critics with research.

The Palmolive bottle still hasn't been eaten by the meths/water mix, so that's another piece of kit for the dust-off test.

As to the blog, I've added some 'non-ads' to the sidebar. Unpaid, unsponsored, unasked, just highlighting some companies that do a good job. The only other change I made was to change the type of "map-amung -us" to show where about current readers are.

Think I might get the iPhone 3g as I think Web2.0 has reached it's limit for me. It becomes just noise rather than information. Despite being laid up for this time, I've still got piles of podcasts and blogs to read, as well as programmes to clear from my recorder. As people require log-ins before comments can be left, or become protective about the purity of comments (see podcast about responsibility), as there are more media-podcasts being set up in direct challenge to the dire terrestrial broadcasting schedules, will we see an end to the lowly ramblings on forums, newsgroups, blogs? Is the term "friend" being demeaned by its use in social networking? Is the brain being rewired by the reliance on the Net (or is that, shudder, the "cloud").

TGO just dropped through letterbox, time to get a move on.

On Your Marks

Between getting up early to do some marking, Darren phoning about cameras, downloading a new podcast channel that George found, and watching some lightweight backpacking on dvd (the 1970's show "Kung Fu"), oh, and getting some WW1 French figures prepped for varnishing ... I don't seem to have started my marking yet.

And now, catching up with the videos that Cameron posted about the TGO Challenge (pt 1, pt 2) - there's Darren, there's the unsurpassable John Manning, Chris Townsend (I think, is in shot at the Montrose dinner scene). As one chap said "you have to be strange to do this".

As the commentary for part 2 ends with "are you up for it?" - Yes, I am, but just can't afford to take 2+ weeks of unpaid leave off work.

I look forward to seeing the "Adventure Show" coverage, but have a suspicion that it is just going to be snippets during their 1 hour long show rather than the main section of the programme. They tend to focus on mountain bike races, ice climbing championships, and the like. High-adrenaline races. But I'm happy to be proven wrong.

Right ... about that overwork ...

Good call, Cameron

Cameron McNeish of TGO has posted a video interview with Dane, Niels Vinther, here on his blog. If you caught the news recently, Niels was the chap who was rescued after punching out the Spot tracking system whilst on the TGO cross-Scotland challenge. Or, if you read Trail magazine, it was a cross-Scotland walk.

Challenge Spotting

Watching Cameron's video (blog link) of the start of the TGO Challenge. There's Darren in my GoLite cap, Dawn in her scarf and dark glasses. The age differences and 'non-competitive' determination of entrants. Backpacks, trekking poles and smiles.

I note with interest that in the 4 hours that the video's been available, it has had 188 downloads. Keep up the good work, Cameron, and I look forward to the BBC "Adventure Show" coverage.

Challenge Bloggers

Folk are converging on a variety of start lines on the west coast of Scotland for the annual TGO Challenge. For fun, and a t-shirt, people walk from one side of Scotland to the other.

Alan - http://alansloman.blogspot.com/
Lord Elpus/Doodlecat/Phil - http://www.doodlecat.com/

Darren - http://whitespider1066.com/
Dawn - http://dawn-outdoors.blogspot.com/

Chris T - http://christownsendoutdoors.blogspot.com/

Martin/Phreerunner and Sue/Nallo Lady - http://phreerunner.blogspot.com/

Ken Knight (USA) - http://awanderingknight.blogspot.com/

Who have I missed? Well not, Mick and Gayle, who continue their walk along the length of Britain instead of the width.

...added:

Mark Alvarez - http://walkingacrosswhat.blogspot.com/

Eight Years Later

John Manning posted this article, We’ve been shunned before! , which I have transcribed below.

Are backpackers losing out?

While the Government's Countryside and Rights of Way Bill has generally been welcomed, suggestions that wild camping on the new areas of access land is to be outlawed has caused considerable concern among Britain's backpackers.

As president of the Backpackers Club, I'm particularly saddened that the Government hasn't grasped the opportunity to make an exception for backpackers who are travelling through an area, distinguishing them from New Age campers and those who would set their tents up in one place for a week at a time.

The outlawing of camping is included in a list of restrictions to be observed by people having access to access land in Schedule 2 of the bill. The list also includes skinny dipping in any non-tidal water, mountain biking, use of four wheel drive vehicles, lighting fires and neglecting to close gates. Indeed the Country Landowners' Association has suggested that anyone found breaking these restrictions should be convicted of a criminal offence. One wonders what sort of mind equates a harmless and quiet overnight bivouac, or failing to close a gate, with crimes like burglary, assault and theft. The CLA also wants to restrict access to daylight hours, and some Tory MP's have suggested that 24 hour access tantamounts to a "burglar's charter".

Backpacking is enjoyed by thousands of people in the UK and the Backpackers' Club, founded in 1972, has over 1,300 members. The doctrine of the activity emphasises good environmental awareness and can be described as 'no-trace' camping - the backpacker determines to leave no trace of his passing and cause no disturbance to either the land or livestock. The international motto of backpacking is 'leave only footprints, take only photographs' and most backpackers today try not to even leave footprints!

The proposed restriction raises implications not only for the future of the Backpackers' Club and similar hill-walking clubs but organisations such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, the Scout movement and Outward Bound, organisations which are recognised as being highly beneficial in the positive development of young people.

Most people understand the Government's concern over the possibility of New Age camps being set up in the access areas or the possibility of people erecting 'tent villages' for weeks at a time during holidays but by outlawing all forms of camping the Government is taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Backpacking is an enjoyable, law abiding and environmentally-friendly activity and overnight wild camping in remote locations is a fundamental part of the activity. If such lightweight, wild camping was to be outlawed on the hills and high moorland areas of England and Wales then many individuals would be deprived of the opportunity of communing with the natural world in a way which they can enjoy at the present. It would be a retrograde step and contrary to the very principle of freedom-to-roam.

Andrew Bennet MP, who is president of the RA, has asked the Minister to consider the issues of high-level camping and bivouacking. "The provisions for them need to be clear in the Bill," he said, but comments from the DETR suggest that in many areas camping is subject to local bye-laws and indeed that will still be the case, and while many councils turn a blind eye to the casual backpacker who quietly and unobtrusively pitches his tent for a few hours on some remote location it's a pity the Government couldn't follow the example of many European countries which allow backpackers to camp if travelling through a region, ie they are not setting up a semi-permanent camp of several days or weeks duration.

In effect, nothing has changed since the 1949 Bill. That legislation restricted camping too, and my advice to backpackers is carry on as before.

Cameron McNeish - Editor, TGO Magazine, May 2000

--

Links

• Cameron McNeish
• TGO Magazine
• Backpackers' Club
• Rambler's Association
• Country Land & Business Association
• Legalise Wild Camping
• ePetition

TGO March Promo

Downloaded & viewed the TGO video from Cameron McNeish's site - the main man's sat in an Akto (woohoo). Talks about Eddy Meechan starting a regular column (after the last one, great to hear that).

I failed to get the iTunes download to work, so just downloaded the file from the site and played it locally.

--

 ePetition up to 544 signatures.

ePetition update: Week 3

Darren's wild camping ePetition breaks the 500 mark in 3 weeks of being live. It increased from 480 last night to 519 signatures. I'm not sure if this means that the news has reached a magazine, or other forums. Any ideas?

Sadly it means that they are now showing the latest 500 signatures, so us early birds are only visible if you see the full list.

--

Completed the TGO Magazine survey.

ePetition: Signatures

Look, I'm not "outing" anyone, and I hope that TGO writer, Eddy Meechan, didn't feel that I was picking on him in an earlier posting.

--

ePetition count: 436 Signatures (including Mr M)

ePetition reaches 400

Over 400 names on Darren's pro-wild camping ePetition now.

I'm starting to look at TGO magazine in a new light - seeing if there's any "incitement to cause civil disorder", by mentioning wildcamping without giving the land owner's contact details The only mention that I can infer is in Eddy Meechan's superb article about using a vapour barrier similar to the Inuit's clothing.

As I read the arguments from folks against making wild camping legal, I think on what super-hiker, Andrew Skurka, says "I want to experience the backcountry of the Scottish Highlands and understand that culture a little bit more" (TGO, p74). Culture - people have a different culture up here in the Highlands than down South. As I'm on a downer just now, perhaps we should have a passport system up here - why the heck should we have these whinging NIMBY's up here when you can't be bothered having the same rights in your green and pleasant land. Good enough up in Scotland, but not down in England & Wales. Well, whoop de do.

What's the wild camping equivalent of the Boston Tea Party? Sodding immigrants coming up here and taking up our wild camping spaces. Equal rights for wild campers in the UK. "Don't tread on me", indeed.

Like I said, I'm on a downer just now.

Oh, and there's a new target for the ePetition: 1350 signatures. It was the same number of responses that were received in Scotland before wild camping was introduced legally under the Access Code (source).

Less than a thousand signatures to obtain from somewhere now. Perhaps some from English & Welsh TGO Challengers who are hoping to come and wild camp in Scotland later in the year? But I guess that many will have already been far-thinking enough to have been in the first 400.

Am I picking on TGO? Nope. I just can't be bothered mentioning the so-called populist magazines with their NIMBY attitudes. Life's too short and, quite frankly, I really don't care enough about them. They have their corporate lawyers who must consider everything that they write. In these days of "blame culture" (or more accurately, "excuse culture"), they have to watch what to make sure they don't encourage people to break the law. So they end up being middle of the road. Heck, if it is good enough for Phil Collins, why not the populist press.

I'll wait for the punk magazine, TAC, to release their next edition.

Never mind the blox.

Adventure Show: North

The Adventure Show is on Radio Scotland on Saturday morning for 4 weeks. They are cunningly focusing on the compass points, and this first week is "north" (of Scotland).

And Cameron's in it too ("pull duvet up over head and go back to bed...looking pretty grim....").

ListenOnDemand

Wild Camping Petition: T+8d.pm

TGO editorial blog by "Scotland's best known hillwalker" (I think that's what the  BBC call him), Cameron McNeish: Wild camping in E&W

--

Signature count: 289.

Trail Forum MakeOver

Trail's parent site is now under "Live For The Outdoors". I don't know, or care about the corporate changes behind the scenes. If the magazine stops giving me the information that I expect, then I'll stop subscribing. Same with any of my other memberships.

Their forum has been given a makeover. I sometimes have a looksee, but I picked this up from OM, where I lurk regularly.

Link

In the aim of balance, TGO magazine also has a forum. As do the Mountain Bothies Association,  Wargames Illustrated and Digital Photo magazine.

Ask Not for Whom the Dog barks

I posted this comment across on BG!'s blog. Not sure if there's a prize for the longest comment, especially when OP was only 4 lines long. I've repeated it here, and added in some hyperlinks.

----

Often the growling dogs are difficult to detect. Especially if the howls are across various streets. A comment here, a post there, and a dig somewhere else. If a wolf beys for blood, they should expect the huntsmen to come after them. A bite here, a nip there, a rip somewhere else.

Orwell was warning against the evils of the Soviet totalitarianism. Pastor Niemoller warned of the silent majority allowing the Nazi regime to grow. No-one was talking about people arguing about outdoors forums, blogs or magazines.

Unlike the world of the past, we are more at risk from getting snippy comments than being made to disappear by the NKVD or the Gestapo/Abwehr. The worst that happened to me was taking some snippy comments into the Cairngorms with me in the summer. The worst that seems to have happened on the Trail forum is that some jerk called up and cancelled a campsite booking. Hardly events that merit writings by a modern Eric Blair, is it?

“Each human mind’s an outpost
And the frontiers of Freedom expand
Conquering minds and hearts
Prelude to the conquest of cities and of states
Till the world is wholly free
And then?
We will strive for higher freedoms still”

Bob Cooney wrote that some years after his return from fighting fascism in Spain in the 30’s.

I await a report in TGO or Trail or Country Walking in to the conditions that factory workers in China and other non-EU countries are working in. The evils aren’t who said what on blogs or forums or magazines, but on the morality of outsourcing.

Then maybe, just maybe, the hounds could be unleashed not on the desire to pay less and less money for the goods, but on outsourcing work to countries where workers do not have the legal protection that EU workers have - one of the many reasons that the goods are cheaper. Perhaps then we will have “higher freedoms” instead of merely lower costs, higher unemployment and our own industry can start on equal terms.

Every time I hit return on the keyboard, another child worker has been crushed my machinery in a factory somewhere in the world (¥). Next time you buy your cheap jeans or cotton t-shirt, think on the kid cotton-pickers who’s hands have been scarred by the hand-picking techniques caused by the lack of machine parts to fix the post-Soviet era machinery.

Life is a bitch. Let’s not forget the true evils being hidden by the real growling mutts of the world. Not some keyboard commandos, but some people who don’t give a damn where products come from, and what hardships people went through to make them and ship them, so long as they’re a few quid cheaper than the ‘ethical’ ones.

But I’ve obviously missed these editions of the outdoors magazines that investigated these issues.

{¥   I made that bit up.}

WD's Kit List

Whilst following up a thread on OM, I found the testimonial page for the Delta Ground Anchors, and the comment from John King reminded me that maybe Darren needs some of these to hold his tarp down on the 2008 TGO Challenge. *g

If you're not sure of the back-story to this, here's George's brick-film.

Outdoors Manning

John Manning, until recently and for 13 years previous, the deputy editor of TGO, has a new website at www.outdoorsmanning.co.uk  He specialises in writing about walking and the great outdoors, especially backpacking.

Click here to see a drama-documentary of his escape over the Border. Many aspects have been fictionalised...okay, all of them have.