Chill pill required

I am beginning to take this all a little too seriously. I need to step away from the pack and maps for a while. I could also do with a lesson in using my calculator.

I had a minor panic this morning when, after another practice pack (because I now have most of my food) I weighed the pack and myself and calculated 28lbs. 28lbs! Nooo!

So this afternoon I made some minor adjustments, including adding the odd, small item I’d forgotten this morning and removing a spare top, a small amount of food and decanted some foot gel into a smaller pot.

Low and behold, this afternoon my pack is weighing in at a more respectable 22lbs.

But I know I only took out a small amount and actually added one or two small items.  I definitely did not remove 6lbs worth.

My conclusion?

My maths is just as rubbish as it’s always been.

Numpty.

Panic over.

I would go and have a lie down in a darkened room, but it’s Brownies tonight. Give me strength…

Lists galore!

I’ve been making the odd list. Lists are my thing, I like the order they give, the sense of control, I find them comforting. While I’ve been recuperating with just a little walking on Monday, I’ve been trying to fill my day by doing little useful jobs that I can then tick off the main list.

One of those jobs was to make a list of items still to buy, a daily food requirement list, parcels lists (what parcels need to go where and when, containing what and what’s to be sent back.) Another job which was not a list, but still required order, removing yet more map covers (AARRGGGGH!!) and noting important grid references.

So, I think I’ve listed everything I can at this point in time. I’m sure I’ll find more to list nearer the time, but for now I’m done. I won’t go into detail, you’ll just tell me to get help.

And I’ve finished the map thing too, I now know more details about my maps than you could possibly imagine.

I have discovered a new toy on my travels on the web. At the Post Office website, you can work out how much your parcels will cost and even pay for and print off the postage, wow! Don’t tell me, you already knew about this, but I’m going to be having hours of fun with it!

All I need to do now is GET FIT! Once I’ve stopped coughing my lungs up, this should get easier…

Window shopping is dangerous

We’ve had a problem with the car for the last month or so, a strange, occasional smell of burning, which I found a tad disconcerting (?!), so David duly booked the car in to be looked at. Unfortunately, his garage of choice in Inverness. Fortunately, I decided I needed a bimble around Inverness to keep him company and perhaps to do a little window shopping.

We did a bit.

In between morning coffee, lunch and afternoon coffee, we visited several shops and I must confess, there was a high percentage of outdoor shops on the list. Almost 100% as it happens.

And on our journey, we found some gortex patches, (to patch David’s new Paclite trousers which he managed to rip on his winter skills training day in the Cairngorms yesterday) and a pair of these little beauties.

Medicine in the form of Keen Venice H2

These were just the medicine I needed for the bout of tonsillitis I’ve succumbed to in the last couple of days (what next?) . They are just a shade lighter than my Merrell Siren Ventilators, but I figured they’d dry even more quickly after a river crossing, (or perhaps it won’t even matter if they are wet) as well as be comfortable around camp or even for stretches of walking on suitable terrain. We like! Strangely, in the blurb, they are described as ‘waterproof’. Really?

Wanton vandalism

I have been confined to barracks, again, after aggravating my knee, which was a bit daft. The bruising has all but gone and there is no pain unless pressure is applied, but even then, not much pain, so I’m disappointed not to be back to full fitness after such a silly fall.

Never mind, there are other jobs to be done that don’t involve steaming up and down stairs or pounding up roads and across fields. I’ve been poring over the maps of my recently vetted route, making a note of significant grid references for the most tricky junctions. Maybe this isn’t everyone’s method, but it keeps me happy, except for one, minor detail…

Removing map covers and writing on them (some in china pencil) feels so wrong!

But then, sometimes, naughty is nice. Isn’t it?

Look, look, look!

(Did I get your attention?)

I postponed my walk slightly today so that I could wait in for the postman, just on the slight chance he might have a package for me. Bob and Rose have worked their magic and he did!

 Look, sweeties too!

I wouldn’t let myself investigate further before I’d been for a walk, so a sped off for three miles down the cycle path and back. It was a beautiful day and much less slippery, thank goodness, but I still approached some bits a little gingerly as there had been a hard frost overnight.

Upon my return, I immediately set to, practice packing my fabulous new Pinnacle. Actually, it was probably more a case of stuffing everything in just to weigh it and what a difference!  Just 19.4 lbs, wow! That even includes the odd item I forgot last time, like sun cream, hand and  magic foot gels, pan lid, repellent. I’ve still to allow for water and a bit more food, but I’m so chuffed! Money well spent.

Now, I just need to work out the best way to pack it.

Looks a little dumpy, just like me! (You should see the side view. Except I’m less green…)

The devastation when I returned from my walk

Oh, I’m a happy bunny. Each day I’m getting more and more over-excited. I’m like a child looking forward to Christmas!

(Shaved a little more weight off myself too, which all helps. That’s half of the Festive overindulgence dealt with!)