That's what I'm talking about

I love wine. Lots of it too. It's good for you.

We have taken wine on backpacking trips in a Platy bottle before, but they have now produced one especially for vino. The PlatyPreserve.

Basically, once you open a bottle and it is exposed to oxygen the taste improves for a bit then rapidly degenerates. At home we use a Vacuvin for the very rare occasions that we don't actually finish a bottle. When you are out and about, a Platypus bottle is ideal because you can squeeze all of the air out and then seal it to prevent degradation.

Perfect for picnics, backpacking, hostelling, lunchtime stops, sneaky snifters at events...

Each Platy holds a full bottle and they sell four packs (for four day backpacking trips I suppose?)

Can't find them in the UK yet though.

Sweet

Bob has been busy. Go and check out his multi fuel offering, the Honey Stove. Wood, meths, esbit, sheep shit, fork 'andles, finest malt...

Weight
Side Panels 5 x 42g
Fire Door 25g
Base Grill 57g
Mid Grill 27g
Top Grill 32g
Total if all carried: 351g

All stainless. All for under 30 quid. Good work Bob :)

Out west – Day 1

I had a few days free a couple of weeks ago, so I packed up and went to west Wales to do some proper camping and exploring.

Cardigan was just a few miles away, so I popped into Howies.

Howies is a very smooth brand turning out some rather special clothing – their marketing is world renowned and I always look forward to their catalogues, emails or any other ‘little something’ they may send to amuse me into purchasing. Timberland acquired a chunk of them last year, but all the fears of what damage a nasty megabrand could do to them dissolved into nothing. They are still the same, but with a few more quid behind them, which is good for all involved I suppose.

I left quite a few £’s lighter with an Epic cotton waterproof jacket and a shirt I like so much I might frame it.

BTW, my favourite ever tee shirt is a ‘Howies’ and I am going to wear it until it falls to bits.

On to Boncath

I stayed at Rhydhowell Farm campsite, just outside the small village of Boncath (pronounced 'Bonkers' with a lisp) for my three nights in Pembs. I found it via the Campfires Burning website and when I emailed the chap who owns the farm and asked him if it was OK to cook on an open fire, he replied with “How else would you cook when camping!” I booked immediately.

The farm is run by John Quinn, and Englishman farming in the heart of rural Wales and a true gentleman. He has a beautiful property, dating back to the 1790’s, but he has been resident for the past 35 years. The farm is over seventy acres with a large percentage of it a stunning semi ancient wooded valley that would have the bushcraft boys sharpening their Mora’s in anticipation (don’t worry, he has plans for you!) John has set a path through the woods that makes it accessible to most who can handle a gentle stroll – he gave me a guided tour with his sheepdog Sally at his side.

The campsite is very basic, with a loo that I couldn’t use (I’m an arachnophobe) and an old static caravan that contains a sink for washing up, a decent WC and a hot shower. He has piped water into the various fields that he has set aside for campers and has fire pans dotted around for his campers to use.

I stayed in one of his ‘hideaway’ pitches – small enclosures set aside for a more private camping experience. The pitch had a fine group of Douglas Firs at one end and enough room for several tents. Sadly, the firs were just too far apart for me to hang my Clarke Jungle Hammock – a night in that will have to wait just a bit longer.

Rhydhowell is one of those sites that when you find it, you want to keep it a secret. But that wouldn’t be fair to John, who is trying his best to make a simple but beautiful campsite for those that would rather have a more natural camping experience.

Just don’t tell anyone else.

I set up the Bison Lavvu, got comfy (and I mean comfy – lots of luxuries come with me when car camping – a real bed, a fridge, rugs, chair and a gas cooker with a grill) and settled down to cook ratatouille over the fire and slug a bottle of wine while watching the flames flickering.

It was a very cold night due to the crystal clear skies and my RayWay quilt struggled to keep me warm, but l also bought my down backpacking quilt just in case. Had a damned good nights sleep.

Out west – Day 2

Today was Preseli Hills day.

As I was on my own (you need two cars) and I wasn’t sure if the local hiker’s bus was running, I decided not to walk the full 8 mile end to end route. I parked up in Crymych and quickly stomped up Foel Drygarn and then onto Carn Sian and back down to the van creating a short circular route.

Although not particularly high, the Preseli Hills have a character all of their own and the really do feel ancient and mystical. A quick bit of research will tell you that the stones from Stonehenge came from here and all sorts prehistoric remains have been found – the place is riddled with sacred sites.

I then drove to the western end of the range and climbed up to the highest point, Foel Cwmcerwyn at 536 metres past decimated forestry and a few very boggy sections. The view from the top was stupendous – I could even see the Gower peninsular. It was also obvious that this route could be extended, staying fairly high, pretty much all the way to the sea. Lots more exploring to be done another time.

I got chatting to a ‘local’ walker on the top who told me that on a clear winter’s day, you could see Snowdon and the Beacons from this summit. We stayed chatting and we spent a very pleasant couple of hours discussing everything from a love of wine to pickling chillies on the walk back down to the cars. Sorry, I never asked your name, but your old black lab’ was called Jasper I think.

Driving in this part of Wales is amusing to say the least. I saw at least two cars with no number plates or tax – one of these came screaming around a corner towards me and the driver had a large dog on his lap. He waved as he passed.

Back to camp and a fantastic meal of vegetable and paneer kebabs marinated in lemon, basil and olive oil. You can’t cook like that when you are backpacking. I phoned Sarah who was in Paris with the kids and my in-laws paying homage to Mickey Mouse and I think I was a little too pissed to hold a totally coherent conversion. I can’t remember.

The ultimate (car) camping BBQ?

The Bon-Fire barbeque set-up is just perfect! Beautifully made, Danish design and very 'pioneer'. This will be great when we camp with the Lavvu.

A heavy steel tripod holds a brazier / fire pan off the ground. There are three chains that hang from the legs that hold either a large stainless steel grill or a huge skillet / Paella style pan. From the top of the tripod comes another chain attached to a rotating handle and from this hangs a 6 litre enamelled stew pot (filled with Fasolia Yahni - Greek Bean Stew, in this photo)

But that's not all... there is a long handled pancake pan with... wait for it... a popcorn attachment. The kids love it. Lastly, it comes with an array of terrifying BBQ utensils, that look like tools for killing the cow as well as cooking it.

You can use firewood, lump charcoal or briquettes. I love this so much!

We tried it in the garden tonight - a practice run - just in case August should throw up two dry days in a row and we can go camping.

This set up is called the Bon-fire Complete Deluxe Package if you are tempted. Check out their gear at www.bon-fire.dk

Grandpa's Toasting Fork

I see Bob has the Light my Fire toasting forks in stock for only £3.99.

They just clip onto a stick and are great for open fire cooking.

I have one for each member of my family, they are great fun, especially for BBQ's when the embers are dying down and you can load them with four marshmallows.

Go get some now.

While you're there, grab a couple of tubes of the Gehwol foot cream. Rub it on your feet and between your toes before a hike and sore points and blisters will be a thing of the past. I didn't even get a hot spot on the Cambrian Way last year and put it all down to this cream.

Dutch Oven

When we camped in the woods last year, I made some Beer Bread in a Dutch Oven and it went down really well. It is basically four cups wholemeal bread flour, salt, sugar, herbs, garlic, dried toms and any other fancy stuff you fancy - then you just pour in a 500ml bottle of real ale, mix it all up and leave it for half an hour before popping it in the Dutch Oven and placing it in the embers for another half an hour. (It works well in a regular oven too)

The yeast in the beer does enough work to make the bread pretty light - the flavour is out of this world.

Today, I practiced a recipe for a Peach Cobbler that is perfect for camping as it's so easy. You need any white cake mix, a can of lemonade and 2 tins of peach slices. Dump the cake mix and drained peaches in the pot, give it a stir and then add lemonade until the consistency is about right. Pop it on the embers for half an hour.

We had it with ice cream for dessert this evening.

BushBuddy

In a desperate attempt to get some 'outside' time in this awful July weather, the boys cooked hotdogs using my BushBuddy Ultra stove and some old blackcurrant sticks that I have been drying.

Now they have full tummies and smell of woodsmoke :)

Bushbuddy pot - Trek900

My colleague, Takako, has just returned from Christmas in Japan and she brought me back a natty little Snowpeak Trek900 (in aluminium) for my Bushbuddy Ultra.

It's a perfect fit and great value (well under a tenner). The ti' versions costs £30.00 in the UK. I am not going to use this for regular lightweight backpacking, so ti' was overkill.

Thanks again Tak!

September

I love September - apart from the annual arachnid invasion of my house.

Here's something different for you to try... relaxing, educational, primal and just a little bit hippy.

Download one of these charts, sharpen your old penknife (or get one of these), buy the poor man's BushBuddy for a tenner and go and spend an hour or two in your local woods. Not the horrible coniferised F.E. forests, but a real woodland.

Spend some time getting away from the dog walking paths, find a nice quite spot, sit on your rucksack, make yourself a brew or two with your little woodburner (maybe even some lunch), whittle a stick and just chill.

Sit there long enough (and quiet enough) and it's a totally different outdoor experience to the hills we know and love. Wildlife comes and finds you. If you are brave enough and The Blair Witch Project is a distant memory, try camping in the woods.

Use the chart to learn some trees on the way.

I did this with my 5 year old son this weekend and he can now spot about 8 trees just from their leaves.

Smelling of woodsmoke reminded me of being 11 again :)

Bushcraft fun

We had a day in the woods on Saturday with Dryad Bushcraft run by a fella called Andrew Price, here on Gower Peninsula.

They run several courses and we opted for the one day starter course, set in private woodland about 10 mins from home.

Alan, myself and Alans son, Robert, together with three other folk, were taught to light fires by friction (Al was the super hero at this - said his carpenters skills helped), make fire using a piece of flint, campfire cookery including some fantastic beer bread (flour and beer in a Dutch Oven), tarp'n'hammock set up and then a foraging expedition.

It was a slow paced, relaxing day with two instructors who lived for the outdoors and had an answer to every question. We got chatting to one of the guys who told us that when he has to go to London, he uses his hammock in Kew Gardens!

We had a great day - it was like being a boy scout again - we got to play with knives, fire and axes. We got to eat berries that you would have thought would give you the trots for a week and learned a lot about the green stuff all around us. I know it will add a new level of enjoyment to our walking and backpacking.

If you love spending time in the outdoors, find your local bushcraft course provider - you'll love it!

New vargi ti' stove

Vargo are about to launch a new titanium stove, the Decagon.


There are not many details available, but it is a simple one piece unit with a large stability plate. Looks like it will be a bit easier to fill too.

It will set you back $30.00 from the US, so when it arrives here, no doubt it'll cost double that!

Chinese take away

I have been playing with my dehydrator this week and tried to make and oriental coleslaw salad that can be eaten cold (after listening to a podcast - Wildebeat show 65, Backcountry Home Cooking).
I sliced up a white cabbage, grated a few carrots, sliced a few spring onions, threw in some broken up whole wheat spaghetti and mixed it all up with ginger, sushi vinegar, soy sauce and sesame oil. It was delicious! I weighed it, dried it, weighed it again to find out how much water I would need to rehydrate it and then portioned it up.
I rehydrated a portion with cold water for a couple of hours - it came back to life but tasted awful, so it's back to the drawing board for cold lunches. I think it was the spring onions that didn't work very well.
I then took another portion and used boiling water and popped it in my freezer bag cozy for 10 minute and it was fantastic! Just like a veggie chow mein - the vegetables were al dente, closely imitating stir fried food. A success!
If I was to use this for a main meal, I throw some Quorn chunks in too and a bit more broken up pasta.

Curry next!

Cooking - Moroccan Couscous

Here is a recipe that I have just posted on OM for someone who wanted to experiment with freezer bag cookery.

It's for (veggie) Moroccan Couscous:

• 1 pkt Tesco mushroom couscous
• 50g Tesco soya mince
• 1 pkt tomato cup a soup
• 2 tblspoons dried onions (Whitworths)
• 1 tblspoon ground cumin
• 100g sultanas

Pop all into an Aloksak then add 500ml of boiling water, seal and wrap the Aloksak in your sleeping bag or duvet jacket for 20mins. It'll carry on cooking without using any fuel. It's a HUGE portion!