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The Big Walk - Kit #6a Misc Gear

2/26/2022

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The pack I use on THE BIG WALK, is listed as being a part of my "Misc Kit" yet selecting the pack, I will purchase will be another long story; thus that will be a separate post.  This post is about the other items that will be carried but don't fall into food, clothing, first aide, or trail hygiene. 

What I consider part of this kit:
  • Sit Pad: so your bony ass doesn't get wet because the ground is wet or poked from rocks. I went with an inexpensive folding egg crate design that is a knock off of the Therma-Rest folding sleeping pad used by many through hikers.
  • Head Lamp. The shop elf has a large selection of these, part of his LED lamp (OCD) collection. Yes, he has evaluated the lamp intensity, the battery type and use times. Don't ask why he does not go caving or do any activity in the dark where one would be required. It's part of be prepared and if One is good a gazillion is certainly better.  Having explained this, he selected a good lamp that uses disposable batteries that will last over 6 hours in case I get caught on the trail. 
  • Maps: Not only do I have a gpx map file of the Moray way that I can use on my phone with GPX Viewer which is a free app; I will have printed maps - just in case!
  • Reflective Harness: I decided to get this because some of the "trail" is either road or road-side walking plus I might be walking with traffic vs. toward traffic and I want to be seen. I went with an elastic, adjustable X style so if needed it can fit over me and my pack. I just got a XL off of Amazon from the construction section. 
  • Binoculars: A small set for watching the wildlife. There is a point along the trail what is supposed to be great for bird watching.
  • Camera, Memory Cards, and Battery: This is a Sony digital camera that belongs to Elisa and I will use this to take pictures, including macros, and video of the journey to post along the way. I have 2 extra memory cards and 2 rechargeable batteries.
  • Mobile Phone: Not only to use for GPS but to take some pictures and to make calls. I use AT&T and they have an add on plan so I call the USA or UK without massive roaming charges. Even though I can take video with my phone it will fill the storage and so I won't.
  • Head Phone: so I can listen to music, of course OR talk to the shop elf.
  • Battery Bank: This is a massive rechargeable battery that can be used to charge your electronics. The one I have also has a solar panel so it could be used to charge while on the trail but it's slow, it is the Patriot brand with a LED light that can also flash for emergency signaling. The battery can charge your electronics via standard USB or USB-C which is what my mobile phone has. Yes, this is another thing the shop elf has a few of. 
  • Walking Stick: A single stick, not a pair with a carbide tip for when I need to poke dirt; a rubber cover for when using the stick on a road (so you don't poke holes in the asphalt); a small basket to prevent the pole from sinking into very soft dirt; a cork ball and strap at the top, it's the REI house brand. I went with a single as I won't be hill climbing and will really only need one for support when rock hopping across wet land or streams. If I unscrew the cork ball at the top I have a screw for mounting a camera and so it can become a selfie-stick or a mono-pod.
  • Midge Net: May is not midge season in Scotland but one never knows. So I picked one up at REI, it's the Ben brand.
  • Covid Mask: During this pandemic, I have been using a Gill Mask, I will bring it along as well as some regular and N95 filters.
  • Water Bottle and Bladder: I have a 0.75 silicone water bottle that is collapsible which I have been using for my training walks, it also has a loop so I can put it in a shoulder strap pocket or use a carabiner to hang it off the pack. I will also get a 2-3 liter water bladder to hold water but not with a drinking tube. These will from HydraPack.
  • Clear Dry Bags: for the phone, camera and maps. I went with a set from amazon that also have a lanyard so I can attach to the pack when not in use. 
  • Other emergency stuff: this is compass, whistle, emergency contact information.

Here's some of these item laid out on my floor.
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The Big Walk - Kit #5 Electronics

2/21/2022

 
While on the trail or in the B&B each night I will have a small mountain of electronics. 

This kit consists of:
  • Camera, Memory Cards, and Batteries: For a camera I will be using a Sony RX100 digital camera that belongs to Elisa;  I will use this to take pictures, including macros of flowers and insects and video of the journey to post along the way. I have 2 extra memory cards and 2 rechargeable batteries. Plus the USB charging cable.
  • Mobile Phone: I have a Motorola Razr, not only will I use it for GPS but to take some pictures and to make calls. I use AT&T and they have an add on plan so I call the USA or UK without massive roaming charges. Even though I can take video with my phone it will fill the storage and so I won't. Then I have a USB-C charging cable for this.
  • Ear Buds: so I can listen to music, of course OR talk to the shop elf and Elisa.
  • Battery Bank: This is a massive rechargeable battery that can be used to charge your electronics. The one I have also has a solar panel so it could be used to charge while on the trail but it's slow, it is the Patriot brand with a LED light that can also flash for emergency signaling. The battery can charge your electronics via standard USB or USB-C which is what my mobile phone has. Yes, this is another thing the shop elf has a few of.
  • Laptop: I have a Dell Inspiron that can convert into a tablet. This will allow me to off-load the video from the camera card; write longer emails, write blog posts, etc. This uses a USB to wall plug. 
  • Wall Adapters: I have 2 USA to UK but one both a USB and a USB-C ports so I can use the regular adapter to charge the laptop and then use the other one to charge the phone (USB-C) , the Camera (USB), or Battery Bank (USB or USB-C).  
All the stuff I carry will be stored in a dry sack or waterproof sleeve.
Picture

The Big Walk - Kit #4 Clothing

2/19/2022

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I have been gathering the items for this kit for a while now and I think I have acquired what I will wear while walking, what I will need to carry in my pack, and what I will need for the evenings when I am at the B&B(s).

I have some things in quantity so think of it as one to wear/carry the others will be in the overnight bag. And I something gets dirty I can wash it in the sink of my B&B room and let it dry overnight and the next day and wear the clean item of that the next day. I am walking for 10 days but I am not carrying 10 sets of clothing; just 2 or 3 of any item depending on what it is. 

Here's what I have
  • Rain Parka Outdoor Research and Pants by REI. I went OR rain parka because it is a Gore-Tex material and has not only 2-way pit-zips but the front zip is also 2-way. Many of the parka's I looked at did not have a 2-way zip but I like them because you can open the zips from both ends for venting. The rain pants have a full zip along the outside of each leg so you can put them on without taking your boots off and you can prevent dirt/mud from getting on the inside.  Because these are Gore-Tex they are a bit heavier and bulkier than some of the very light weight once that through-hikers carry but the Gore-Tex can also add a little layer of warmth protection on cold days. Qty: 1 of each.
  • Ultra-Light Puffy Jacket by L.L.Bean. This is poly-fill because down won't keep you warm when wet. I can wear this on the trail or around town. Qnty: 1.
  • Base Layer with Omin-Heat Tops and Bottoms by Columbia. I purchased these a little large so I can pull them OVER my shorts/pants and t-shirt if need be. Qty: 1 of each.
  • Thin Gloves by Columbia. In case it is cold and raining. Qty: 1 pair.
  • Bandana. To cover my ears if cold or to mop my brow if hot. Qty: 1.
  • Walking Shorts with pockets and liner by Road Runner sports. Qty: 2.
  • Hiking Tights by Columbia. Qty: 2.
  • T-shirts. Qty: 3.
  • Outer socks by Thorlo. These are a thin running sock with patting in the heel, top of arch and toes and are mid-calf in length to make sure they don't slip into my boots. Qty: 3.
  • Inner socks by REI. This is a silk blend to wick moisture and will help prevent blisters. Qty: 3.
  • Fleece jacket by L.L.Bean - for when it's cool on the trail or to wear when in a village and walking to dinner. Qty: 1.
  • Micro-Fiber Pants by Columbia. These are to wear in the evening when I go to dinner. Qty: 1.
  • Polo style shirt by Lands End. Again, to wear to dinner. Qty: 1.
  • T-Shirt - for sleeping in at night. Qty: 1.
  • Undies. Qty: 3.
  • Sport Bra. Qnty: 2
  • Hiking Boots by Oboz. These are waterproof and come just above my ankle and have full shank to prevent pronation; this is a problem for me since I am flat footed. I have been wearing their hiking shoe for the past few months while training. Qty: 1 pair.
  • Sneakers: To wear in the B&B and when I go to dinner. The lighter weight will be enjoyed after a day of walking in boots.
  • Hat with Brim. This is to keep the sun out of my eyes and the brim will help support the midge net IF I am wearing it to keep the midges out of my face.
I will say that I had problems finding clothing that fit me.
Yes I am loosing weight but right now I am still chunky so most of my clothing is 1X.
REI says they have plus sizes but most is only XL or 1X and the selection is VERY limited. I went to the REI in San Antonio and they had NONE on the racks. The sales person said they sometimes only get 1 or 2 of the larger items. My thought was WHY?, you have 10 small and 10 medium, maybe 5 large BUT NO XL/1X??. The sales person suggested I order on-line but that's a pain because if they don't fit you have to return them and try another size and around and around you go! 

 then googled for Plus Size hiking gear and found that Columbia has a very large range of sizes and clothing items. Luckily there is a Columbia store in SA as well so I went and did some trying on. Not everything I wanted was in the size I needed but I could try on a XL which was too small and a 2X which was tooooo large and thus knew the 1X would fit. 

Now I can work on fitting what I will actually carry into dry bags and then head to REI for a pack. I will take it to verify that the pack volume will hold my stuff is correct to and get a fitting to make sure the pack is set for my torso length.


Here's what it all look like just laid on the floor excluding boots and a few other things mentioned but not delivered yet.
Picture
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The Big Walk - Kit #3 Food

2/15/2022

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I have finally purchased the items for my trail food kit. Again I watched many videos; mostly from people doing through hikes and a few from through hikers posting about day hikes so I could compare equipment, food and idea of what I might need. And again, what people eat and use to cook, on the trail has radically changed since my days of hiking in the 70's and 80's.   

Here's what I decided to do:
  • I purchased a small (water) cook set by Esbit that uses solid fuel tablets. Since I only need to heat water for coffee, tea, soup, or a package of noodles I went for the smallest yet easiest stove. With the solid fuel tablets I don't have to worry about finding liquid fuel in the wilds of Scotland and not carrying more than a day+ of fuel as the rest can be in my overnight bag. The Esbit kit comes with a cup/pot that holds over 16 oz. and has a lid, the "stove" which holds the fuel tablet and acts as wind screen.  Note that the solid fuel can NOT be carried on a plane at all, so I ordered some from Amazon UK and it is being shipped directly to Elisa.
  • A titanium spoon. From the video most people said they used a spork or spoon but mostly it was the spoon that's needed. One guy talked about going cheap with plastic spoons he picked up every time he went to town from the trail but that they always either - broke or melted in the hot food; so just buy a titanium one as they are cheap on Amazon.
  • Collapsible Cup. I found a large one, over 16 oz., with a sealing lid so when I make coffee/tea, I can carry it on the trail with me. This will also be good when I leave my B&B and head out for the day with a cuppa.
  • Small Thermos. I got this on sale at REI, it holds over 16 oz. and from my test it keeps the boiling water, boiling hot for about 4 hours and it's still hot at 5 but after 10 hours, the advertised time, it is just warm. This is partly why I also got the cook set. I might put my morning coffee in here so I don't have to stop and make some on the train, in the mornings.
  • Food: Again I raided Amazon UK and ordered: cappuccino and mocha packets so I don't have carry powdered milk or sweetener. I also purchased 2 different types of cup o'soups and a few Knorr noodle dishes for lunch on the trail. For snacks it's protein bars and little packets of nuts. And for recovery an assortment of Gatorade/Propel powered packets. Again, all this has been sent to Elisa to await my arrival.

I did purchase what I think I will need for the 10 days of walking but the majority will be in my overnight bag and I will only have to carry that day's supplies. And if I do come into a village, I can always find a place there to have lunch or an afternoon tea and snack.
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The Big Walk - Kit #2 First Aid

2/4/2022

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This time it's the first aid kit to carry on my walk. Yes, I know that I am only "walking" but one must be prepared and when I was putting my supply list together it ended up looking like I was going to be on a mountain hike for a month; I had to pare it down. I ended up on YouTube looking at what people have posted regarding a 1-2 day hike (meaning overnight too).  I really only need to carry 1+ day's worth of first aid, and any disposables like band-aides, ibuprofen, or gauze could be replenished from extras that are in my overnight bag.  

Then it was off to the local drug store and on-line to stock up on the supplies. 
Here's my list:
  • Ace bandage
  • Antacids
  • Antihistamine gel for bug itches
  • Neosporin
  • Alcohol swabs
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Bandaids: H-style, knuckle, standard, extra large rectangle
  • Dental picks with floss
  • Emergency blanket 
  • Gauze pads
  • Gold Bond anti-chafe powder
  • Hand sanitizer gel
  • Ibuprofen 
  • Iodine swabs
  • Lidocaine based creme and patch
  • Lighter
  • Midge/Bug repellent
  • Mole skin
  • Multi-Tool with knife, scissors, tweezers
  • Nitrile gloves
  • Petrolium jelly 
  • Prescription drugs
  • Surgical (curved) need with suture
  • Self-stick tape
  • Tick removal tool

All this fits into the first aid zip bag, shown below. 
Picture
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    About Laurie

    Laurie lives in central Texas with Erich, a.k.a. "the shop elf", her hubby of 35+ years and Cowboy Boots, the cat; her metals studio including 100+ hammers and 300+ chasing tools; her sewing studio which has a sewing machine, a closet filled with fabric, hundreds of skeins of embroidery floss and perle cotton, silk and other materials, and Mrs. King the dress dummy; two weaving looms, assorted knitting needles, tubs of yarn; lots of books; plus a plethora of geeky tech gadgets, computers, and more.

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