With just under 2 months until I start THE BIG WALK; and 1.5 months until I actually leave; it is now time to do some training walks. Today I loaded the pack - extra clothing, rain gear, stove, some food, water, hygiene bag, electronics, donned by walking clothing and hat and hit the road. My plan was to walk 3-4 miles then stop for lunch and then walk another 3-4 miles. Stopping for lunch would mean using the Esbit stove and testing it so I am not out on the trail in Scotland not knowing what the frack I was doing.
I left the house at 9:15am and it was 44F; I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt with the mid-layer top over the shirt due to the nip in the air. I walked around the neighborhood, just over 4 miles in 1.5 hours. I ended up back at the house where I went into the back yard to cook my lunch.
What's for lunch? A Knorr Rice side, a cuppa tea, and a protein bar. I set up the stove with 2 fuel tablets, put 16 oz. of water in the cup/pot and set the tablets a fire. Oh, I started a timer to see how long it too to come to a boil which took about 10 minutes; I think this was longer than the tests I saw on YouTube due to the slight breeze that was blowing. Once the water came to a boil, I opened the foil packet and poured in the 16 oz. of water, stirred with my spoon and set it aside to "cook" and I put another 16 oz of water in the cup and set it back on the stove so I could make some tea; about a half a fuel tab was left over but I knew it wasn't going to be enough to boil more water so I put another, number 3, in the stove. After another 10 minutes, I poured that water into my silicone cup and made tea, sealing the lid for later and by this time the rice was ready. I also had a visitor, Cowboy Boots came to investigate and enjoy the sunshine. The rice wasn't that bad but it was salty; I think adding some protein, which I did not do this time, would make a very hearty meal.
After I put the stove away, I grabbed my tea and bar, finished them off and put my pack back on for another go around the neighborhood. I did another 4+ miles in 1.75 hours, for a grand total of 8.2 miles in 4.25 hours including the hour break for lunch. My hips are a wee bit sore so I have taken a large dose of aspirin and I am drinking lots of water. Next week I hope to do another walk with a 9-10 mile total.
I left the house at 9:15am and it was 44F; I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt with the mid-layer top over the shirt due to the nip in the air. I walked around the neighborhood, just over 4 miles in 1.5 hours. I ended up back at the house where I went into the back yard to cook my lunch.
What's for lunch? A Knorr Rice side, a cuppa tea, and a protein bar. I set up the stove with 2 fuel tablets, put 16 oz. of water in the cup/pot and set the tablets a fire. Oh, I started a timer to see how long it too to come to a boil which took about 10 minutes; I think this was longer than the tests I saw on YouTube due to the slight breeze that was blowing. Once the water came to a boil, I opened the foil packet and poured in the 16 oz. of water, stirred with my spoon and set it aside to "cook" and I put another 16 oz of water in the cup and set it back on the stove so I could make some tea; about a half a fuel tab was left over but I knew it wasn't going to be enough to boil more water so I put another, number 3, in the stove. After another 10 minutes, I poured that water into my silicone cup and made tea, sealing the lid for later and by this time the rice was ready. I also had a visitor, Cowboy Boots came to investigate and enjoy the sunshine. The rice wasn't that bad but it was salty; I think adding some protein, which I did not do this time, would make a very hearty meal.
After I put the stove away, I grabbed my tea and bar, finished them off and put my pack back on for another go around the neighborhood. I did another 4+ miles in 1.75 hours, for a grand total of 8.2 miles in 4.25 hours including the hour break for lunch. My hips are a wee bit sore so I have taken a large dose of aspirin and I am drinking lots of water. Next week I hope to do another walk with a 9-10 mile total.
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