Whitespider1066

We have the spork the love child between a spoon and a fork. But forget that evolution has moved on welcome to the chork the unnatural spawn of a fork and chopsticks getting together.
Is this going to be the next big thing in outdoors eating utensils? Just when can we expect the first titanium version? Closely followed by the titanium folding version.
Oh go on, pop on over to Gizmodo to read all about the chork.
Forget the spork it’s all about the chork
Just keep your eyes on this years TGOC diaries/live blogs, expect to see this mentioned and used as this years must have challenge piece of kit.

If you have a Trailstar, then you really need to pop over to Oookworks. Oookworks is one of those rare UK based “cottage based” companies catering for the lightweight section of the market place.

I don’t have either of these (yet)
35g cuben fibre door screen
Oookstar
But they are definite must haves I think for any Trailstar owner.
They do other stuff as well, including modifications and repairs. So definite one to bookmark.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Today Strider and I found a new spot to walk that took us along another stretch of South Holland Main Drain.

Obviously this wasn’t me. I’d never overload a BushBuddy like that.

I’m thinking of producing a little map mash up of locations in the area where fellow dog walkers can take their companions for exercise in our glorious fenland countryside. I just need to somehow get the time to do it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

This morning I had some feedback via Twitter to yesterday’s post from ViewRanger.
So here is their tweets to me.

I’m looking forward to seeing that update become available.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

It’s well known I’m an Apple Fanboy, and I use my iOS devices to do a lot of stuff others use a PC for.
And yes I have a new iPad with its gorgeous retina display. Which is 2048 by 1536 pixels in size. Ok I’ll admit it it looks amazing.
The new iPad was announced on the 7th March, and hit the shops on the 16th March.
So where are the updates from our mapping software companies for their iOS apps catering for this improved screen resolution?

Well here are the last updates for the four usual suspects:
MemoryMap (Universal app) last updated 17th March 2012, bug fixes mainly.
Viewranger (Universal app) last updated 2nd February 2012 minor update, no bug fixes listed
Anquet (iPhone app) last updated 6th June 2011, bug fix release
RouteBuddy (Universal app) last updated 11th January 2012, bug fix release

You can forgive Anquet a little as it is an iPhone app that also can be run on the iPad. The rest are Universal apps, meaning they are designed for both iPad and iPhone.

For me this is indicative of the companies, they are always slow to update and make use of new features available to them.

At the moment for me the current best iOS mapping app is Viewranger, it’s not perfect, but leaps and bounds ahead of the rest, just for those interested in my current thoughts on the matter.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Just a quick link to a post on Lifehacker that links to another blog about how to waterproof matches.

A useful thing to know how to do.

UPDATE: here is another post I came across on Lifehacker that is apparently from an old Backpacker issue which tells how to use your coffee as a barometer! Read the story here.

I know it’s been a few days since I last posted, but that’s the draw back of this work malarky. I’m not writing any less, in fact I’m writing more than ever, it’s just you don’t get to see it because it is for work.

Anyway following on from the post about the Backpackers Club AGM and 40th Anniversary Celebrations, it  is now official that there will be no lightweight gear show this year at the AGM. So my worst fears for the AGM have come true.

I don’t know why this is the case, or what the thinking was behind the decision. To me it seems madness, and a lost opportunity.

The decision was announced in the latest issue of the club magazine along side the details for the AGM. Ironically in the same issue is an article with a call to arms to promote the club, to grow the club and become “experts in the field”.

Yet for me and many others the lightweight show was a great way to promote the club and it’s activities. And for some members the thing that made attending the AGM attractive, and I will include myself as one of those members.

It seems to me that the author of the impassioned plea about growing the club membership must be out of sync with the thinking of the clubs ruling elite. How else would you explain dropping one of the clubs attractions for attracting new members and informing the public about the club?

Well I know I won’t be going to the AGM now, it hardly seems worth the trip. So now I will miss what ever super low key celebrations they had organised to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the club (if they had any). But it seems that the club that likes to remain super secret, will celebrate in a super secret way too. Mind you I won’t be the only one missing the anniversary I heard that the clubs president is also not going also, so I am in good company.

Ok I have had a rant, it’s out of the system.

And if you want another very good rant go read this, it does ask a very important question at the end.

 

In my Twitter travels I came across this story “How A 21-Year-Old Design Student’s Sleeping-Bag Coat Could Break The Cycle Of Homelessness | Fast Company“.

Now you know me, my mind instantly turned towards thinking this coat sounds amazing. Could it be used in the backpacking world too?

“Meet the re-designed coat: Element S. It is self-heated, waterproof, and transforms into a sleeping bag at night.”

It sounds to me from that description that it could replace the sleeping bag and bivvy bag that some of us use. And this new design could possibly see not needing a down/synthetic jacket also!

I suppose the question is how light is it? What sort of minimum temperature can it deal with comfortably? And is it really waterproof or just water resistant?

An interesting product and very noble aims, I wish them every success.

- Posted from my ZX81

Next month sees the AGM of The Backpackers Club taking place at Ashford-in-the-Water in The Peak District on the 23rd.

I’m hoping this is going to be a special AGM, and that the boat has been pushed out to celebrate the clubs 40th Anniversary.

It’s a bit of a milestone really, and would be such a shame to let it pass by without shouting about it and having a cracking party.

I am hoping that the momentum from last years AGM at Weardale is not lost, and that the club builds on this to put on another cracking “mini outdoors show”.

Will there be a club buff to celebrate the 40 years? Will there be a special celebratory edition of the club magazine looking back on the clubs history (on top of the regular quarterly magazine)? We won’t know until the day, I’m not privy to the inner workings or thinkings of the clubs powers that be.

I just hope they don’t screw this up, and that this special occasion is not a damp squib.

Oh wait this is potentially criticism of the clubs ruling elite which I’ve heard on the grapevine they don’t like, and most definitely won’t allow in the clubs magazine. Oh well that’s got me in trouble.

- Posted from my ZX81

After such a positive response to the “Outdoors Bloggers Blog Camp” post the other week, I’ve been giving the idea some more thought.

Timing wise to hold it I thought maybe the best time would be the half term in October.

Next up is location. That’s the hard one. The location needs to be central, have wifi (with a decent connection speed), rooms for presentations, etc. So ideally possibly a hostel of some kind.

Which brings me on to cost, the whole thing needs to be as low cost as possible, if not free. So if it is to be a hostel then would folks be prepared to pay for that?

Also how likely would we be to get sponsorship from an outdoor company for the event? Which would most definitely help in keeping the costs down.

Then there is the practical stuff like hiring projectors etc to be used in talks/presentations.

Attendees would have to bring their own laptops naturally, hence the wifi.

I’ll also use eventbrite when details become more fixed to handle keeping track of who is coming and allocate places and collect any money that is required.

So they are my thoughts so far. Would appreciate any feedback and suggestions.