This posts title is a famous quote from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’.
Let’s face it when we are backpacking we tend to carry the bare minimum water because the plan is to fill up along the way as and when we need it.
The problem is how safe is our water to drink?
Definitely the water quality in the UK has gotten worse over the last decade or so, especially in the low lands. Our water companies can it seems pump literal shit into our rivers with impunity. Farmers being allowed to spray ever more toxic chemicals on crops, micro plastic pellets. The list of possible contaminants goes on. Even the fastest flowing stream far from the polluting grasp of our water companies might be contaminated.
Like my sleeping system I’ve refreshed my options for clean water whilst out on the hill. Besides can I really trust a filter that has remained unused for over a decade?
First up I have a 500ml Pure Clear Collapsible Filter bottle. This will be used throughout the day to stay hydrated by drinking from convient water sources on route.
The next addition is the Sawyer Squeeze SP129 Waterfilter. This will be my main filter for filtering in the evening at camp.
I’m not going to use the bags that come with the Sawyer Squeeze. They don’t have a great reputation online, from ease of filling to how sturdy they are. It would appear that a popular replacement for them is a CNOC Vecto water container of some capacity. I went with the one litre version.
The washer in the Squeeze where it attaches to the water container apparently can fall out when back washing the filter if not careful. So I have some replacement ones in a general mini repair kit.
I also have a SP150 Coupling that allows you to attach bottles etc to the Squeeze.
I’ve also hacked my Squeeze by replacing the sports lid with one from a water bottle. I’m not a fan of the sports lid and its pull to drink. I am much more comfortable and find them easier to use with the flip cover to drink lid.
Another hack I’ve adopted is one to protect the filter end when stowed away.
Now to extend the life of the Squeeze, and increase the time between having to back wash the filter (ie clean it) I intend to pre-filter the water to remove large particles from the water. This should stop the filter becoming clogged as much.
To do this pre-filter I’ve borrowed from the military once more by adding a Millbank bag water filtration bag to the kit. If I’m using this then the water must really be bad.
A hack to the Squeeze itself is to replace the washer I mentioned above with a Danco 80070 Hose Washer with Screen. So I’ve done that too. Yes there is a spare in the repair kit.
This last hack may make the Millbank bag redundant with the Squeeze.
Well that’s my clean water taken care of. But where am I going to be using this setup? I’ll cover that in the next post.
Saturday afternoon I got some gaming in with Charlene and her daughter Annabelle.
We started off with playing Expeditions with the newly released expansion Gears of Corruption.
Neither Charlene or Annabelle had played before.
We used the new leaders from the expansion. I was going to use one of the new mechs, which was a choice Charlene also made. Annabelle went with a mech she thought looked cool. Which is as good a way as any when you have never played before.
Below are our choices.
Freya/Mole – me
Zehra/Scarecrow – Charlene
Bjorn/Lumberjack – Annabelle
Without using the corrupted mech rules there is nothing else within the expansion that can’t be used with new players.
The expansion comes with two new mechs, four new leaders and their companions, pieces for a sixth player, seven mech cards (used to help select mechs, starting resources, and reminder of mech ability), cards for corrupt mech mode, automa cards, replacement tile and card, seven hero worker meeples, new map tokens, and a handful of new cards.
I liked the new hero worker. It does get round an issue some players had for the start of the game. Having a worker that acts as a wild does take the pressure off getting a specific worker early on to be able to trigger a cards ability.
In fact the new hero worker probably makes the game for a new player a better experience.
I also liked the new map tokens. They are larger and have an icon on one side. This icon is a bonus you get when you explore a tile with a map token on. But be warned if you go to collect the bonus and there are none available then you don’t get that bonus.
The two new mechs really push the use of map tokens. Which in turn encourages you explore tiles to collect them.
In this game I didn’t take a single refresh action. Whilst naturally Charlene did a few.
Although I dashed the hopes of Annabelle and Charlene by grabbing the 20 corruption token. Annabelle was particularly thrown by it as she was working towards it and using her mech ability to make it cheaper.
Two more turns was all I needed to place my last glory token but alas Charlene triggered the end of the game. Getting revenge for the 20 corruption token.
Charlene easily won this game.
Our second game was a learning game of Pioneer Rails.
This was a read the rules as we learned to play the game. None of us had played it before.
The rules as you read them make the game seem more complicated than it is. But in reality it’s a light ish flip and write.
I like the poker element and as a three player game having the dealer take the card only they could use. You could really screw up another players poker hand this way, turning a potential four of a kind or straight into a lower scoring hand.
I wasn’t wow’d by the game. But it was fun.
We finished off with a game of Marvel: Remix.
I’ve explained why I bought this game previously. It’s quick it’s fun and a great game to finish an evening or afternoon of gaming off with.
A great afternoon of gaming. A big thanks to Charlene and Annabelle for joining me.
In my previous “still alive” post I hinted at an offer I had to ponder.
Well it looks like with a fair wind I could be back on the property ladder.
Yeah I know at my age too.
So long story short I should be buying the house I’m currently renting.
I’m excited and nervous about the whole thing. It’s something I never thought would happen again.
There are also changes at work happening that should make it possible for me to get to club nights again.
At the start of the week the first Expeditions expansion Gears of Corruption (Ironclad edition) did indeed arrive.
After seeing one or two posts on the Expedition’s Facebook page of the metal mechs being broken, with a little apprehension I opened my copy yesterday. Luckily the two in my copy are fine. I was pretty relieved.
I don’t think I’ve mentioned in any post but last week I did pick up a copy of Marvel: Remix. The decision was based on a Dice Tower top ten list on games for MtG players. Marvel: Remix like Red Rising from Stonemaier Games is based on Fantasy Realms. I’ve not played Fantasy Realms but I do like Red Rising. Add in I’m a comic book fan, that does include Marvel stuff (despite the attempt by Disney to destroy that). Then this ticked all the boxes for me to get it. Added bonus it’s not that expensive and a smallish box that makes it easier to carry around for game nights.
Catch you in the next post when I might have something interesting to say!
After the flurry of gaming that happened at the expo it looks like the Summer gaming drought is now upon me.
Sunday gaming has dried up. So I’m planning to cancel those. No point leaving them on the discord server and having to face the disappointment each week of them not happening.
With the first Expeditions expansion Gears of Corruption (Ironclad edition) dropping through my letter box tomorrow. Who knows when I will be able to get this to the table.
On life and all the stuff that that covers. I’ve really missed Nan in the last week or so. I’ve missed talking to her, and her counsel. It’s really hit me hard her not being here.
I think it’s moments like this when I feel the most alone.
Normally I’m happy with my solitude. The attack chihuahuas are happy. I look after mum next door.
But there are times when I really do miss her. Like now.
My aunt and uncle are over from New Zealand and I will be getting to see them in the next couple of days. There will be more visits during their stay in Blighty but for now this first one is brief.
Yes I’d love to visit them in New Zealand but like returning to the TGOC the circumstances that this would be possible are not ones I want to contemplate. Basically it’d mean I’m no longer needed as mums carer.
They’ve been very supportive over the years and done a lot for me. Which I really appreciate and am very very thankful for.
There is an amazing offer been made by them to me which I’d love to be able to take it up. If Nan was around and not ill I’d be discussing it with her. I’m trying to work out how I can get into a position in which I can take up the generous offer.
If things work out I’ll share with you what is happening.
My wild camping in the past has never been with a conventional tent. I’ve used a Trailstar, a Golite Hex 3, and a tarp. I have some great memories using them. Heck the later two I used on two TGOCs.
My shelter of choice for my return sees me returning to using a tarp by using a DD Hammocks – DD SuperLight Tarp. This is a 3 metre by 2.9 metre tarp. Don’t ask me why it’s not 3 by 3 exactly. I’m sure there is a good reason for this. It’s just that I’ve not been that interested to dig into what it is.
It comes with four pegs and guy lines. But these will be taken out and replaced with 550 para cord. I’m also using 5mm bungee cord that will be added to the tarps attachment points as small loops to attach to. The thinking is this will provide a little give in strong winds and take some of the strain off the attachment points.
I have bought some generic brand tent pegs that are aluminium. But I’ll also be using my titanium ones too.
I think a combo of these should cater for most ground types. And yes you do detect a very small ultra light weight tent peg used to pull the titanium ones out of the ground. I really should attach some cord.
Obviously I’ll be using my trekking poles with the tarp.
I’ve also got a DD Hammocks – DD Magic Carpet – XL to use as a groundsheet. This is a 2.2 metre by 1.4 metre waterproof groundsheet.
In my controversial post on my proposed sleep system I mention the goretex bivy bag from the US Military Modular Sleep System (MSS) that could be used as part of it. However it should also be thought of as part of my planned shelter.
There is the obvious use of just using the bivy bag with no tarp erected. My first ever wild camp was in a borrowed bivy bag on the side of a Welsh mountain in the Brecon Beacons the night before picking Strider up.
But the main use will be with the tarp to add that extra layer of protection to the rest of the sleep system from the elements.
Using a tarp isn’t for everyone. I get it. But I love using one. I love the flexibility they give. Tarps can be erected in a multitude of ways depending on weather, location, or just how you feel.
I love how they bring you closer to nature. I certainly feel more connected when using a tarp.
I think it’s this last point especially that I want to recapture when I do my first trip that is approaching fast.
So that’s my sleep system, and shelter covered. Water next?
This could be my most controversial blog post ever!
Before I had to stop going to the hills I had made the jump to using a quilt instead of a sleeping bag.
My quilt of choice was the Ray Jardine quilt which I used with a Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner, and a self inflating Sea to Summit sleeping mat (can’t remember which one), plus a Sea to Summit blowup pillow. I had a bivy bag too but it never got used with the quilt.
I really liked using the quilt instead of a sleeping bag. It worked for me.
Now that’s all about to change.
I’ve moved to a more “modular” system that I hope will handle a wider range of temperatures and weather conditions. And for sure it’s not lighter!
The Ray Jardine quilt is staying. And when I initially wrote the first draft of this post I meant it. I really did. But somehow a Sea to Summit Cinder Down Quilt is in my rucksack!
The Cinder is a summer quilt. But in use with the other parts of this modular system could be used in spring or autumn I think. But don’t quote me on that!
The first part of this new sleep system is the goretex bivy bag from the US Military Modular Sleep System (MSS). I did have to hunt around for this because I didn’t want the whole MSS. So hard to find some-one selling just the bivy. But eventually I managed to find one.
Why this specific bivy?
It’s a combination of things. Firstly it’s goretex and bombproof (bloody well better be considering). Secondly it has a 3/4 length side zip. A lot of the hiking specific bivy bags do not have this zip. It’s a heavier bivy than I’ve used in the past. But more rugged, more waterproof, and better as my emergency shelter if needed that way. And yes it replaces my emergency shelter.
Next is the sleeping mat. I’ve gone with the Klymit Static V2 Sleeping Pad, Ultralight. I needed a new mat, the old one got damaged beyond repair whilst in storage. So needed replacing. Its R value is 1.3 iirc so not a winter mat. I’d need one with a R value of 4 plus if I’ve understood this rating system correctly. It would be a push using it in spring and autumn too. But the use of a suitable foam mat might allow its use in those two seasons. Plus at the moment I have no plans to go winter camping.
Flextailgear Zero Pump, Klymit Static V2 Sleeping Pad, Ultralight, Light AF non-slip camping mat, woobie or poncho liner, Geezy Go Easy Camping Mat, “Original German Army Surplus Wool Blanket”Sea to Summit Cinder Down Quilt, MSS bivy bag, Klymit Unisex’s Drift Camping Pillow
To inflate the Klymit I’ve got a gadget that never existed on the market 14 years ago, a Flextailgear Zero Pump. This is a portable air pump for blowing up sleep pads. Back in my day (that makes me sound sooo old) we had to blow these sort of pads up with our breath. That was the attraction of the self inflating mats. A couple of puffs was all that was required. Don’t underestimate how tired you are after hiking all day and then setting up camp. The effort required to blow up a sleep pad is quite a lot. This is a godsend invention.
To give the Klymit a bit of protection I have the Light AF non-slip camping mat. This is a very thin mat that should cut down the chances of the Klymit getting damaged, and stop it sliding all over the place.
For winter/freezing conditions I will add a thicker foam sleeping mat. Which is to be decided. Less pressure on sorting this out. I have one already. I like the look of the British Army Four Seasom foam mat. Bomb proof and can be picked up for about a tenner! But my egg box one should be fine for what I want. I have got a Mountain Warehouse Trek Mat which has a reflective layer which I want to try. But I still like the look of the British Army mat.
I did previously use a silk sleeping bag liner even with a sleeping bag. Obviously it gives another layer and a bit more warmth. Plus keeps your bag cleaner, so it needs less cleaning inside.
The sleeping bag liner I’m now using is a Carinthia Grizzly Sleeping Bag Liner. I’ve had to settle with a left sided zip. Ideally wanted a right sided one but wasn’t able to find one. Not even sure they do a right sided version.
I’m then adding another bit of US military kit the woobie or poncho liner as it is also known. This adds another layer to the sleep system as needed.
The final layer if needed will be a wool blanket! Just like the foam sleeping mat this will remain at home/in the car unless I’m expecting temperatures to drop. I have an “Original German Army Surplus Wool Blanket” it wasn’t expensive. The plan is to see how I get on with this, and if it works out invest in an expensive merino wool one at some point. That will be lighter and warmer.
Not a layer in the sleep system, however just as vital as the rest is the addition of the Klymit Unisex’s Drift Camping Pillow. I need a good pillow. We’ll see how this works out.
Obviously as I write this I’ve not tested this system in anger. Nor even have a clue what temperature range this system can potentially handle. Yes it is considerably heavier too. But I think its flexibility counters that.
When you think the base combination will be the following:
Light AF non-slip camping mat + Klymit Static V2 Sleeping Pad + Carinthia Grizzly Sleeping Bag Liner + Klymit Unisex’s Drift Camping Pillow
Then depending on conditions/expected weather could be any of the following combinations for example:
Base + poncho liner
Base + quilt
Base + quilt + poncho liner
Base + quilt + poncho liner + wool blanket
Base + quilt + poncho liner + wool blanket + thicker foam mat
To any of these the bivy can be used giving an extra layer, protection from the elements, etc.
I know I’ve not listed the base + wool blanket as an option or base + wool blanket + poncho liner as one either. And they are options I could use. I’m just not sure I would. Although I might at some point for scientific reasons.
Another thing I like about this system is that it can be used like its inspiration of the cowboy bedroll! So I could if I’m expecting shit weather have the sleeping mat, sleeping bag liner, quilt/poncho liner inside the bivy bag for protection and just unroll it when needed at night in camp. How practical that is I don’t know. But it’s an option.
Have you tried a similar sleep system? Or do you think I’m barking mad?
Since getting back into Dice Masters getting hold of a play mat has been challenging.
Yes I did get a custom one printed for me. But I wanted more to use when I play with others.
I did look on eBay but it’s eBay and people being totally unrealistic on the prices they were asking.
Whilst at the expo my friend and winding down proprietor of the FLGS in Chatteris The Hobbit Hole posted on Facebook he had some play mats going cheap to get rid of them.
As I scanned the images posted I noticed there was a Dice Masters mat, and there was a second.
I took no time to respond letting him know I was interested in them but couldn’t collect them until Monday due to being at the expo.
Monday lunchtime saw me make the 30 minute drive across the fenland landscape to The Hobbit Hole to buy the mats. At a fiver each they were a bloody bargain.
We had a good natter, remembered departed friends, and didn’t come to blows on the political side!
It’s sad to see John closing up shop. But I understand his reasons. I can only wish him luck and good health in the next stage of his life.
So I’m back home. Bags in the house but not unpacked. Reunited with the two attack chihuahuas Nico and Loki. So it’s time to reflect on this years expo.
One thing I hate about the UKGE isn’t the show itself, and this stands even for cons I don’t attend also. Is the flood of haul photos that hit social media once attendees start arriving home.
I get it. They are excited about their purchases, and want to share with the world what they got. I’m happy for them. No I really am.
The issue I have is it can come across as a bit insensitive to those unable to attend or afford such a haul. This has been the first and last UKGE where I haven’t been on a very limited budget. And it can make you feel a bit bad seeing all the hauls. Yes it’s a me thing. But I’d be surprised if others don’t feel that way.
Those board game content creators that go often put out a video of their hauls. Which is basically them saying “look at how much free stuff I got”. They buy the odd game. But the majority of the stuff is free from the publishers. I really do hate those videos. It’s boasting. I don’t like it.
This is why I’m not going to share photos of everything I bought or list everything. I’ll mention one or two games if I think they have an interesting story from the expo to justify mentioning them.
I don’t like talking about my acts of random kindness. However I will this one because it explains poorly how I ended up with three copies of Moving Wild!
I ended up with two copies of Moving Wild by Oink games on day 1 of the expo. Ben had picked me one up (at my request) but before I had seen his text saying he’d got it I had picked a copy up with Scout.
When I mentioned it on Twitter/X my friend Gavin claimed it. But I felt bad I hadn’t given it to someone on the Facebook group Board Game Trading & Chat UK.
So day 2 I bought a third copy! Along with a copy of Rafter Five as I picked up a copy of Maskmen for Ben. I then posted on Board Game Trading & Chat UK saying that I’d chose one lucky person not able to attend the expo to win both games and the promo meeple. All they had to do was leave a comment on the post.
Later in the day I was walking pass the Oink stand and noticed the designer of Moving Wild Chris Priscott was coming to the end of his signing spell on the stand. There was no queue and I thought that having the copy I was giving away signed by the designer would be a rather cool surprise for whoever got it. So I got Chris to sign the copy. Sadly my own copy was sitting in a box in the shop & drop. Yes I could have kept the signed copy. But that wouldn’t have been the right thing to do.
It will be interesting to see how long it is before the person that won the game notices the surprise.
Even after selecting a winner I felt bad. I would have loved to have been able to send all entrants a copy. Sadly I’m not a super rich person.
Before the expo had started I had arranged to buy a well played copy of the 2011 out of print Gears of War board game by FFG. It was much cheaper and affordable than a good quality one, which often goes for nearly £400. The exchange of plastic and cardboard for paper went smoothly. I had also agreed to do a similar thing for Marcin because a couple of people he was buying from were at the expo on the days he wasn’t. The shop & drop is important for these sort of deals so you aren’t carrying them around all day.
When I was gaming with Charlene and Diego on the bank holiday Monday, Charlene mentioned that there was a card game of the game I was talking about. A day later could I remember what game it was? Nope. Nor could Charlene. But dang when I was browsing the stalls at the expo and saw the Gears of War card game it instantly clicked thus was the game Charlene had mentioned.
My highlight of the show has to be the people/friends I met and gaming with them.
On the first day of the expo I got to play some games with Harrison and Ben. Which was great fun. Life has meant Ben and I haven’t been able to play anything for a while. So to be able to sit down and play some new to me games such as Robotrick and Charms was great fun. We had a blast lots of Banter, and a very funny fact about Ben came to light.
Day two say me playing an Inventors of the South Tigris with Sarah and Luke. Sorry can’t remember their friends name who was also playing. I think I held my own in the game seeing as I was the only one who hadn’t played any of the previous games in the series. Then got to do the Yonder demo with them later in the day. I really liked Yonder and will be backing it when it hits Kickstarter. It was a half hour demo that flew by. I was wanting to play more of the game.
In the evening Charlene invited me to join her family for the evening meal, and then playing some games back at the hotel with them. That was a great evening. Although I will say I hadn’t been to Nando’s for a couple of decades, and their extra hot sauce is not hot. I felt it was more salty than anything. They definitely hadn’t used reapers or scorpions for the extra hot sauce.
The last day of the show I managed to rope Colin into doing the Star Wars Unlimited demo with me so I could get a play set of the Grogu promo card. There was a pleasant surprise because not only did we get the promo I wanted. But the demo person also gave us each a promo card of the leader we were playing.
For two days I bumped into my friend Jamie. I hadn’t seen him for a few months. So it was good to catch up briefly. He did tell me about the games shop in March running a weekly Star Wars Unlimited event on a Sunday. Which works great for me because that is normally my day off.
Fenland Gamers Annual Expo Photo
This year I returned to the Fort Dunlop Travelodge for my accommodation. I went with the standard plus room, that includes the Wi-Fi and a coffee machine, and paid for the all you could eat buffet breakfast. My room was on the tenth floor and had a great view.
Obviously I took some bacon and sausages with me to the expo, along with a couple of sachets of ketchup and mayo from the buffet. This was my filling for the wraps I had with me. That was lunch taken care of for the day.
Ok I ate at the hotel Thursday evening, and with Charlene and family Saturday. Which meant Friday night saw me sitting on a bench outside the hotel with my peak ignition stove(the pizo ignition no longer working), titanium pot, and 6 bean chilli. Apparently the hotel staff had found it humorous that I had done this. Hey I had an awesome chilli.
I thought this worked well, and sets up camping for the expo another year really well.
I hadn’t really gone to the expo with any particular aims or games to get. The plan was to take things as they came. The only organised thing, a first for me was the game and demo with Sarah. However I enjoy the freedom of having no real plans.
I had a great expo, missed Jonathan not being there. But understand why. Looking forward to next year. Time to start planning.
And now lots of photos to end the post with.
My 3 day pass collectedMiddle AgesInventors of the South TigrisFirst day ticket collectionLorcanaMy room view My 10th floor viewMiddle AgesOne of the many competitions going on at the expoCourtisans YonderMoving WildThursday night teaYonderMoving WildCourtisans Found my chilli eating spotMiddle AgesCourtisans Out in JulyHappy I got the For the Queen promosLoved this playmat6 bean chilliYonderMy massive photo bomb of expo photos
UPDATE: forgot to add the organisers released the attendance figures for this year. Can’t remember last years figures. But I’m guessing by the organisers statement this is the highest attended yet.
At the start of the month I was a bit down on my lack of gaming opportunities for the month ahead.
But as George Formby’s catch phrase goes “turned out nice again” (this really does age me. Growing up back in the day on the whole 3 channels that we had his movies were regularly shown).
3×3 of top 9 games played in May
In reality this was three gaming sessions and a chance to play some games with Ben at the expo.
Two thirds of the games played this month were new to me. That’s pretty high. Five of the games were trick takers. I like Ben do enjoy a good trick taking game.
My bgstats for the month
I’m hoping June will be a back to normal. But we are now entering that time of year of Summer holidays. So the next couple of months might be just as barren on the gaming opportunities.
