“I always liked going south. Somehow, it feels like going downhill.” Treebeard, Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
Today I journey south to meet the latest member of the little monsters.
But as I journey south Diogo flies west into Heathrow, and then drives south.
We will finally meet at an undisclosed location and start our journey together.
More updates later.
“‘My cuts, short or long, don’t go wrong.’” Strider, Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
The excitement is building with each photo and video that is shared of Diogo as he travels to the UK.
This is the last day of travel before Diogo’s paws touch English soil tomorrow.
As I type this at 5:21 (yes bloody early) Diogo is in the air on his way to Amsterdam.
According to the flight schedule he’s due to touch down after 2pm. Currently his plan is near the Dominican Republic.
I’m assuming that once on Dutch soil there will be more checks, an over night stay, and then tomorrow the final leg of the journey.
Here are two more photos of Diogo just before this epic flight.
Just like the previous days I will update this post through out the day as and when I hear anything.
UPDATE: 15:15
Haven’t heard anything officially, however the flight tracker shows that the flight Diogo was on from Lima to Amsterdam has landed.
It has been pretty cool tracking his flight throughout the day. Seeing Diogo get closer and closer. So excited.
UPDATE: 19:00
The official update (see below) has just come through confirming Diogo’s arrival in Amsterdam.
For the record Charlie is the name the rescue home call him.
“Good evening! Charlie arrived safe and sound to Amsterdam🩵 he’s located in a special area por pets where he’s being taken care of.🥰”
“‘What’s wrong with the inn?’ said Frodo. ‘Tom Bombadil recommended it. I expect it’s homelike enough inside.’ Even from the outside the inn looked a pleasant house to familiar eyes.” Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
A couple more photos of Diogo were shared over night.
He is still in Lima awaiting his connection. Which I’m not sure when it is. I don’t read or speak spanish. I just know his next destination is Amsterdam. I recognised that name at least.
For Diogo to arrive in the UK Friday his flight could be later today or even tomorrow.
I’m kinda glad Diogo isn’t having to under go one massive really long journey to get here. That would be very stressful for the little guy.
As the previous days any updates for today will be tagged at the end of this post.
UPDATE: 14:50
Diogo is getting ready for his flight.
UPDATE: 22:25
More photos and video from the airport showing Diogo in a good mood.
I’m really grateful that those looking after Diogo are sharing these with us, and taking amazing care of him.
“‘I had no idea we were anywhere near the place!’ said Pippin.” Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
Diogo is at his first stop over, making camp in the capital of Peru, Lima.
Here is a very short video of him drinking water at the airport.
Diogo is now waiting for the next leg to start. Which if I understand his itinerary takes him to Amsterdam.
As I get updates through the day I will update this page. That’s assuming there will be anything to update.
Update: 15:41
Diogo is currently undergoing a veterinary inspection. He’ll need to pass this before being able to continue I’d imagine.
Update: 18:58
Diogo has returned from his veterinary inspection and passed with flying colours.
Here’s a couple more photos of the handsome fella upon his return.
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.” Frodo, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
It’s the obvious quote from Tolkien but also the most apt.
Today Diogo steps out of his front door of the rescue home he has been in for the last few months, and starts his long journey.
Diogo has no idea where he is being swept off to.
But once he finally arrives here I hope he feels (eventually) he has arrived home.
In the meantime I’ve come across a coffee company based in Norfolk called Norfolk Pig Coffee. Thought I’d give them a try and ordered a couple of bags of their Peruvian Grade 1 Chanchamayo coffee.
It’s a medium roast that has floral notes and gentle acidity. The coffee is grown at 1200 metres above sea level in mountainous areas of central Peru.
So that brief description of the coffee should contain enough clues as to why I chose this particular coffee to try from this new to me micro roaster coffee company.
Hopefully the smell of this coffee will help Diogo feel less “homesick” as he settles into his new forever home.
I’ve also, thanks to cousin John (mums cousin from nans side of the family) made my little backyard a lot more secure today.
How?
Well my tiny backyard is walled in. The wall comes up to approximately waist height. Not a chance any of the current little monsters could get over it. On mums side a two foot, may two and a half foot wooden fence was attached to the top of her wall. That was to stop her two dogs Ebony and Toby from jumping over.
Ebony and Toby were brother and sister, and given half a chance, the slimmest of opportunities, get up to no good. Which included going exploring. They egged each other on. Bad as each other. Partners in crime.
That bit of extra height was enough to keep those two in the backyard. So making sure my side is the same will be more than enough to keep Diogo safe.
Which is the important thing. Making sure he remains safe as he adjusts to his new home, the little monsters, myself, and that crazy old lady next door I call mum.
I’m under no misconceptions that there are going to be hiccups along the way. But it’s important that we show Diogo love and patience as he becomes the latest, youngest member of the little monsters.
Update: 16:22 GMT
Diogo is at the airport in Peru. There is a slight delay to the flight.
Update:18:08 GMT
Diogo is in the air. So the flight delay wasn’t too long.
Update: 22:03 GMT
Diogo has reached the first stop of his journey which is the capital of Peru Lima.
With Storm Claudia battering the country I woke to rain. Not a problem for me. However for two of the little monsters this is the nightmare situation.
Letting them out to answer the call of nature means them being hesitant crossing the threshold between inside and dry, and outside and wet.
After a little encouragement they find the nearest spot to the back door that allows them to do their bodily functions before making a dash inside.
I was hoping for dry weather because I have to swap over my tires.
Last Friday on the way to club night I hit a pot hole. Didn’t realise until I was leaving at about 10pm that my tire was flat and the rim had been damaged. So in the car park I had to change tires and put on the spare.
I’ve been avoiding doing any long trips, because until today I’ve not had a spare tyre. Didn’t want to get caught out. But yesterday I was able to source a second hand rim/tyre for the car with next day delivery.
That tyre is due to be delivered today. Sadly the estimated time of delivery is right smack damn in the middle of club night. So no gaming today for me. There is no way mum could take in a tyre.
The lack of spare tyre is also why Dolly and I haven’t been out on any adventures this week. We are dying to get out into nature again.
I’ve just had Diogo’s travel itinerary shared with me.
I’m flabbergasted.
Diogo starts his journey to the UK on the 17th, and arrives in the UK on the 21st! Four frekkin’ days. Poor little dude.
But his arrival is getting closer, as is my excitement.
Diogo’s arrival is 12 days away.
I can say with confidence that is the case (barring any last minute hitches). That on the 21st of this month I will be driving south to pick up the latest member of the little monsters.
That time will not go fast enough.
I’m so looking forward to picking him up and bringing him home.
Once here that’s when the real work begins.
The annoying thing about walking at Whitehills Wood is getting into the car park.
There is no signage to indicate where you turn in.
You are literally right on top of the entrance before you see it.
Which means you are breaking hard.
I always feel like I’m a fighter pilot landing on an aircraft carrier pulling into this car park.
And the entrance itself is rather bumpy if I’m being generous. So a bumpy landing so to speak.
After a spell of colder weather, the last day or two had been quite mild. Today was no different continuing the weather trend.
I’m not a weather forecaster, but personal experience tells me after the weekend we will get a few days of damper weather. Saturday will see a few fireworks going off. And that usually affects the weather. It’s all the sulphur or whatever they put in the fireworks entering the atmosphere.
We had barely started our walk when I saw a muntjac wander into the path ahead, notice us, and return the way they’d come.
It wasn’t long into our walk that I was removing my shemagh because I was getting too hot.
I loved the contrast between the deciduous trees of this wood and the coniferous trees at this time of year as we made our way round the walk. The autumnal shades of browns, fading greens. At one point leaves were falling like a light shower.
We found a quiet spot not far from the main path to have our brew and enjoy the sounds of nature.
Today’s brew was made using the titanium version of the G2 Firebox Nano. I’d bought it with the X-Case kit, flame guard, leather case, and grill (not pictured).
I’d bought the Nano with the X-Case kit because it provides more stability for the Nano, and acts as an ash tray. Whilst also providing a cool storage case for the stove.
Yes I have to admit having the stove in a rather cool, luxurious leather case does undo the weight advantage of having the titanium version of the stove.
The carbon felt pad that comes with the X-Case is intended to be used as a windshield. However there was no breeze today. But I don’t think I’d use it that way. I have my foil windscreen in my cook kit that I’d use instead. I’m more likely to use the felt pad to help insulate the X-Case and stove from the ground to stop any heat transfer, and leaving any nasty marks on the ground. It’s why I have the high temperature soldering mat in the bag. This soldering mat is a perfect size for this stove or the next mystery stove I will be using. Or even meths stoves like the Trangia.
I also have a Forest Fundamentals Artisan Fire Mat with me. Which too can be used to protect the ground from a stove. But it can also be used for sitting or kneeling on, bushcrafty stuff, starting fires. I just need to find a way to attach it to the Polish Army Bread Bag so it’s not flapping around.
The stove is lightning fast to set up. And it should be because it’s a folding stove. No having to assemble the stove before use. It pops open. Literally. It took me longer to get into the X-Case. Which by the way I find a bit stiff to open.
Today I used a bic lighter to start the fire with birch bark.
I was taken aback by just how little wood I used to boil my water for a brew.
The flame guard was amazing. I was able to lift the nesting cup from the stove without using my leather glove. It worked as advertised. It also provides a bit of wind protection if needed.
Feeding in wood via the two holes at the bottom of the stove was pretty cool. It allowed me to use the longer lengths of “processed” kindling I had with me.
Once the flames were out, and I had emptied the ash on to the X-Case the stove cooled down pretty fast.
Being a proponent of leave no trace I left no scorch marks, carried my ash and waste out with me.
The stove in the X-Case packs down quite small. Would easily fit in a pocket. Obviously the leather case (not needed) does make it a bit bulkier. But it’s so cool.
I really like this stove. I’ve yet to try it with the Trangia. Maybe next time. I want to get the Wood Flame Gas Burner & Ti Ember Glow Diffuser to try with it. I didn’t get the solid fuel plate for it. I should for completeness. However it’s not a fuel type I’d plan to use with it. I think meths or gas would be it.
Has this stove replaced the Bushbuddy for me? I’m thinking it just might have!
After our brew stop we continued our circular walk making our way back to the car.
Although there seemed to be much more up than we had done down.
This had been a wonderful autumn walk.
Dolly and I did try to get a walk in at Shouldham Warren. However that was a blow out. We got there to find that the car park, and the woods were closed. Later at home I was able to find out on a council discussion thread that it has been closed since September, and due to reopen on 5th November. Apparently the Forestry Commission is doing some tree thinning. The public are allowed access after 5pm each day.
Dolly and I will return once Shouldham Warren is reopened.
But that left us needing to find a spot to have a walk.
On our drive back across the fenland landscape we were looking for a suitable spot to stop.
In the end we ended up walking along a section of Middle Level Main Drain.
Our walk was windy, and as we made our way along the drains embankment we started to feel specks of rain as we caught up with a shower moving across the fenland landscape.
On the opposite embankment was a fisherman sheltering under his large fishing umbrella.
Once back at the car the geese we had seen earlier swimming on the drain were now on the opposite embankment.
As an impromptu walk under the circumstances it was ok.
But that walk was a couple of days back.
Today Dolly and I ended up at Sutton Bridge and walking along the sea defences leading towards the RAF target range, and forming part of the King Charles III coastal path.
It was a windy there and back walk. With the wind mainly behind us as we walked away from the car, and then almost head on as we returned.
As we got closer to the car we were approached by a man asking if we had seen a black dog. His dog had managed to run off whilst walking it. Sadly he was the first person we had seen on our walk. And we had definitely not seen a black dog.
Back at the car we wished him luck finding his dog. On our drive back we went a little slower keeping an eye out over the ploughed fields for any sign of the dog.
I hadn’t done this side of the Wash since the wolf pack days. It was nice to return to this spot.
Storm Benjamin has been and gone. Once again despite being in the yellow warning zone our eastily location protected us from the worst of Storm Ben.
It was time once more for Dolly and me to stretch our legs on something a bit longer than our usually daily walks.
Our walk today was a return to Dersingham Bog. A walk Dolly and I hadn’t done since earlier in the year when we came here for the charity walks we did.
As you can see from the photos there were blue skies, the sun breaking through the clouds. What the photos can’t show is the wind adding a chill to walk.
Thanks to the sandy soil, although we didn’t see any deer, we saw signs that they had been there as we walked round. Mainly thanks to their hoof prints still detectable amongst those of walkers, dogs, and horses.
I love spotting the fungi this time of year. There seemed to be a wider variety here than at the woods of Roydon Common.
We did find a brew spot under a tree. However it wasn’t ideal. But then again the side we were walking along of the bog had no real spots that gave any protection from the wind.
This meant lighting the alcohol stove with my lighter was challenging. It meant I had to resort to my fire starting kit and using the wick and bellows to get the stove to ignite.
After boiling water for a brew, I put more water on to make lunch with.
Today was a bit of recipe development for a project I have started. So I’m not going into detail here you’ll find that when the project gets announced. However I was rather pleased how this first attempt at a Japanese inspired/style curry ended up. If I had one critique then it would be that the prawns could have done with slightly longer rehydrating.
I have a couple more recipes I need to work on/try for this project. I’ll be trying these on future walks.
A part from recipes to try I have a backlog of stoves and pots I want to use on the walks. One of these is the Serotonin Firefly Mini Stove. This is a wood burning stove that packs away to a small size. It’s also most likely to be the one I take out next time.
The Pathfinder cup worked well with the BCB Crusader mk1 cooker, as did the Speedster stove.
This was a chilly but chilled! walk back in nature. Just what the doctor ordered.