I like solitude lots but not forever. When I am 65 I would rather have friends around me with shared memories and experiences to remind me and to refresh it. Than sitting realising everyone has heard my stories before. Its not even an age thing gapyear travellers can be the same when they come back ...

I get that, just not for me

See that doesn't do that much for me either video or the path he chose. I am sure there are great bits but seeing everything and experiencing everything on your own... Nah you're alright.

40bucks?!

Oh don't get me wrong I have down bags etc just purely interested in how warm I'd be. naturally I have to try it out!

Interesting Flatfish that would be great! Slarge I will check that out too cheers! Nobby, you are a little unclear.. will I freeze or were you actually warm? I have an old primus and a hurricane lamp aswell I could go full old school bike packing I might have to get a contemporary bike though.... ht...

He was a major in the signals I think so quite safe story he tells is he wasnt allowed to jump out of planes and took signals over tanks. Not sure how accurate that is but he certainly isnt one for embellishing.

I really meant given as he is still very much alive and planning his 100th!

Two 40s era army blankets once used by my granddad in north africa/italy.

How cold is cold for a wrapped blanket? I am rather taken with the idea of seeing how he managed!

I have been reallly impressed with how stiff stu's pole is.

Practicality aside Id be firing up my kelly kettle on my desk I love it.

Thats what the winky was for. But if you want to argue about it.... :-bd Anyway the reason I brought it up was it happened to me.... In the kitchen... I had been sensible and tested it on the gas hob unfortunately there wasnt enough flat space to use the snuff pot i had on standby so i couldnt put i...

We either way they are great not sure they would be my first choice for bike packing. Alot of empty space (although by cjtting the corners off my aeropress i can fit thatinside my kelly trekker) and you still require a drinking vessel. They can also be a pain to light especially when everhthing is d...

The back cou try boiler I am getting when i google is an imitation mkettle which has been about for a bit and is itself copy of the many kelly/ghillie kettle. They seem to be passing it off as a new invention am I missing something? Matches and ferro rod plus cotton for me. Especially for my kelly k...

Yeah makes sense, I tend to keep my tarp low though so didn't feel the need for extra length.

Fair enough but worth a try if its built and not working no? Not as much as checking you haven't overfilled it but he already covered that in the OP so was suggesting another possible reason :-) ALSO you have only quoted half my text the other half is kind of relevant to the bit you quoted. Grrrr :w...

You don't do anything just bask in the knowledge that they are mossing out. Plus its only real cycling if you do the ups aswell asthe downs.

Meths coming out when the pot is on?

Sounds like pressure building up, have you put the vent grooves in along the edge?

Well they worked kindof trick to adjust i could really have done with a extra hand!

Cheets foolks headed for the picnic bench between lamlash and whiting bay, didnt have much time for riding which was a shame.

Lessons learnt.... Pack your midge net!

Fortunately I had been up glen sannox and grabbed some handfuls of bog myrtle so i escaped fairly bite free on my head and arms.

I have landed on Arran for the next three days to watch some men in hivis dig 'oles, thursday night is earmarked as bivvy night I have hiking and riding gear and bivvy& tarp.

Any recommendations?

Well i poke the prusik through then pull the whole thing through the loop larkshead style that way from inside the tent i grab the red tail and can just push the prusik away. I shortened the bowline so now i can get the edge of the tarp about 2 inches of the ground or however high the tail is. I wil...

The problem with line loks is the minimum length is only ever half its length, I was just playing really.

Was unhappy with pinning tarp down to the ground directly creating wrinkles etc so i decided to make wee guy lines that can be adjusted from not very much to a reasonable amount. Will I wake up looking at the stars?