Under Canvas

It's been very wet for what seems like a lifetime. We are desperate to get out camping in any form but work, weather and life don't seem to want this to happen. In the meantime our new setup with the belltent is slowly getting sorted. Mandy very kindly made a very useful heat guard that goes around the stove flue pipe where it exits the tent through the fireproof stove jack. It is purely to allow the tent to not come in to contact with the very hot stove pipe.   In the meantime have a look at the pegs that came with the bell tent. They are huge at 12" and made from 25mm angle iron! They weigh a ton.....well almost. I don't think I will be using them as they are just so heavy and I think a bit of overkill.

It's an illness I tell ya'. You think you have all the tents you need until you see another. There is always something more suited to what you need dependant on the season mainly. We do like Canvas tents and we do like the challenge of camping in the colder months. A canvas bell tent with a stove and stove jack was the logical solution! With storm Ciara and now Dennis we are not really in the position to test the setup out....or indeed take any pictures. We have now bought a bell tent with stove jack and we already own the Gstove tent stove. With any luck a better spell (dry and less windy) of cold clear weather will allow us to enjoy the hot tenting setup. I will hopefully get chance to take some more photos.

It seems an age when we wait to get our family camping back underway. Easter fell reasonably late and the weather was glorious the whole holiday. My wife and I finished early on Thursday afternoon and drove just over an hour away to a campsite we have used many times previously. Charoland Campsite is a small adults only site that has about 10 pitches and is placed between Preston & Blackpool. With it being Easter and the weather set fine we often seek refuge within an adults only site. The hosts run a small farm and are meticulous in all they do. Having set the tent up I left Mandy at about 8pm all alone for her first night solo camping as I had work the following day. It was a pleasure setting up the tent but was surprised to see only three other units onsite. I returned the following day after work to find the site filling up. Sadly like most sites it is gradually turning over to suit motorhomes and caravans that seem to prefer tarmac, block paving or shale standings. Perso

                                          Our first wild camp was a success. Our packs were a bit heavy (I will weigh them next time) but the weather was gorgeous for a walk and camp. We knew the temperatures were to stay below zero, but the -8C on the Sunday morning was well, quite noticeable. We are happy to take a frozen tent over a wet tent any day though.     

I managed to pick up a reasonable used condition iconic rucksack from from the Swedish Military. The LK35 is a steel framed bucket style rucksack used from the 70s onwards. It's ability to carry heavy loads and pack quite a lot of gear inside...and crucially outside, is very much sought after. It's a very basic sack, but its design with all the straps for extra loading points is superb. Described as a 35ltr in size, I am sure it can take more. I have always owned a metal external frame rucksack even in my days with the scouts, so this fits the bill nicely. It seems to be popular choice for those looking to carry unusual loads, like game meat or timber. I can't see that being my requirement though. Mine is one of two styles reportedly made, one being of canvas with the other from Cordura synthetic material with PU coating inside. I am guessing that the Cordura version will resist water better. Most of the Rucksacks I have seen online via YouTube, have been Cordura as it s

It seems more common than you would credit. We have been looking into the viability of a bit of winter camping, but not necessarily on a campsite as such. Possibly near to home and a preference for a woodland. I am probably describing wild camping here. The trouble with that term is that it has such a broad covering of what wild camping means. The purist would no doubt scoff at the phrase used for the type of camping we are looking to do, and in truth I can see that would be fair. Surely "wild camping" is backpacking with a pack of self sustenance for whatever that period away may be. The Americans/Canadians just call it "Hot Tenting" which I think suits the style. I think I look at it as....I don't know yet in truth. Maybe after it's happened I will have better phrase. Even the word camping has that effect for many. My definition of camping is in a tent, whereas it seems this can be used for others to mean a motorhome, caravan or camper van. In p