Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: b0ogaloo on August 31, 2011
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Hi folks , long time no post . I was a bit ill for a year so didn't get up to much , on the mend now tho
I launched with the ebbing tide @ Whiterock on Saturday afternoon , a strong tail wind pushed me along nicely past Conly island past Daragh and into Ringhaddy sound where the tide swept me along at a respectful 5 knots according to the GPS
I had intended to camp on Taggart Island . but I was making such good progress I decided to carry on to Salt Island ,which I did in a record ( for me ) 2hrs 20 mins
As I got closer to the bothy the shutters were up, happy days I thought no one here
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wH6ZGHAAzKc/TluXHsFcooI/AAAAAAAAFGc/iRboLD_GHy8/s640/IMGP2833.JPG)
I let the dog explore while i carried my gear up to the forest and set up camp
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yagtYhCS73Y/TluXJFDyMQI/AAAAAAAAFGg/qA26f5JlxJo/s640/IMGP2834.JPG)
This was my second time out on salt island this year, I have to say i'm disappointed in the state of the place , fire rings have been built outside the bothy , using stone from the perimeter wall, fine if you want to have a fire but FFS put the stones back before you leave
The drying room stinks of piss and the site is generally looking a bit run down .
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--2Gz4V-_4qQ/TluXRhKErrI/AAAAAAAAFGw/ZZlU0OVepYU/s640/IMGP2838.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LQwHZ33q1tw/TluXpPzqKSI/AAAAAAAAFIA/7H6D_n2R5Xs/s640/IMGP2858.JPG)
I had brought my new frontier stove along to test . I wanted it more for winter camping but now was as good a time as any to see how it preformed
Weighing in at 10kgs it ain't the lightest piece of kit . I thought I might just be able to squeeze it into the front hatch of my yak but unfortunately its just 1/2" to wide , so it had to be lashed across the stern of the yak in a dry bag which was fine .
Cooking on the stove was great . no soot on the pots and plenty of room
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-beeMFYOctVM/TluX59ik60I/AAAAAAAAFI4/zoE3lNf0OX0/s640/IMGP2872.JPG)
With the door shut and the chimney damper closed it produced a nice heat for cooking sodas
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hGGU23Vp9ZA/TluXfjWEX8I/AAAAAAAAFHg/ahf1ayGcTgo/s640/IMGP2850.JPG)
I tried a variety of fuel in it - standing dead wood , damp-ish dead wood on the ground, acorns and dried sheep dung
Burn time wise the best was a mixture of acorns and dried sheep dung . heat wise the standing dead wood was the clear winner
In my opinion it could do with a front vent to improve airflow . I'm going to have to get a couple of 30 deg bends made for the chimney to allow me to use it in the winter tarp configuration I have planned and this might improve the draw through the stove , but first impressions are generally good
The rest of the day was spent lying in the hammock reading and listening to the radio . Some canoeist's arrived later and stayed in the bothy but they didnt disturb me , I slept well asnd didint wake up until 09:00. I always seem to sleep far longer when camping than i do at home .
The following morning I had planned to Castle Ward but the wind had swung round and it was blowing a gale so I decide to stay put and have a lazy Sunday in the hammock
I did have to move camp to the other side of the forest and jury rig a poncho for some added wind protection but apart from that it was good to just laze about
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-axcy09hJb6w/TluWl8eh13I/AAAAAAAAFEw/44mOZXKrrQg/s640/IMGP2880.JPG)
cut some firewood
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZQ0dk9VFdZQ/TluWx1mKDJI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/lwiiz2R8CCU/s640/IMGP2888.JPG)
Had a go at carving some spoons
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iC697L0Ce8I/TluW_F56CwI/AAAAAAAAFF0/zltxKJ0xh5I/s640/IMGP2897.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fBGXpxU3p5k/TluWZeH-JEI/AAAAAAAAFEE/gcEawGM7JPo/s640/IMGP2911.JPG)
Tried to bake some bread , but for some reason it didn't rise . I suspect the warm water I use d to start the yeast off was too warm and killed it
This photo was from my first attempt a few weeks ago that I was rather pleased with
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jRiTxLXlBKw/TlIwivSrFzI/AAAAAAAAFAU/Q4ayUHFBcRc/s640/IMGP2780.JPG)
After another great nights sleep I packed up at midday and paddled back to the landrover
Good to get out again
Andy
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Nice write up and pictures. Thanks
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Looks perfect, thanks for sharing!
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Sounds like a brilliant night. What sort of boat were you using? You must have been able to get plenty of gear in.
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Sounds like a brilliant night. What sort of boat were you using? You must have been able to get plenty of gear in.
Hi
Prowler 15 from ocean kayaks
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kGTnmDK4nac/TluXQT_oJoI/AAAAAAAAFGs/CikVHvMjs88/s640/IMGP2837.JPG)
Andy
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Great, nicely done. ;)
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Good report, very different to what I usually end up doing.
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So do you need a wetsuit to use a sit on top canoe? Also, what are they like in the winter when it's cold?
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great to hear about the trip, hopefully inspire me to get out on my canoe some day, just have one little criticism, no photo of the landy >:( something great about seeing a landy with a canoe strapped to the roof ;D
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So do you need a wetsuit to use a sit on top canoe? Also, what are they like in the winter when it's cold?
When I first started kayaking I used a wet suit , but for the past five years I've been using a dry suit
In the winter your legs would be more exposed to the elements than a regular sit in kayak, but as long as your paddling you stay warm
I've been on Lough Erne in February in extremely windy conditions and was never cold
Andy
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great to hear about the trip, hopefully inspire me to get out on my canoe some day, just have one little criticism, no photo of the landy >:( something great about seeing a landy with a canoe strapped to the roof ;D
Landrover pron
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pFZTLtv6uss/Tl9U7ZloB-I/AAAAAAAAFJA/ZSCTJQBMud0/s640/23012010016.jpg)
:D
Andy
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mmmmmmm nice, but don't be driving across the foyle bridge on a windy day with that set up ;D
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Now that's what I call a Mini-Adventure!!! I'm pretty sure you will have made a few members pretty jealous with that write-up and photos.
Good to hear your feeling better and able to get out-and-about and active again :)
I love the stove, and the hammock and tarp set-up too. Making bread and sodas was the icing on the cake for me dude. I've tried a bit of fancy cooking in the hills, because I do like a bit of a challenge, but I've never attempted bread. I can honestly say though, that I definitely don't do the Pot Noodle or Pasta n Sauce thing because I do feel that is a bit of a cop out!!! I do carry a packet of Super Noodles for emergencies only but it has never seen the light of day.
I'm looking forward to your next mini adventure and write-up. Top stuff!!!
8)
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Hi
I make up the mixes at home and store them in a ziplok bag , packs up far smaller than a cooked one
Soda's are really easy to make just add water to the mix in the bag and knead it into a dough , wet your hands and form the dough into an inch thick patty put it in a pot on the ashes of the fire or cook it on a stone beside your fire
Not so easy on a stove like a whisperlite tho although it can be done
If the weathers anyway decent I'll be out again next week, I've a new custom hammock on the way from Mat@UKHammocks which I want to test
Andy
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Excellent write up it gets me day dreaming about being outside while stuck in work , really enjoyed that ,
You mentioned Ringhaddy I used to fish for mullet there with my grandad many years ago as they lived in a thatched cottage in one of the bays round the corner . Cheers for refreshing the memories :)