quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
Sounds like a dry run to me Amir ?...... Most hiking (tramping ?) shops have very useful kit and supplys. Worth a look.

Got it in one mate!

I'm aiming not to be completely useless around camp for our little adventure, as may be seen half of these bastards are running a sweepstake on how long before I'm pushing up the daisies...

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
The only issue is you usually have some uber fit nordic types working there, who live on lentils, thistle soup, smoke herbs and believe in free sex ..... Mmmm.

Three out of five is perfectly workable, I'll certainly check it out.

quote:

Originally posted by 1894mk2:
Make sure you take some fruit and either muesli or some other cereal with roughage. While you can't get scurvy in a week you can completely block yourself up

You should also consider some sort of emergency system should the unthinkable happen and you badly injure yourself on the ground. Who will sound the alarm if you are overdue, how will you be found?

Thanks A, Adam .270 conducted a study on how hilariously constipated one man and his ring-piece can get in a week in South Africa in 2010. Amusing to watch, though probably not to suffer from. I will be packing the dried figs and all-bran.

The ground is bordered by two commercial deer leases and there is a forester. I'm not sure if there is mobile reception but I can check in with someone once a day too.

Sobering stuff, I must admit.

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
And we all know that sex isn't free.......

Word.

quote:

Originally posted by Boghossian:

quote:

The only issue is you usually have some uber fit nordic types working there, who live on lentils, thistle soup, smoke herbs and believe in free sex ..... Mmmm.

If you are referring to camping shop employees, yes. If you are referring to Scots, you couldn't be further from the mark!

Please don't end up harrowing these gentle folk with your St. Andrews poonani stories...

quote:

Bank holiday weekend?

Sorry mate, headed for Cherbourg & fruits de la mer.....but I'll be thinking of you if it gets a little rough ;0)

One large sized Haggis will feed you for 3 days and comes in its own package. You will need the neeps and tatties that go with it (turnips and spuds), and a bottle of whiskey. After all, you will be in Scotland so go native.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
After all, you will be in Scotland so go native.

Are you suggesting that he strips off naked, wraps himself up in a tartan travel blanket, slaps some blue paint over his face and torso and heads off over the english border to reive some sheep?

Or are you suggesting he heads into town to stock up on Ironbrew and Bains pies?

I've lived for days on bread, cheese, smoked ham and warm beer while hunting.
When backpacking I just take oatmeal, powdered milk, spagetti.

If you have a car, you can add a cool box with some freash stuff. A good cool box will keep meat fresh for 5days or so.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
One large sized Haggis will feed you for 3 days and comes in its own package. You will need the neeps and tatties that go with it (turnips and spuds), and a bottle of whiskey. After all, you will be in Scotland so go native.

Sir I thank you for the advice but you have to appreciate that your line "One large sized Haggis will feed you for 3 days and comes in its own package" is akin to suggesting "One medium sized dead dog will feed you for 3 days and comes in its own package"; I can't stand the stuff!

I often agree with the sadly departed and greatly missed Douglas Adams that a significant portion of the culinary lexicon of these fair and verdant isles were developed specifically with the purpose of pious self-flagellation in mind. To that end things like Haggis, microwave meals and gastropub risotto are appropriate when a man has sinned but this particular sinner is currently of the opinion he has repented enough for any misdeeds he may have committed and cannot contemplate a week of haggis.

Sorry mate.

quote:

Originally posted by Jools:

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
After all, you will be in Scotland so go native.

Are you suggesting that he strips off naked, wraps himself up in a tartan travel blanket, slaps some blue paint over his face and torso and heads off over the english border to reive some sheep?

Or are you suggesting he heads into town to stock up on Ironbrew and Bains pies?

Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom!!!

My Scottish accent can't be any worse than his was to be fair...

I am absolutely laughing my ass off from the dead dog analogy. My ancestors are from Scotland but none of them are recent enough to know what Haggis is. I like the idea of the blue paint; been watching Braveheart too many times. Personally, I would take MREs; I was in the Army long enough to like C Rations and MREs very much. My Mother was not a good cook which might explain a lot.

Ghubert, I'm off to invade Normandy for the weekend, armed of course with cold bacon and marmalade sandwiches to test the strength of their stomachs against mal de mer.

You my friend are welcome to you trip north of the border, equipped with whatever food you like, I hope the reference to dead dog was not an oblique threat to Quiddy in my absence.

His ministrations to you at the last AR Munty shoot but one were purely affectionate in spirit after all.
PS, He would gladly scoff any Haggis you might have left over/couldn't stomach.

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:

quote:

Originally posted by Jools:

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
After all, you will be in Scotland so go native.

Are you suggesting that he strips off naked, wraps himself up in a tartan travel blanket, slaps some blue paint over his face and torso and heads off over the english border to reive some sheep?

Or are you suggesting he heads into town to stock up on Ironbrew and Bains pies?

Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom!!!

My Scottish accent can't be any worse than his was to be fair...

Have you had a chance to catch Russel Crowes attempt at ye olde middle english as Robin Hood.

Still my Aussie is nothing to write home about.

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
I often agree with the sadly departed and greatly missed Douglas Adams that a significant portion of the culinary lexicon of these fair and verdant isles were developed specifically with the purpose of pious self-flagellation in mind. To that end things like Haggis, microwave meals and gastropub risotto are appropriate when a man has sinned but this particular sinner is currently of the opinion he has repented enough for any misdeeds he may have committed and cannot contemplate a week of haggis.

If these are the only 2 options available to you. I suggest you go with the dead dog. At least you'll know what's in it when it ends u on your dinner plate.

quote:

Originally posted by Trapper Dave:
Ghubert, I'm off to invade Normandy for the weekend, armed of course with cold bacon and marmalade sandwiches to test the strength of their stomachs against mal de mer.

The last time my father was in Normandy it was inside the turret of a Cromwell tank. The locals weren't to pleased to see him either. I think the collateral damage being caused might have been a factor in this.

His diet mostly consisted of cornerd beef and strong tea made with condensed milk.

Mine came out through Cherbourg quite a few days after Dunkirk fell.
I think they mostly went hungry.

Thats one of the advantages of having a tank always somewhere to stash grub and brew up you tea.

An unfortunate expression "brew up" given the nature of the conflict.

quote:

Originally posted by Jools:
Thats one of the advantages of having a tank always somewhere to stash grub and brew up you tea.

An unfortunate expression "brew up" given the nature of the conflict.

I must remember that for when I go up the hill after red deer, I'm quite fond of tea and a tasty treat now and again so a tank would seem to be the specific. Do you think a tank calibre is big enough for all UK deer or do I need something a little bigger? Do Weatherby do a tank cartridge for example? Also what is the ideal bullet choice for a tank to prevent excessive meat damage?

Other than humping a 120mm Howitzer along the 75mm found in the Crowell should do you just fine.

No one can accuse you of ignoring Ruarks advise if you do decide to take a trip on one.

As for ideal bullet choice, I'd steer well clear of the AP rounds.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam.270:
I love my Kelly Kettle for camp-based stuff but at what the f#%k o'clock before a roe buck outing, it definitely comes under the heading of 'too much fannying about' - the JetBoil is just click and go, so perfect for the essential pre-prandial caffiene dose. ...and I'd rather sleep with my boots on than lose out on the coffee.

A kelly kettle is just as quick if not quicker than a jet boil if you know how to use one

Observation No.1: The British Army Hexamine folding stove is a good bit of kit, light well designed and one tablet can boil a litre of water.

Observation No.2: Batchelors Cuppas-oups are shite; Truly, hatefully, miserably, rubbish, grainy, artificial tasting packets of disappointment. I have decided, after getting pissed on all day on Saturday, that hot soup in the field is a very good thing, can anyone recommend a better instant or low bulk soup?

Question No.1: What is the best sort of backpack bread? I need it to keep fresh as long as possible and then not acquire the texture of cotton wool when stale.

Question No.2: Best backpacking kettle please gents? I have something like this: http://www.surplusandoutdoors..../1-LITRE-KETTLE-.jpg the only problems are that the handle looks prone to breakage and does not lie flat for packing exacerbating the problem.

Soup: I have always found Waitrose own brand instants soups abou the best available. Also Hienz now make soup purees in a tube.

Bread: If you are looking for a british style bread that fits you requirements you are chasing a phantom. I stick with pitta breads. When they go dry I just use them like american crackers and crumble them into soups or bulk out the contents in a can of chilli.

Kettle. Get a kelly kettle.

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
Observation No.1: The British Army Hexamine folding stove is a good bit of kit, light well designed and one tablet can boil a litre of water.

My observation trumps your observation :-)

Well, at least it helps a little. The hexi tabs are great but you can get a gel called greenheat which is easier to light. This gel comes in little packets and is usually labelled for lighting a BBQ or similar. The packets are relatively expensive, though they are handy. However, this is the same stuff as they use as "chafing gel." Now, being out there without a bath for some days you might think that there is quite enough chafing going on without adding any more but...

Chafing gel is the stuff they burn under hot plates and the like to keep food warm in hotels when they do a buffet. You can buy 4kg of it for about £12, do a search on Amazon or ebay or wander in to your local catering supplier.

Now, this chafing gel might not burn too well in the little folding hexi stove so get yourself a Crusader stove, cup and the cover for the cup. I think they are about £20. The cup is actually a sort of cooking pot in which you can boil water, or milk, or make pot noodle, or you could even heat up tinned soup!! See where I'm going with this?

Carry a goodly supply of chafing gel in some sort of bottle, plus a supply of hexi tabs. Drop a hexi tab or two into your Crusader stove and then top it off with the chafing gel. Light the gel, it is much easier to light than the tabs, and heat up soup, or water, or milk or whatever. The gel will burn quite quickly but the hexi tabs burn more slowly so this gives you time to notice that the heat is going down and to add more chafing gel before the fire goes out. You could also throw in pine cones, twigs and the like but that would make a smoke smell and the forester might get a little excited at smelling a fire in his forest.

With that kit you don't need a kettle, just boil in the Crusader cup. Your problems are solved!

Hey A

How was the trip ooop norf?

I dunno if I mentioned squdgy bread, not available in Canada but it keeps forever in the packet and is good high calorie stuff. Dried pita lasts forever and good with a little honey and cinnamon.

You're setting yourself at the beginning of a journey-once you start this "self reliance" junk you'll be able to hunt in a lot of different places that others can't access.

In Alberta we've packed into places just a few miles from the roads but because we pack in and stay overnight there are no other hunters. The best so far has been wading across rivers as most hunters don't go out with hip waders.

This rough sleeping is definately something to get good at.

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
I dunno if I mentioned squdgy bread, not available in Canada but it keeps forever in the packet and is good high calorie stuff. Dried pita lasts forever and good with a little honey and cinnamon.

You're setting yourself at the beginning of a journey-once you start this "self reliance" junk you'll be able to hunt in a lot of different places that others can't access.

In Alberta we've packed into places just a few miles from the roads but because we pack in and stay overnight there are no other hunters. The best so far has been wading across rivers as most hunters don't go out with hip waders.

This rough sleeping is definately something to get good at.

Thanks T,

What is squidgy bread, I've never heard of it mate?

Google presented me with one or two unreliable results...

I'm cool with the idea of developing these skills, I'd rather hunt the wilder places than sit on field margins all my life...

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
I'm cool with the idea of developing these skills, I'd rather hunt the wilder places than sit on field margins all my life...

Once a dreamer, always a dreamer. aye?

Can anyone hear anything?

Must have been dreaming...

I have three types of kit.

1) a pocket rocket gas stove, a small gas canister and a stainless 1/2 pint mug. My go to kit, very light and easy to boil up water, heat up a stew etc. plus a sheet of tinfoil for trout.

2) if having to carry camping gear then I have a Trangia cook set, with a gas burner, that is my go - all the gear in one place.

3) my African poikie pot for use on an open fire. Not back pack able, but if car camping / canoe camping it comes with.

Food - I can't eat wheat - same effect as a stinking hangover without the pleasure so I have had to adapt.

Staples - rice, sundried tomatoes, dried mushrooms, chillies and some onions and garlic. Black pepper also essential plus a few dried herbs. Olive oil for cooking. Some of the boil in bag rice is not too bad.

Meat - well you have a rifle and a bit of hunger soon sorts out stalking skills!

In terms of recipes. Oil into a hot pot, in goes some pepper, garlic, chopped onion, plus any meat you have, let it brown. Add some of scottish fine water (either from hillside or brewed) or French finest and dried veggies and bring to a slow boil. If you are cooking on an open fire then let it simmer away. If on gas, just stick the lid on and give it some heat every few minutes. Throw in the rice 10 minutes before its ready, make sure there is enough liquid to completely cover the rice, bring back to the boil, stick the lid on, take off the heat and the rice soak up all the liquid. You can substitute rice for potatoes or pasta. And the same basic recipe does pretty well with mussels, clams etc - just adjust the cooking times.

Haggis difficult to catch and can be very aggressive if cornered or not cooked properly. The artificial ones that are mass produced and generally for sale explode nicely when used to check the sights of your rifle!

And the new kilner type jars, especially the plastic ones are excellent for storing and transporting, stews, curries etc. Make them at home, make sure the jar is well sterilised ( hot dishwasher cleaned and stealing steaming) and poor in the stew when it is really hot, make sure you get rid of as much air as possible and immediately seal the lid. The food should keep for several days and very simple to then heat through when needed.