Thursday 24th February

I hate how fast Half Term goes. Time seems to accelerate...I suppose it means I am having a good time!
So today I walked 15.5 miles carrying 12 kg. I had a very jolly time and recommend walking, with or without company, to anyone!

The weather was GLORIOUS in the afternoon, although there has been so much rain until now that many of the footpaths in the New Forest were more like small streams. My Gri-Sport leather boots were great and didn't let in a drop of water.

The Coffin - lets hope I don't die in it!!!

I stopped in the afternoon near Fritham - managed to find a relatively dry spot - and put up my tent and tarpaulin. They were both very fast to erect and above is a photo of the rig. I am very pleased with the combined weight of the Coleman tent and tarpaulin which is only 1.2 kg. I need the tarpaulin to cook under if it rains and I think having the tent on it's own would be too constrictive. I can't easily get dressed in it since I can't sit up inside! Also, if kit and clothes are all wet, the amount of condensation in a single-skin tent would be pretty intolerable I should think (as Sean Connery might say).

I have nick-named the tent "The Coffin" as it is about the same size and shape as a coffin.

I also used my Trangia and "old" Vargo stove to heat up some water today. It took about 10 minutes to boil a good saucepan full of water. Then I added some Ben Ainsley Thai aromatic couscous and a packet of powdered mushroom soup, stirred it, and left it for 10 minutes while I took down the tent and tarp.

Afterwards I enjoyed one of the most lovely, tasty meals I have ever eaten outdoors. The cousous was gorgeous and since I had used extra water, I was left with a refreshing (and unusual) dessert of mushroom soup with a hint of Thai. The salt was needed as I had got rather warm in the morning and I felt my batteries had been fully recharged when I set off again. Lovely.

When I got home I found that Vargo, in conjunction with backpackinglight, had very promptly sent me a replacement Vargo stove (since the first one had broken on it's first use). I was very impressed to receive this so fast and recommend both companies to anyone interested in lightweight and effective outdoors stuff. It is nice to be treated so well by people I have never met.

The perfect end to a fabulous day.

Now to the mundane joy of cooking of supper and planning my route for tomorrow!!