The weather is set fair for the weekend, the days are lengthening and I would normally be off on some long-distance path around this date. My long time friend Mel and I often choose March/April for one of our sorties which we have been doing for over the last 20 years. [more of Mel in a later post]
I feel the urge for an overnight camping trip somewhere.
Happy Easter.
Why start a post on backpacking with a tray of eggs? I certainly wasn’t going to take them with me…
It’s great sorting through my camping gear, the smell and the touch bring back memories of trips both at home and abroad. I’ve several backpacking tents, all a little dated now. My favourite for lightweight trips is my solo Saunders Jetpacker. I only use the outer and pitch it with my trekking poles which saves a load of weight. I’ve never bothered with Thermarest type inflatable sleeping pads as I’m happy sleeping on a short piece of foam. The temperature at night isn’t much less than 10 degrees so my three-season ME Dew Line should be warm enough. As I don’t use the inner tent I pack a very lightweight bivi sac to protect my sleeping bag and give a little extra warmth.
I can’t find any gas cartridges for my stove so I decided to eat supper before I go. I’m only out one night and cold muesli will be fine in the morning. As I’d had 3 dozen eggs, pictured above, delivered this morning I make a Spanish Omelette, tortilla, for supper. It is very filling therefore I’ll freeze the remaining slices. For afters, I have a slice of the pear crumble I made last night from a surfeit of fruit, delicious. So more pictures of food which is becoming an obsession in this lockdown.
Tortilla.
Pear crumble – fast disappearing.
Well fortified I set off from home with what was a very light rucksack, Golite in fact. I need to find somewhere out of sight and off the beaten track to pitch my tent and fortunately I found such a spot with plenty of light left. All seems well with the tent and I have it up in about 5minutes. I settle in with a crossword as darkness quickly falls, a couple of owls hoot and then all becomes silent. 
There is a heavy dew in the night but I stay snug and dry. A far off cockerel heralds the day rather early, about 4am, and the general bird song starts an hour later. I then fall asleep again until seven-thirty. I skip breakfast, pack the wet tent and head back to my house before anyone is about.
This has only been a short taste of backpacking but it has broken some of the monotony of the lockdown and brought back memories of more dramatic camps throughout the world. I’m rather pleased that a simple night under ‘canvas’ can still give such pleasure. I may even attempt a two-night trip next week.
There is no map of my short walk as I need to keep the camping spot a secret to use again.
Brilliant!😂
I bet you were exhausted after that mountainous trek, the doorstep must have been especially taxing!
Had to take a compass bearing to find my way back in the early morning mist.
I too have a Saunder’s Jetpacker. I used it on my Pennine Way and I think on The Coast to Coast. I could never get it to pitch properly and thought some of the panels might have been badly cut.
Well done on your expedition – that must be about the most minimalist I have read about.
Mine is patched and repaired. I sent it back to Saunders once for some minor adjustments and possibly attachment of side guys, they did the work for nothing. Must look them up and see if they are still manufacturing tents as a family firm.
Brilliant. Glad you had a good time.
I couldn’t fool anybody.
I’m so lucky to have a garden to potter in during this lockdown. The night’s camping broke up the routine and felt very realistic.
Happy Easter.
A great idea, and some good camping hints there from an obviously well-seasoned traveller!
Yes just trying to mix things up a little.
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This post made me laugh, I sussed straight away that you only went as far as your garden 🙂 I actually considered putting my own tent up in the back garden last weekend but I would have had to cut the grass first and just couldn’t be bothered 🙁
Get your lawn cut and have a night out under the stars, you won’t regret it though it is quite chilly!
Chilly wouldn’t matter, I can run a cable from the house so I can have heating and a light to read by 🙂
Why didn’t I think of that.
Never mind all this connecting with nature rubbish.
The crumble looks amazing. You’re making me hungry! Greetings from London.
Yes, I’m crumbling my way through lockdown, apple, pear and plum are on offer.
Nice trip!
Nice to see a Golite, I was lucky enough to get one secondhand on eBay, it’s brilliant! I’d only use my Saunders Fellpine (bought 1981) in the garden now 😉
Hi.
Yes, I’ve got a couple of Golites from way back when, love them.
My Saunders Jetpacker is getting a little tired now, I only use the flysheet as a bivy for which it is quite good.
Hope you are coping well with lockdown down in Norfolk.
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