-
Tips on building a Campfire
Make a clearing for the fire pit, ideally, on bare dirt. Create a shallow dish/fire pit into the ground where you have chosen to build your campfire. Position stones in a circle around the fire pit to keep your fire contained Gather your Tinder: dry leaves, dry bark, dry glass and any dry twigs Collect your kindling; dry and dead wood…
-
My not so secret tips ‘Before’ Coastal Rowing or More!
Train in an open water boat as often as possible. Rowing machine… priority is not speed or distance…its TIME Weight training…Ocean rowing, you use your upper body far more Cross-training machines… Endurance and general fitness Mental Toughness… Brain training and mental strength is the key I strongly suggest enrolling in formal training RYA Courses – (Royal Yachting Assoc.) First Aid at…
-
Water …………It Sustains Life!!!
An average person can survive up to 3 Days without Water Oasis Water Purification Tablets, decontaminates water making it safe to drink. Convenient to use – just drop into water, it dissolves – wait an hour Recommend boiling, as this will remove any chlorine aftertaste. Destroys water-borne diseases (Cholera, dysentery, typhoid, polio, diarrhoea and more). Kills bacteria, bacterial spores, cysts,…
-
My not so secret ‘On the trail’ cooking tips
Our Kitchen , North Pole 2009 Practise cooking with your compact gas stove and refilling it at home A long-handled spoon and a small sharp knife are all you require for basic food preparation and cooking on the trail Spork– is a combination spoon, fork with a cutting edge; the perfect utensil for travel, camping and adventures; my preference is…
-
My, not so secret Bugs n’ Grubs Warning Signals
Insects, worms, grubs, beetles and termites can be a good source of protein… But, as a general rule, avoid >>> Brightly coloured insects / bugs Insects / bugs that are extremely smelly Hairy creepy crawlers Insects and bugs that sting and bite **Ask your local guide if a ‘Bug’ is edible…BEFORE popping it into your mouth
-
My, not so secret basic Tips, when ‘Foraging’ for Wild Food
Plant Warning Signals Don’t eat mushrooms, some are safe, some are toxic – even deadly Never eat plants with thorns Stay away from Umbrella- shaped flower/plants Never eat plants with yellow or white berries Avoid plants with shiny leaves and plants with seeds in a pod Plants with discoloured or milky sap are a definite no, no. Spit out any…
-
My secret Tips about useful Knives for Backwoods/Camping/Hunting
Common range of blade points and what tasks they are best suited… Drop-point : good compromise between strength and utility Sheepsfoot : false point – slicing, whittling & ideal to cut rope Clip-point : for more delicate and precision work Straight Back : sturdy, ideal for cutting and chopping Tanto Blade : strong, handy for pushing cuts and piercing Gut…
-
An average person can survive up to….
3 Weeks without Food 3 Days without Water 3 Hours outside of the body’s core temperature Critical items you ‘Need’ to Survive in the Wilderness Hydration: Water…water purification system Nutrition: Food…. Survival Knife…. Shelter; tarp, tent, space blanket…. First Aid Kit…. Jacket, hat, sunglasses, gloves, raincoat/shell & thermals…. Navigation; map, compass & GPS (mobile phone)…. Headlamp, flashlight, signalling device, whistle….…
-
Action in Remission
In training, post Chemo, for the challenge, whilst showing off my Chemo Curl. I supplemented time on the water with a gym training schedule that included hard hours on the rowing machine (Ergo), pumping a little iron and a strengthening exercise routines using all major muscle groups. Tuesday 3rd August 2021 I Kayaked from Dungeness to Boulogne and returned on…
-
Let’s talk about Cancer & Chemo
On Monday 21st September 2020 I underwent a CT scan on my thorax; and on the 29th, Dr T Nakos told me that I did indeed have cancer. A few days later Dr J R Jones, a consultant haematologist confirmed the diagnosis; I had B-cell lymphoma cancer. My first thought was ‘game over’ My second was ‘you bloody drama queen!’ …
