Late on Saturday afternoon – too late for my liking, as the day was gorgeous – I set out to the hills over the back of the house, in search of a site for the night. With me, the new Quechua 50L, rather anemic looking since I usually venture with 32L and hardly knew what to do with all the space! But very comfortable inauguration however.
Usually I camp at a place 20 minutes walk from the house, at the site of an ancient Druid temple but now I felt like venturing further to the moors, which are twice the distance. I loved it however, so much more wild feeling. No grass either, so no ticks. Just granite and peat.
On the dinner menu was an instant pasta with added sweet potato and carrots for nutrition… (and a bit of dirt since I managed to tip the pot off the cooker… for nutrition). Afterwards I took a walk down to the shore to search for some wood for a small fire, and perhaps anything else unusual washed ashore, then headed back to attempt to start the fire – first using my mag stick and fire steel. It was a complete fail, bit of practice at least I suppose, and resorted to building the fire in the stove and lighting it over the gas burner.
I didn’t sleep too well because the wind turned up a few notches and the noise my tent makes! Snapping and whipping in the wind all night long. Even with ear plugs it was still loud! I think that may be a down-fall of nylon tents because I went to visit my partner in his polyester tent and it made much softer, quieter noises.
So the wind continued all night and grew worse into the morning. Before I knew it there was a full on storm blowing outside…. sigh. Just when I wanted to make the most of having to be nowhere for the next day, enjoy nature, and sleep in. On top of that the wind has changed direction so instead of blowing streamlined across the tent it was now hammering full frontal at the back. Eventually it pretty much just blew my tent down. Folded it in half. I was half soaked in the rain, my gear was wet and the wind whipped the rain into my eyes.
I have to confess I loved it. It was just the experience I wanted and I felt alive and refreshed from it. The walk back was a challenge because of the wind blowing me around whilst wearing my pack, plus trying to navigate over the uneven ground with rocks and puddles of water all at the same time. Cool. Now that I am sitting at home next to the fire I feel wrecked but on the moors it was the best place in the world to be. I want to go back to this place.
OUTDOORSY GIRL 