Just idly flicking through my blog and it appears my last entry was in 2018. I freely admit that blog entries are like hen’s teeth these days but I can’t seem to completely let go of keeping it ticking over and making the occasional entry. So….
Outdoorsy type stuff like walking and camping have been relegated to the shelves of infrequency and obscurity. I just don’t have the time to devote to pursuits such as these and find my eclectic outlook and interests keep me occupied and satiated. I do go walking but it tends to be rolling hillsides than craggy mountainsides and if I do the dogs and the wife come with me. More time is spent and devoted to cycling to satisfy that Vitamin D and mood boosting fix and again with my good lady wife 95% of the time. Family events and maintenance (yes I do mean it in the realest sense of the word!) fairly and squarely also occupy a chunk of my energy too. I have also rediscovered my love of books and research especially with regards to ancient and/or local history. That doesn’t mean that I don’t still buy and appreciate outdoor gear but it is more of an aesthetic satisfaction rather than a purely functional driven need. I must be getting old.
What I have bought and used recently include the marmite-like Marmot Precip jacket, Rab Nucleus Pull-on and Five-Ten Access Approach shoes. The jacket does exactly what it was bought for, keeping me dry although I admit it would probably not suffice for all day mountain walking. I like the relative lightness coupled with its robustness and a very decent hood. The Rab Nucleus is my go to top for light insulation and has worn really well ie it still looks pristine. The Access shoes were a ‘can’t leave’ sale item and on reflection I wouldnt buy them at full price and especially having worn them. They are reasonably comfy and reasonably grippy in the wet but arent waterproof, arent for long days walking and arent all that supportive. Still they were cheap 🙂
I cant think what the next bit of (non) walking kit will be, especially as Spring approaches, but a technical teeshirt does seem on the cards. It’ll be a whim purchase no doubt so I’ll wait and see. I would like to think I might get my zen back for (proper) hill walking and maybe, just maybe, I might venture out onto the hills in the summer if and when time allows.
Saddlebags and Backpacks - a brewer's outdoor adventures 