When the original Montane Air Jacket (left in the photie above) came out about five years ago the reaction was often what you’d expect: very whiny indeed. “The fabric’s shiny”, “It’s too tight”, “It’s only got one pocket”, “It’s too light, I’ll die” etc. So, both it and it’s outstanding matching pants slipped away again quite [...]
Posted on June 30th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 8 Comments »
I was coming home from the studio and the sun was setting behind the Luss hills. I drove straight past home to the shores of Loch Lomond to watch the last rays flutter dimly against the scattered cloud. What a glorious night. I could just about hear the ducks quacking half heartedly at me and each [...]
Posted on June 29th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 9 Comments »
I was emptying the camera memory cards and charging the camera batteries to get ready for this weeks trip, something that I always twin with sticking all my photies on my external hard drive. I run everything off on an ancient Bontempi laptop which has no memory left so nothing stays around on it for long, it [...]
Posted on June 28th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 16 Comments »
I had mixed emotions when the Firesteel 2.0 from Light My Fire came in for test. I’d been using the original version for years, had no problems with it and the new one looked and felt substantially different. Some of this was explained to me, both halves are scooped to make for a secure grip and [...]
Posted on June 26th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 6 Comments »
Just in time is plenty of time. But, I still went round on Saturday morning to check the system was actually working as I had proclaimed the day before as I was due at another job nearby anyway. All was well and I actually felt a little pressure slip off the top of the pile. I [...]
Posted on June 26th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 9 Comments »
Not often I get stuff in for test that has magical powers… Insect repellent isn’t the first thing you associate with 3M, but they’re actually a very diverse ACME-style company making everything from Post-It notes to welding helmets to giant catapults that slam you into rock faces when you’re chasing the Road Runner. Meep meep. [...]
Posted on June 23rd, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 24 Comments »
Thursday is a strange one. It’s kinda the end of the week in some ways, too late to order in parts or materials but still plenty of time left to get stuff done. As long as you’re sure you can finish it with what you’ve got, working the weekend is easy, getting suppliers who are still [...]
Posted on June 23rd, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 12 Comments »
Joycee won’t be pleased, she’s away for a few days for work and missed it. I got away after a meeting in the morning and took Holly along with my maw and paw to see the new Transport Museum on opening day. Despite it being a minging rainy day it was mobbed which was great [...]
Posted on June 22nd, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 9 Comments »
There wasn’t much new on the Fisherfield trip, after my down time I think I needed familiar stuff so I didn’t really have to think or worry about anything at all given the miles I was covering. Mountain King sent up a new set of their brilliant Trail Blaze poles, now in a coppery-orange colour, and taking [...]
Posted on June 20th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | 11 Comments »
“You’ve had enough, leave some for Mika” Holly chastised Hankie as he overenthusiastically tucked into the fruitbowl. It was easy for him after all, being a stegosaurus he didn’t keep spearing apples on his horns and spend the next ten minutes trying to get them back off as juice dripped onto his forehead. Meal times [...]
Posted on June 20th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 3 Comments »
I squeezed my eyes open and looked at my watch, 0430. It was bright, sun was coming up, bet it’s beautiful out there. I flipped onto my front to block out the light and slipped away again to the comforting aroma of damp down. 0734, aye that’s better. It was still bright, the day was well [...]
Posted on June 18th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 38 Comments »
It was late when I left… Never has that been more accurate or applied so many times to just one trip. My most recent ague has made a mockery of all my plans, leaving me much to and into negative figures of time to do it. I wasn’t going into Fisherfield unless the weather was [...]
Posted on June 16th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 31 Comments »
How the hell did it get to be Wednesday? I’m afraid I must ask you all to turn out your pockets and female members of staff will also inspect all handbags. No one will be allowed to leave until at least Tuesday has been found. I’ve also got a damned good idea which one of [...]
Posted on June 15th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 8 Comments »
