TK Adventures

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  • Fort William ‘zero’ day, and gear changes

    Fort William ‘zero’ day, and gear changes

    Day 20: Zero in Fort William

    We had our first ‘zero’ today in Fort William and had a few tasks to complete in town.  We were staying at a campsite out of town so we walked about 3km, taking the scenic route rather than the road, and arrived just as the post office opened.  I collected our packages whilst Katie grabbed us a coffee and we found a spot to sit in front of the cinema to sort a few thingsout.  First, new shoes for both of us.  I was pretty sure mine would fit as I have had the shoes before (New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro Trail) and they popped on like slippers, no worries!  Katie had also ordered the same and seemed happy but kept her old ones on for now as we had to visit a few shops and she wanted the opportunity to look at other options.  We also had a package from Katie’s parents with some new bag liners, maps for the next part of the trip, and a new water container to replace one of mine which was leaking.  Lastly, an Amazon order containing a small cork massage ball to help deal with foot issues.  Bam! Post office sorted, we started hitting up the outdoor stores for various things including a puncture repair kit for Katie’s sleeping pad, a couple of tent pegs (we left one somewhere so are one short, plus one spare), gas cylinder, a new Buff for me, and a few other bits and bobs. The only thing we didn’t find were some more injinji toe socks. I’ll have to order online to get delivered further up trail.

    In between some of the outdoor stores we ransacked Boots for some supplies and last of all Morrisons for food.  Our first resupply shop.  We only needed 2-3 days worth of food.  Not sure what happened but an hour and a half later it seemed like we had come out with a ton!  To be fair, I don’t think we really went too overboard in the end, certainly more than we needed, but not a silly amount.  And although we have to carry it, shopping some bulk things in Morrisons here will be cheaper than on trail.

    Shopping done, we had pizza and beers, at the Black Isle Brewery bar here in Fort William.  We stayed in the Black Isle Brewery bar/hotel in Inverness the night before we started at JOG so seemed fitting, and their pizzas, ciders, and beers are spot on! We both got the chorizo pizza and packed a couple of slices away for tomorrow’s lunch.  The final task was to post a few things back home including the shoes I’ve been using this far (they have plenty of mileage left in them) and, of course, my antler!

    With all of our tasks complete, we grabbed an ice cream and headed back to camp.  By the time we had both sorted out our food and things for the next stint of the trip, it was about time to get dinner going.  The same as last night, it was real nice.  I took care of my feet and we got our heads down excited to start the next chapter on the West Highland Way tomorrow!  Today was another beauty so really hoping that the forecast rain isn’t too much over the next few days and we still get some sunshine! ☺️☀️?

    Some gear updates

    Shoes (Tom) – Adidas Terrex Free Hiker GTX –> New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro Trail

    I opted for a waterproof shoe to begin with, and after extensive testing of a few options, went this the Free Hiker. The Hoka Speedgoat GTX failed the waterproof test, the La Sportiva option failed the comfort test, and another, more walking boot style Adidas option had a sole that slipped around in the shoe way too much!

    So the Free Hiker, in summary;

    Positives
    • Really appreciated having the waterproof shoes.
    • Waterproofing really did work.
    • Soles held up well – around 420km on varied surfaces – tarmac, gravel, soft ground, bog etc.
    Negatives
    • Laces need changing. They are quite fat, round, and hard. There is little cushioning in the tongue/around where laces are positioned. This resulted in bruised ankle bone area on left foot and aggravated/bruised bone (Accessory Navicular) in right foot. Lace change could help.
    • Laces became undone easily.
    • Probably half a size too big, thought I would be wearing for more time.
    Why change now?

    Aside from issues with laces causing significant discomfort, in heat (it’s summer, should be getting warmer as we head south!) they will be too warm and just end up wetter in than out! Also expecting ground conditions to be drier in general so less need for waterproof.

    Shoes (Katie) – Inov-8 something or other –> New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro Trail

    Katie’s shoes had done a few miles before we started and were falling apart a bit so she opted for the same New Balance as I did. She also had some heel pain so hoping that subsides with a change of shoes and more cushioning/padding.

    Socks

    I tried a combo of an injinji toe sock inner with a stance outer. Didn’t really work for me and unlikely to need that thickness going forward. Will replace stance socks with a second injinji hiking sock (to rotate wear, wash/dry, each day), and keep inner for evenings/night (as had forgotten socks for evenings and the toe socks go well with my sandals. ☺️. Have ordered a pair to a campsite we are staying at this Friday.

  • What March 2020 Taught Me

    What March 2020 Taught Me

    March 2nd 2020: Move out of London Flat

    It turns out after 3 and a bit years of living in the same flat you accumulate a lot of ‘stuff’. With a minimal year ahead of us, it was the charity shop’s lucky day but the whole process of choosing what to keep was surprisingly satisfying.

    Lesson 1

    Every now and then review your ‘stuff’ if you have not worn it, used it, wondered where it is in the past 2 years, you don’t need it in your life. Donate it to someone who does.

    March 5th 2020: The US Border

    We arrived at LAX, went to the passport machines to register our arrival and then got separated into 2 different queues to see the border police. Tom was through in 20 minutes, I queued for well over an hour and then got grilled because; border control’s first impression of a single woman, travelling on her own to embark on what most people would consider a pretty ludicrous journey was very suspicious.

    Lesson 2

    It seems despite equality being a hot topic over the last couple of years, and it has been recognised over and over that women are just as independent, strong and capable as men, when entering the US, go through the process with a male if one is available this will prevent you from having to waste the minimal energy you have left after a 10 hour transatlantic fight, justifying your existence to a sexist *****.

    March 5th – 16th 2020: California

    We stayed with Richard and his partner Patsi for our first 10 days in the USA, we were prepping for the hike but also spending time with them, getting involved in their day to day, and embracing the California culture. We also got to spend some quality time with Tom’s sister and her fabulous family as well.

    Lesson 3

    If you have family that live abroad and you think that you know & understand them from afar you don’t. Just like in nature the only way to get to know someone truly is to explore their habitat, understand their environment and the experience first hand the challenges that they face every day. If you ever get the chance to do this you must, there is no better way to connect.

    Lesson 4

    The idea of driving a manual car from the passenger seat on the wrong side of the road is terrifying. In reality it’s not, have faith, your perceived conscious incompetence may actually be unconscious competence.

    Lesson 5

    In California, it’s perfectly acceptable to go for a run around the block, get in the car for a drive through Starbucks, bring it home to enjoy and then go back out again for lunch at In-N-Out Burger. Embrace, Embody, Enjoy

    March 17th – 20th 2020: The PCT

    We set off on our 6 month thru hike to Canada, and as you all know this only lasted 4 days, however when I sat and thought about it I did learn quite a lot. Here’s a quick round up of what I learnt from spending not quite 4 days on the Pacific Crest Trail;

    Lesson 6

    Don’t have a spicy Thai Curry the night before you leave for the trail, hopefully no further explanation is required.

    Lesson 7

    There is no such thing as a waterproof glove, but 2 pairs of wet gloves are still warmer than no gloves at all.

    Lesson 8

    1 baby wipe has 2 sides, can be split in half and should be prioritised for the 3 F’s. Face, Feet, Fanny.

    Lesson 9

    It does not matter how cold, wet or snowy the weather, when you have got to go, you have got to go. For now at least I will never know if it will get any worse than being on your period, digging through 6 inches of snow and trying to squat with all your layers on.

    Lesson 10

    To increase chances of staying married, when wearing the aforementioned 2 pairs of gloves make sure they are out of shot when taking rare photo of husband. It helps if the horizon is level too.

    Lesson 11

    Make all the snacks accessible from the start of the day and come to think of it all through the night as well. It’s perfectly acceptable to snack trail mix at 04:00 because you are too hungry to sleep.

    Lesson 12

    Looks can be deceiving, even if you pack a wet tent away it will still keep you dry once it’s back up.

    Lesson 13

    Your toothbrush can be too small and the state of your hair is the least of your worries, but do think twice about shaving an undercut in your in-laws bathroom, I am not convinced it was worth the mess.

    Lesson 14

    Spending 10 minutes filming a Gopher digging a hole could be the highlight of your day.

    Lesson 15

    Reading fun messages in the sand and writing them back in the snow really does bring a smile to your face.

    21st – 31st March 2020: Love, Laughter & Respect

    We spent the first few days off trail in denial, angry and bitterly disappointed, but time provides us with the ability to learn more and understand that the world we are so desperate to explore needs us to respect its state at this point in time. It helps us put our situation into perspective and support those who need and love us the most through positivity and laughter.

    Lesson 16

    You don’t realise how much a hug means until you are not allowed to dish them out freely.

    Family

    Lesson 17

    With time on our hands, a GoPro & limited access to a pool comes creativity.

    Lesson 18

    Don’t look up to your parents in a completely alien situation thinking they will have dealt with it in a mature and sensible way.

    Lesson 19

    Being told by the PM that you can only part take in one form of outdoor exercise per day has resulted in me running every day and attempting to recreate my HIIT class before re-entering the house. A regime that up until now has only got as far being planned out across January in a new diary as part of a well intended new year’s resolution.

    Lesson 20

    In a time where everyone is living by the same rules, no one is certain about the present or can predict the future society is more equal than it has ever been before. This level playing field has provided me with the most honest, emotional and laughter filled conversations with my nearest and dearest; something I hope will continue when Covid-19 is in the history books.