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Welcome to Doodlecat - where we enjoy the great outdoors and gather a range of news and views. Much of the content is courtesy of the generous contributions from the splendid people who participate in the annual TGO Challenge, so there is a wealth of outdoor experience here, especially if you like walking in Scotland - but we try to range worldwide.

The home page is where we post the latest news and views from the Doodlecat team. You can have your say too! Just click on the 'comments' link on any of the posts - or if you have a story or photogallery that you think we'd like, then let us know. Random Doodles and the Image Gallery welcome guest contributions, as well as the perennial favourite, the TGO Challenge pages

The blogroll on the right displays ten links to other sites that you might like to try out - there are a lot more, and the list will change each time you visit or 'refresh' the page.

Enjoy your stay.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

It's Deja Vu - all over again!

Just back from a great 'break out of winter' week end in the Lakes, admirably reported by Alan Sloman. As Alan says, we kicked off the weekend with Friday night at the Old Dungeon Ghyll, where, bizarrely, we were surrounded by exactly the same people who had been there on 20th October - six female students from Hull, and a beardy chap in his forties desperately trying to entertain them all with the manic intensity of a game show host on speed...just trying far, far too hard.

They were stunned that we not only remembered them, but the exact date of their last visit. But this time one of the girls was on his knee, and Alan, with the diplomacy and tact which is his hallmark, warmly congratulated him on scoring (and with a pretty one), as we had completely written off his chances last year.

I think he took it as compliment, but fortunately we slipped away through a fault in the space/time continuum - one minute it was 10.15, the next it was 11.25 and we were wandering away to our tents to sleep like babes.

Next morning we were off for a magnificent afternoon on the hill. Alan has reported this in full, so I'll just add to the photos!

Great Mell Fell from the Old Coach Road

Alan takes a photograph against the sun

Our 'irregular' campsite by Stick's Gill

Alan sizes up another great shot

The new rucksack purchased in Ambleside was not a total success, however. My first brush with a fixed back length and whilst I thought it fitted OK, a full day's fiddling revealed the truth - it didn't.

Back home a tape measure confirmed that I have a back length of 20.5", whereas the sack only adjusts to accommodate a 19.5" maximum. It's surprising the difference this makes, and a bit of a disappointment as the Millet Peuterey 40 is a great little sack. Oddly, Alan is slightly taller than me and his fits like a glove, but he has long legs and a short body, whereas I am the opposite. Ah well, just goes to show what the lure of a bargain can do - £85 down to £70 made this a snip compared to the expensive and (I thought) rather overrated "lightweight" packs. It holds far more that its nominal 40 litre capacity implies and will easily cope with a 30lb load.

I have offered it to someone I know, but if they don't want it, it will be up for grabs - and at an excellent price. Miss Whiplash will permit no more gear purchases until the rucksack/funds situation is rectified, so I am a desperate man.

posted by Phil at Tuesday, February 12, 2008