hiking

Most camping websites do the 'how to choose tent' routine. So I was thinking I'd do the same. But then I hit myself on the head with a hammer and it came to me - trying to give advice on how to choose the one perfect tent is like trying to give advice on 'how to choose the best noodle' at the local Chinsess takeway - it simply can't be done.

In the real world, it doesn't matter what sort of tent you take with you. Sometimes it will be ok but other times you'll need a different tent. And then next time a different tent again would be better. So if you buy just one you'll always be living in a compromised camping experience.

At mycampgear.com compromise is not an option.

The solution?

Buy more tents.

Don't over think it. Just go into a camping shop, surf ebay or go to a garage sale and just buy the first one that you go 'yeah, I like that.'

And then do the same next month. And the next month...

mycampgear.com - saving the world, one tent at a time.

I'm a pretty hopeless fisher. I've got all the gear but rarely catch anything. My favourite line from a John Williamson song goes, "Workin' hard at bein' lazy, no bait on the line". If you ever see a post from me about catching fish - ignore any advice given. But I can catch yabbies. And the kids had a great time doing it.

I've got an oil skin coat. I's heavy, big, not that comfortable but I like it - it feels good. The whole light weight material thing just doesn't give me the same vibes.

So this one is for all you latte-sipping hippy hikers who pull the second row of sticking out of your undies to save weight. Enjoy.

Would it really be useful?

Our overnight bushwalk up Mt Solitary in the Blue mountains was a great success. It was a fun time exploring the bush with the kids and doing Bear Grylls (Man vs Wild) impersonations. We think that Daniel (6) may be youngest to summit and camp up there. It was a big effort for the kids to do the scrambling up the knife edge and we found the climbing was their favourite part. I guess there are no surprises there.

We playing with a new toy the Go Pro Hero cam (HD) to give a bit of a different perspective for the video.

Each kid had to carry some of their own gear. Daniel carried his sleeping mat (therm-a-rest prolite 3 3/4) and fleece sleeping bag liner along with his own clothes and some water for along the way. I continued in trying to carry a little as possible and started ended up carrying 7.5kgs. We both slept in the single person tarp tent scarp 1 (from Henry Shires). It worked well for the both of us, if a little tight on space. I think I'll have to tell Carrie I'm getting the scarp 2 so I can "take Daniel off her hands" a bit more!

We ate dehydrated Mexican fiesta beans which is a big success in the bush after walking all day. Lunch was salami sticks, crackers and cheese with a little bit of condensed milk for a quick hit of energy before the big climbs. Interestingly the big climb up the golden stairs back to the car was done with much enthusiasm and required very little encouragement.