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Main Boards => Welcome => Topic started by: lightweightmick on 13:01:34, 08/02/20

Title: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: lightweightmick on 13:01:34, 08/02/20
Heyup all O0 - looking for a bit of inspiration... Thinking of going back to boots and tent... Talk me out of it :-X
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: ninthace on 13:21:29, 08/02/20
Hi and welcome to the forum.
My name is Ninthace and I am a walker.  I have been a walker since Pontius was taking flying lessons and like you I am desperately seeking a cure. I haven't had a walk since this morning.
I recently heard of Walkers Anonymous but I have not had the courage to admit I have problem, perhaps it is not too late for you though, as you are only just about to start on the slippery slope.  If you feel an urge to walk ring WA and somebody will come round with a whisky bottle that you can share until the feeling goes away.  Be warned, walking is a gateway activity.  Walking can lead on to hiking and even, dare I say it, rambling.  Before you know it you will be wild camping.  You will fritter your money on gear just so you can spend nights being cold wet and bored.  No don't do it.  Call WA now!
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: alan de enfield on 13:22:40, 08/02/20
Heyup all O0 - looking for a bit of inspiration... Thinking of going back to boots and tent... Talk me out of it :-X

Boots might not be very happy about that - suggest you try putting the tent up in Go-Outdoors where it may be acceptable.
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: Ridge on 13:44:56, 08/02/20
Even if you don't stop for yourself think of your loved ones.
I'm not that much in to it, thought it was something I could cope with, but now both my kids are also walkers. My daughter is doing her second 50km challenge  in a couple of weeks, after the first one she swore she would never do it again, promised that was the last time, but she just couldn't stop herself.


So my advice is to just say no and walk away...


...just lace up your boots and walk away.....


...rucksack on, boots on and just walk...




It's fine, I can handle it, I'll just sit here quietly rocking and sniffing a pot of dubbing



Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: rural roamer on 14:43:22, 08/02/20
Welcome, is the the same lightweightmick that posted on the now seemingly defunct Sherpa forum?
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: lightweightmick on 13:27:28, 09/02/20
The very same lightweight  O0 - taken me a while to catch up on here. Slogger and Harland also here too I believe..? Credit to Sherpa for keeping the site up - clearly used for reference still - in fact I've got stuff on there that is lost elswhere! Maybe with interest in the Northern Traverse maybe?
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: lightweightmick on 18:31:08, 09/02/20
Hi and welcome to the forum.
My name is Ninthace and I am a walker.  I have been a walker since Pontius was taking flying lessons and like you I am desperately seeking a cure. I haven't had a walk since this morning.
I recently heard of Walkers Anonymous but I have not had the courage to admit I have problem, perhaps it is not too late for you though, as you are only just about to start on the slippery slope.  If you feel an urge to walk ring WA and somebody will come round with a whisky bottle that you can share until the feeling goes away.  Be warned, walking is a gateway activity.  Walking can lead on to hiking and even, dare I say it, rambling.  Before you know it you will be wild camping.  You will fritter your money on gear just so you can spend nights being cold wet and bored.  No don't do it.  Call WA now!
Ha ha, you're right walking is a gateway activity - it can lead to (dare I say?) trail running and you will fritter even more money on gossamer weight gear! I've tried contacting WA but nobody ever answers... they're all out shivering somewhere... funny thing is I never been bored... more obsessed I reckon. Been in tears plenty of times though - emotion, frustration and pain - pain's the worst one!
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: ninthace on 18:45:24, 09/02/20
I discovered ages ago (pre tablet, pre smartphone) that the inside of a tent roof has limited entertainment value especially when you are too cold to sleep or waiting for it to get light enough to move.  Reading by torchlight was the only option in those days.  That's why I don't do it any more.

Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: lightweightmick on 18:56:55, 09/02/20
Boots might not be very happy about that - suggest you try putting the tent up in Go-Outdoors where it may be acceptable.
I hope they'll be happy to do me an eye test just for the prescription though... Your comment on Go Outdoors set off a train of thought... They used to be CCC 'back in the day' Ultimate were the first company to have tents made in the Far East. It was a disaster for them and what led to their downfall.
 CCC had bought up a load of badly finished tents with all kinds of problems - mainly ill sown seams. They were selling them off cheap - (£50 each - Ultimate Horizon C with twin fibre glass poles) - They had a pile of them and we started taking them all out of their bags to try and get the best of the bunch, when the manager came out and said in no uncertain terms that we would just have to select one at random at that price and that we couldn't 'pick and choose'. Well, as they had one up as a demo unit, I said 'Ok, we'll have that one...' which I reasoned must have been one of the better ones to have on display. Of course he couldn't really refuse... but it still needed some seam repairs and I stuck it with Sikaflex! Added a bit to the weight which was heavy to start with! - must have been over 3kg... but it was a damn good double entry good tent and I still have it somewhere... mice might have got to it by now though. Memories... hey, tch.
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: lightweightmick on 19:04:59, 09/02/20
I discovered ages ago (pre tablet, pre smartphone) that the inside of a tent roof has limited entertainment value especially when you are too cold to sleep or waiting for it to get light enough to move.  Reading by torchlight was the only option in those days.  That's why I don't do it any more.
No, I haven't used a tent for years myself either, preferring bunk houses and hostels. My last use of a tarp was up at Grisedale Tarn, must be 8 years ago now... crikey... the wind got up in the night and I had very sore feet and not much sleep as even though I'd anticipated the wind and pegged the tarp down on that side (west) the moving air stripped all warmth from my lightweight competition style sleeping bag. Next morning I dejectedly hobbled down into Grasmere to get the bus to Lancaster... that one was a tick on the fail sheet...
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: lightweightmick on 19:11:25, 09/02/20
Even if you don't stop for yourself think of your loved ones.
I'm not that much in to it, thought it was something I could cope with, but now both my kids are also walkers. My daughter is doing her second 50km challenge  in a couple of weeks, after the first one she swore she would never do it again, promised that was the last time, but she just couldn't stop herself.


So my advice is to just say no and walk away...


...just lace up your boots and walk away.....


...rucksack on, boots on and just walk...




It's fine, I can handle it, I'll just sit here quietly rocking and sniffing a pot of dubbing

I don't do km... all old money miles for me - it sounds less. My lad's got more sense, though my daughter does a bit to use a few calories, but they've got more sense...
People say to me, 'well you must enjoy it, otherwise you wouldn't keep doing it...' - no answer to that... it's a koan lol
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: Ridge on 20:21:04, 09/02/20
I don't do km... all old money miles for me - it sounds less.
I also only work/walk in miles.
There is a 50 mile challenge walk at the same time as the 50km that my daughter is doing but she's not that mad.
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: rural roamer on 12:36:29, 10/02/20
The very same lightweight  O0 - taken me a while to catch up on here. Slogger and Harland also here too I believe..? Credit to Sherpa for keeping the site up - clearly used for reference still - in fact I've got stuff on there that is lost elswhere! Maybe with interest in the Northern Traverse maybe?


Yes Slogger and Harland both post on here. They’ve recently posted in the Spine race thread I believe. I was Suffolk stroller on that site. I found it when we were planning the C2C about ten years ago and got some very useful info.
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: sunnydale on 16:30:55, 10/02/20
Hi Mick & welcome from the Peak District O0


Tracey :)
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 20:54:35, 10/02/20
Hi Mick and welcome from Aberdeenshire.
Title: Re: Caution! It's addictive...
Post by: lightweightmick on 12:12:49, 13/02/20
Thanks all for the warm welcome  O0