TGO Planning: Those Little Treats …

I’m pleased to see that a number of first time Challengers are planing to take full advantage of wild camping as they cross from coast to coast. When you are caught up in the whirlwind of route planning and equipment buying it’s easy to forget the simple things that make a trip bearable — little treats!

Those of us who are used to wild camping find it easy to wax lyrical about the wonder of the experience. Imagine. You make camp towards the end of the afternoon. The sun is beginning to soften and drop down towards the horizon, but the air is still warm and pleasant. You find a lovely spot next to, say, the Findhorn River. The light ripples on the water. The heathery hills above are dappled in soft light. Birds sing. Deer gracefully make their way across the skyline. You pitch your tent and then rest your weary feet, dangling them in the cool water as you sit on a soft and grassy bank ….

Or. The tent is up in a flash as all hell breaks loose around you. You struggle, inside the vestibule, to light a stove to get a hot drink on to combat the freezing cold. Rain lashes down on the flysheet. Gale force winds batter the tent poles. You struggle around like a poor demented soul, getting out of those wet clothes and finding something that is still warm and hopefully not too smelly.

Both of these alternatives are possible. But some times — like last year – the first seems like pure fantasy.

At times like this luxury is key. So don’t skimp. Here are some ideas.

That Old Termperance Magic …

For some a nip of the hard stuff before bed is just the ticket. Now, I have partaken in this pastime of course. The only decent night on last year’s crossing was spent with the Cartwrights and Humphrey Weightman deep in the Fetteresso Forest. There was sun. We stopped early. And we lazed in our tents not being able to believe the warmth. And later Bob came around and freely distributed his single malt.

But generally I don’t do alcohol while walking. But that old Quaker alternative has real merit here.

Firstly, Drinking Chocolate. Nectar. I’ve only recently gone on to this but I can tell you that at the end of a hard day’s walk it beats tea or coffee hands down.

There lots of expensive chocolate products now available in little tubes. But for a real treat go and buy a jar of luxurious, Fair Trade type stuff. I decant this into small freezer bags and place it in my food drop parcels. That way I can keep going through the whole trip and even have it as a hot drink in the middle of the day if it is really miserable.

A bar of chocolate at the end of the day is bliss. I know there’s a place for all of this healthy stuff but a bar and Fruit and Nut as you prepare to doze has no competition.

Breakfast Blues

Most of us make use of that magical stuff porridge, a super food that slowly discharges into the system. It is the stuff that armies and Challengers march out. But after a week of porridge you may be feeling, well, a little fed-up.

I always pre mix my porridge with dried milk. That makes it a bit better, but after a few days I hate that as well.

The trick is to ‘pimp up your porridge’.

Dried fruit works well. I dehydrate fruit before hand and always add a handful to the white stuff. You can, of course, buy the stuff as well. But after a week you might want to forget health and go for struct comfort.

Jam is what we are talking about. Decant some into one of those useless little plastic bottles you can get in all walking shops. Or, if in a B & B nick some of those catering packs. Or if you see blister packs locally buy a few and sling them in your food drop.

Sweetness. Not to be under-estimated.

A Real Breakfast

There will no doubt be times when you can take advantage of one of these. Go for it. The Old Bakery in Braemar is especially welcome, indeed the thought of a late breakfast here can keep you going for three or four days.

Most CHallengers heading for Braemar will have stopped near the Linn of Dee or Derry Lodge the night before. AN early start will see you at the Old Bakery quite early on. It will be a sign of your new fitness that this short hop actually measures out at about 12 miles!

Oh, the pleasure of those sausages, black pudding and even — the old haggis!

You will have your own luxury fettishes. Don’t ignore them. Plan to spoil yourself. If the weather is anything like last year they will provide you with the highlight of the day, day after day.

What are your favourite trail treats?