 The Rab TGO Challenge - Part 6 Shirley awakes thrilled to still be the new owner of an Osprey Exos so expect a full review later in the series, while we bask in the early morning sunshine at Glen Feshie. Andy and Kate enjoy a good night at Coylumbridge Campsite before heading over the Lairig Ghru to Derry Lodge. High winds force us all to make changes that day and fall back on our FWA. Andy gives listeners a good overview of what to expect in the Lairig Ghru and Shirley finally starts her paranormal camping, getting up in the middle of the night searching the landscape for ghosts. Download MP3
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The Rab TGO Challenge - Part 7 Shirley still keen to hear if the ghosts have disturbed those in the bothy, is up early interviewing people still in their sleeping bags, while outside it continues to pour with rain. As it her last day, Beth gives us her thoughts on the event and a mini gear review. The weather makes us all change plans and head into Braemar a day early, to find a place to rest and dry out. We head for the SYHA where I meet the managers Alistair and Sarah Hubbard and discuss the impact the Challenge makes on the town. I also get chance to sit down over a cup of tea with Alan MacDonald, Brian Martin and Mike Gillespie to see where their journey has taken them so far Podcast here
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Don't forget to join our Facebook Group and give us some feedback or suggestions for future podcasts if you enjoy them.
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The Rab TGO Challenge - Part 8 We all finally leave that wild flesh pot known as Braemar and head in different directions to clear our heads and enjoy probably the last wild camp of the trip.
Individually we share our thoughts about the warm welcome and great entertainment at The Moorlands Hotel, which was second to none.
All Challengers enjoyed chatting with locals and listening to live music until late in the night, a great atmosphere. I'm sure this Hotel will form the base for future meetings in this village, as the Fife Arms unfortunately still gives off a very dismissive air towards Challengers, which has sadly got much, much worse over the years.
Podcast here
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The Rab TGO Challenge - Part 9 The day starts calm enough, however the gloomy menacing clouds become darker still as the weather takes a turn for the worst giving Andy and Kate a reason to get to Tarfside very early.
We head up out of Glen Colva into the storm with zero visibility for a long day with serious navigation issues and lots of pacing. Shirley and Colin are forced to take their FWA and not climb Mount Keen as planned.
However in the middle of it all she does have chance to give us all a quick gear review regarding the Osprey Exos, the NeoAir and Glamaig jacket from Cioch Clothing
Podcast here
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Blink and take your eye off the screen and a few automatic updates launch themselves ... technolegy eh? ... so we have .... The Rab TGO Challenge - Part 10 With the journey coming close to the end, Andy and Kate decide to press onwards to Northwater Bridge Campsite to enjoy another day in the rain.
Shirley on the other hand, puts all her navigation skills to the test and records her experience and trials of actually getting to Tarfside.
We are already there of course, keeping dry and lazing in the tent reviewing gear such as the Golite Pinnacle and Lightspeed rucksacks, the NeoAir, the Montane Venture and Superfly Jackets and trousers, Inov8s, Crocs, Primus Windshield and Pot Cosy plus more.
In between times I also chat to fellow Challengers, Alistair Hunt and Darren Christie.
Podcast here
------------- The Rab TGO Challenge - Part 11
Food is always important on the Challenge as, on leaving Tarfside we all visit The Retreat for a slap up breakfast.
While on the road to Edzell Shirley interviews John Hesp, David Albon, Sue Oxley and Ali Ogden and I chat to the famous 'Bothy Boys' Lee Wells and Tony Bowe about their trip, the pubs they visited and their thoughts on outdoor bloggers, or one in particular!
Talking of which, Andy and Kate who are a day ahead of us chat with Mick and Gayle who compare the Challenge to their LEJOG and other long distance walks. And of course there's a certain amount of gear chat too!
Podcast here ---------------- The Rab TGO Challenge - Part 12 Rose, I and Shirley continue our various ways to Northwater Bridge Campsite and enjoy probably the best night of the two week trip, sitting in the sunshine with 50 or more Challengers sharing laughs, memories and magic moments which have gone to make up this years event.
Here I'm pleased to meet once again Shaun Grund to see if the TGOC has lived up to expectations. Andy on the other hand can be found in the bar in Montrose chatting with Jon Hancock and Rob Hausam.
Shirley as friendly as ever, makes a new acquaintance!
Podcast here ---------------- Last one to come tomorrow. If anyone wants to let me know if they've enjoyed them or not, I would appreciate some feedback on the Facebook page or over at The Outdoors Station. I've got more to do now with another Big Day Out with Andy and some reviews from the trade show in Germany plus a few other bits.
Coming soon as they say.
Cheers! 
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| Edited: 26/07/09 19:04 |
The Rab TGO Challenge - Part 13And so on our final day, our journey draws to a close. The weather of the last few days has eliminated the normal joy we would feel and you can hear our tired voices grateful to finally get down to the beach and dip our toes. Of course Shirley's navigation takes her to finish in a unique place which sounds equally reflective and peaceful, and she concludes her journey in the company of John Hesp. Andy manages to take Colin Ibbotson to one side and discuss the finer points of lightweight backpacking and how much of a difference it can make on something like the TGOC. Podcast here ----------------- And that's it! 3 weeks of editing work consisting of 80 individual sections, various voice overs, studio time, music and scripting. A HUGE thanks to Andy and Shirley for thier input. I've had several emails of positive comments about the content so far and that it has been (a) inspirational and (b) informative, which is what these podcast are all about. I'm off this coming weekend for another 'big day out' where Andy and I will be trialing new gear and trying to sound entertaining in the process.!! Thanks everyone. Bob
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 I've been enjoying the TGOC podcasts, Bob. Shame I didn't bring my MP3 player in today to download the last four. I've been looking out for an OS09 podcast so I can direct people to my dulcet tones...
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Sorry folks, it been pointed out on here that Part 12 above is a repleat of Part 11. Here's the correct Part 12 Thanks for the update
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Doh!! Sorry. The person concerned didn't tell me he was refering to the front page of BPL! You can't get right all the time I s'pose!! 
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After adding up all the podcasts I've produced since I started, I've had a bit of a rethink as I was amazed to find that it added up to an incredible 273! While organising the new voice over links for the TGOC intros and outros, it made sense to arrange for some new idents and jingles to sing our praises a little bit more. After all, we have won a European award this year, and we are the only UK based outdoors podcaster doing this on a regular basis, also the download figures are remaining at a steady 3-4000 a day, totalling well over 1,000,000 listeners. The team of contributors is also helping to create a bigger feel. We all present a different viewpoint and style and the addition of Shirley in the TGOC series this year, has been very popular. A whole new viewpoint (usually from the pub window LOL). The well know Lighthiker from Germany Roman Ackl, is also contributing once again from Friedrichshafen in this episode, and I hope to get more viewpoints from overseas in the future. So I thought why not? Lets create a new sound, something more professional, with the same content and the same interests, and see where it takes us. Hope you like it? In this podcast Andy interviews Last Frontiers for help exploring South America in custom made adventures, I think about a new job via a photography course with Vale Training and at the big trade fair in Germany, Roman meets Carol Macdermot, the man behind the new Lightwave 60lt rucksack. Podcast here
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Podcast No 275 - Another Big Day Out - Part 1Another Big Day Out for Andy and I means another trip to the seaside. This time we arrive at Fishguard late Friday to start a weekends walk along the Pembrokeshire Coastal path towards St Davids. The weather this first wild camp evening isn't very good with horrendous rain predicted, so this means I struggle with the wood burning Honey Stove. However we cheer ourselves up talking about our new gear, the Duomid from Mountain Laurel Designs and the forthcoming Shangri-La 3 and Three Season down Quilt from Golite. Podcast hereOr see Andy's Blog post for pictures and more detail at; Andy Howell here
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 Bob, HELP! Download your podcasts through itunes, play them on the pooter and all fine. But, transfer them onto my iphone and they are playing speeded up  Its only your ones that are suffering from an overdose of speed, all other podcasts, music and videos are fine, have yooz done sumfink a bit wrong? 
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| Edited: 07/08/09 19:42 |
Hi Tim, When the podcasts are uploaded they are automatically compressed to 22khz from 44khz, the standard CD format. Maybe your phone will only play 44 or 48khz MP3 files? It's a long solution. But the only way I think you can do it, is open them on the PC and then 'save as' 44 or 48 khz if you can in your software. Then transfer them across. Check your phone intrstuion booklet and technical information. (The things we never read until it's too late)
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I'll have a bash Bob Strange though, as it is an iphone syncing with your podcasts through itunes. Will see how we go.... 
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Hmmmmm 'tis odd especially through itunes. Let me know the result.
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Sorted, a quick reset and stern talking to have done the trick Now i can continue to listen to you lot taking a stroll across some Scottish hills while i am at the gym, without you all sounding like extras from Alvin and the chipmunks 
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Update: Backpackinglight podcast feed has now changed to; http://toc.hipcast.com/rss/podcasts.xml
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 Thanks Bob.
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.JPG) Thanks Bob - I don't use I-tunes or any podcast feed software - just a media player. The links on the above page work ok using (right click) 'save link as' The links on your BPL 'archive' webpage do not work. I've just tried them again.
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