I'm the new bloke in here

Bedouin wrote (see)

Looks like Womble is short of a tent peg... anyone advise where he can get one.

West London, near the Polish WM, why ?

No offence intended by your question or for my reply

Womble wrote (see)

West London, near the Polish WM, why ?

No offence intended by your question or for my reply

i'm in se London

Jeez, I dunno, what is wrong with people here,

I get a welcome note, then I get the few good people giving good advice and what they use or would recommend, then the door opens to the funny farm, then I get a slateing on anything I post

All they seem to want to do is take the proverbial, I think this ignore button is good, but others can see their posting, I just hope others can see what sad people they are

I did post that I could give a route of the places I would be hoping to visit, no one asked, but I think it would been both ends of the extremes, hence for gear that would stand the rigours of a trip of this length

I still have planning to do, I still have visa's to get, but I will do it, muppets like Bedouin arent going to put me off, I know Aussies and Kiwi's who have done it, but in reverse, I just thought I would do it, if I fail, it wont be for lack of NOT trying

I'm off now, a 5k walk and them bloody flats, I would have done this earlier, but been on here all afternoon

Hi Womble

Interesting thread - cos what you propose is so far beyond my personal experience I cant, in all honesty, add anything.

On other hand, just been Skyping with eldest son (who now lives in Vietnam but has wandered about all over the place).  His suggestion was....much as you'd use in the UK with consideration for the weather likely to be encountered and then he fiished with, whatever you are comfortable with.

Amusing thread, cos here is someone new on forum telling Bedderz to keep his opinions to himself.  You keep it up...Bedderz is fit for it, he'll keep creeping back.

Don't worry Womble, you get all sorts on here.

OM can be a great place to do your homework and ask questions, the ignore button is very tempting isn't it?

Some people feel you should only ask questions you already know the answer to - I'm sure you'll have met them before...

Vango tents are, as Simo says, reputed to be tough and relatively heavy, for the money you'd pay for one, one goes with the other. An American company, Henry Shires Tarptent makes something called the Scarp, comes in a 1 and a 2 berth, much more expensive than a UK sourced Vango but roomy and have a netting inner option which would be good in warmer and bug infested areas.

The sixteen floor flats will be good.

Don't worry about Bedouin, Womble; he doesn't have a good word for anyone except himself.

The trip sounds excellent - if I were fortunate enough to be doing it I would leave a lot of uncertainty around the planning so I could spend longer in places I found I loved.

As for tents - since you can't guarantee what sort of terrain you'll be able to find every night, I'd opt for a freestanding one - which means geodesic, which means heavier than other types.  Unusual advice for me to give, because I'm lazy and like all my gear to be as light as possible.  My favourite sort of light tents - aktos, SL3s, scarps etc, all need adequate ground to get enough pegging points in to combat rougher weather.  There are ways around it, but frankly, it's more dependable to get a freestanding one that can be 'tethered' to rocks/trees/etc if the ground is unsuitable for pegs.

Cough.

The Scarp can be freestanding too - and I don't even get comission....

NickNick wrote (see)

Cough.

The Scarp can be freestanding too - and I don't even get comission....

Sorry about the literacy, or lack of it.

The Scarps both come with diagonal crossing poles as an option, so no guying needed.

There, how's that?

Aaaah.  I forgot about the snow-loading poles.

In that case, Womble, edit my advice above...

I finished with my training

Now where were we ?

Now someone asked why I picked this forum or website, thats easy, it was the first that came up on Google

I browsed some of the questions and answers in here, there seemed to be some well informed people in here, I didnt realise that some would only be doing just the UK, not international trekking

BUT maybe someone can direct me to an international website ? if this isnt the right website (but I am happy with some of the replies in here from some members )

I picked April in the hope the weather would be good and arrive in Oz just as their summer was starting, therefore cutting back on heavy duty tents, clothes, sleeping bag, stoves (or cookers of some kind) I dont want to go for a 'pop up' tent, even though they are easy to put up, I think it the poles get brittle they could snap

The only military kit I will have would be my bergen and compass, the rest would be bought either on ebay, camping stores (Millets, Blacks, stores I am local to) the military is tried and tested, rugged, works well, but is always in cammo, not really what I want, I cant forget what I was taught about map reading, survival training, medical training, though

I can use what others have used and found 'fit for use' though, a pair of boots maybe good on a parade ground, but not for an extended trek or long walks (as I found out in the Falklands, the sole fell off and I went down with trench foot) I now use Timberlands or Diesel boots

I can use a tent that some one found good and light, does what it was expected to do, I could use a poncho or a bivvy, its light, works, but not really giving me a bit of comfort I would like

I maybe wrong, but I would need more than I would take for a 6 month trip, than I would for a week in Wales, I could do with 1 change of clothes for a start, if I was going for a weekend, I wouldnt take a change of clothes, or even take a bergen, a 'day bag' would do, just a tent, sleeping bag, cooker or fire starter and rat packs (or a knife and snares)

BUT this event I'm planning isnt a week away or a weekend, so I am assuming I would need more clothes (but not overboard) a good hard wearing robust tent, a sleeping bag for all seasons, a sleeping surface, and if I dont have something with me, I cant just nip out and buy it, so I am hoping to do my best with anyones recommendations or advice on what to take or leave behind, its the only reason I'm here, to ask questions

Ttytto,

Nothing is set in stone with this trip, there is no time limit, the only limits I will have is what is on the visa's, if I find somewhere that is appealing, I could spend more time there

I am now retired, I can do what I want, when I want, I have the money to do it

Sorry Bedouin, but I dont see what you have to say, I daresay other will though, you have said nothing that holds any interst for me

Are people now starting to scratch their heads and think 'fook' I've been had??

If it looks like a troll smells like a troll....

I can feel your hurt in EVERY one of those letters!

Timberland anyone?

Its O.K guys I forgive you!