Blame it on the jet lag............

There are probably a couple more posts to be written about our trip to China but I'm beginning to feel that I am becoming one of those people who insist on showing you their holiday snaps!

So here I'm going to tell you about some other things which have been going on since we returned.

If you have applied to take part in the TGO Challenge in May 2012 you may have noticed my name on the list of participants. I truly did not intend to apply this time but at the last minute decided that I would as a possible trip to Canada has now been postponed till June 2012. I couldn't face sitting here in May, watching everyone walk past, and not be a part of it....

One of the things that I had been going to replace if I was successful in the draw for the Challenge, was my current backpacking rucksack. The pack I used for my first Challenge was an Osprey 50l. It was replaced a couple of years ago by a Deuter 45 + 10 Actlite. This one had a bottom compartment which I found really useful for my bulky synthetic sleeping bag. But sometimes the shoulder straps slipped, and I found the long, narrow shape didn't really fit my short squat back!

Now that I'm the proud owner of a 'down' bag, which compresses to about half the size of the synthetic one, I have been considering a much lighter weight rucksack. It may have been the jet lag but I clicked the mouse one evening to buy the new rucksack.  It arrived very quickly from the retailer.

{Granite Gear Vapor Ki}

I've played with it a bit now I have it in my possession. So far I like it. Its basically simply a big bag with straps. I hope to be able to carry everything inside it, with nothing hanging on the outside. It has no top pocket nor any belt pockets so I've got plans to use a chest pouch for all those little things I can't do without. I'm looking forward to giving it a trial run. It feels comfortable around the shoulders, and the hip belt fits me very well. There are outside pockets at the top and bottom of the sides. It has a roll and clip top. I'll probably have to invest in a waterproof cover.

The other impulsive purchase I've made recently is another Paramo jacket. I really like the 3rd Element that I bought last year but for this time of year, when it's cold and damp, I was impressed by Louise's smock. Just throw it over the top of everything else, job done! So despite some heavy discussions recently about the effectiveness of Paramo vs Goretex (etc) - I'm going to give it a try.

{Paramo Velez Lightweight smock}

In the meantime I have been walking a couple of times with the local Aboyne group and been very lucky with the weather. One walk around Learney Hill and the other in Glen Tanar. Both were very sociable 8 mile routes.

{Setting off with the group in some welcome sunshine}

There was also a foray onto the Revack Estate with Louise - another similar was planned for this week but this time the weather got the better of us and I didn't fancy venturing over the Lecht on icy roads.

{Winter view to the Cairngorms from the Speyside Way}

Yes - there does seem to be a purple thing going on - can I blame that on the jet lag too?