Thursday, June 1, 2017

Iceland to Scotland Walkabout

OK, headed out the door again. Going to try to walk, camp, hitch-hike across Iceland, and then take ferries down to Northern Scotland, stopping in Faroes, Shetlands and Orkneys. I bought a one-way ticket to Reykjavik and will buy a return from somewhere I decide that i have to head back home...maybe Glasgow.

Been training by walking 3-4 hours at a time with the full pack, but realistically, no idea how much jam I have left of this type of travel, and whether my parts can handle sleeping on the ground 3-4 nights a week.


Mt Maelifell, Iceland

Going to walk out of Reykjavik and head towards this volcano


Iceland Itinerary

My planning is very loose. I check out infrastructure and sights to see, and then just sort of flow along according to how things are going, who I meet and conditions on the ground. I have a list of all the campgrounds and hostels along the way, as well as bus routes I might have to use.

Map below was current best guess in middle June for Iceland. May change my mind and just head to north Ring Road from Reykjavik. I really enjoy not knowing...as long as I know my options.




Scotland

After I leave Iceland, will take a few ferries down to Scotland and search out the Achnanclach Bothy in northern Scotland.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Gear List

Knapsack s (30+lbs)...this is a camping trip in back-country elevation with weather, so lots of extras. More like a late Fall trip.

CARRYING
80 liter knapsack Eureka Appalachian
Canon S100 with pouch and spare battery/chip
MoneyBelt
Cell phone with text/data

KNAPSACK
Sleeping bag #1 Primaloft .5 kg MEC overbag
Sleeping bag #2 MEC summer bag .5kg
Sleepmat Thermarest .5 kg  ProLite full size
MEC Spark 1 tent 1.3 kg & Tyvek

DAYBAG *Fits in knapsack*
Carries doubles of most toiletries and medical
Water bottle .3L (Timmie's juice bottle)
Battery pack backup
Used for planes and day trips

KITCHEN / FOOD
Spoon, plastic breadknife, can opener, pot clean
Water bottle .5L
Water bottle 1L
2-3 days of light food (apple, cheese, chocolate, nuts, bread)
Multi-day dry food...pasta, etc plus container for oil
Propane camp stove
Multi-day gas cylinders (intermittent access)
Water filter pump &  AquaPure tabs
Hostel food bag

CLOTHES
Orange, hooded rainshell
Umbrella
Light fleece
Poly skull cap / Poly gloves / Poly hat (2)
Swim/Hike shorts / Mini-towel
Wool socks (3) / Poly socks (1)
Tech-shirts (3) / Wool Hike Shirt
Nylon zip-off pants
Tights
Silk sleep top / Wool sleep shorts / Cotton underwear (3)
Sandals / Multi-Sport Shoes
Bug Net

MEDICAL 
Band-aids, alcohol gel, compression wrap, gauze, tape, Murine, Allergy pills, Ibuprofen, Poly-Sporin, Gravol, Anti-Itch,  tweezers, Lomotil

TOILETRIES
Toothbrush/paste, floss, vaseline, sun lotion, chapstick, toilet paper, soap, deodorant, mouthwash, razors/case, Q-tips, clippers, laundry soap, pumice, Multi-vitamins

MISC
Watch, wrist Compass, Wind-up LED flashlight(2), whistle, plastic mirror, eye-glasses(#2), pen (2), needle/thread, safety-pins, cable-ties, Carabiner, Money-belt, small lock, CDN flag pins, LED headlamp, LED solar-powered tent lamp, Thermarest repair kit, Tent repair kit, bungy cord, rope

PAPER
Maps, family photos, travel documents/visas, Passport, Travel Insurance card, NS driver licence, Dal card (photo), Vaccine record, Flight/Ferry Confirmations, Logbook, Login accts

ELECTRONICS
Samsung S4 phone for hostels, Samsung Galaxy Y phone with text/data, Kindle Paperwhite, world charger, Sony Camera, Camera chips (2), USB memory stick(2), 1-cell radio/earphones, Indiglo alarm , Music/Docs/Software USB, cables

ELECTRONICS - Batteries etc
Spare AAAs for clock, headlamp and radio
Each phone has spare battery. Samsung S4 also has charger
Camp tent light is solar
Solar battery to charge any one device one time
Spare battery pack to charge any one device one time
Camera has spare battery and charger

GOOGLE DOCS - GMAIL
Passport, Drv Lic, Spare passport photos, Family pics, Immunize, Ids, Login accts, legal docs, pics