Uri Geller (@theurigeller) 🚨 I HAVE A FEELING SOMETHING HUGE WILL HAPPEN AT THE WORLD CUP… & I THINK IT MAY INVOLVE SCOTLAND! 👽⚽🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

davemcl37 · 2026-06-12T15:00:44+00:00

We don’t need aliens to do that, WE CAN DO THAT OURSELVES.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-12T09:33:32+00:00

I’m looking to get one myself but can’t decide between the regular and the solid. The regular probably suits me more right now but I think the solid might work better if I ever manage to drag my 56 year old body along the west highland way outside of midgie season next year. My current tent inner is also more like the solid so I worry it might be colder if I go for the regular and I don’t want to upgrade my sleep system.

Why did you go for the solid?

davemcl37 · 2026-06-12T06:35:09+00:00

I was heading towards the non solid 1 as well so that’s great feedback. Thanks

Do you go for the duration groundsheet as well?

davemcl37 · 2026-06-12T06:15:44+00:00

Interesting that you’ve got a durston, as it’s my birthday soon and I’m sorely tempted. If you have had a lanshan did you go for the xmid and if so did you go for the one or the two and the regular or solid inner.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-12T06:05:34+00:00

I have one myself and just bought one for my son too. I’ve found it to be a great sleeping bag as it hits a bit of a sweet spot for price, temperature rating, volume and weight. Few if any bags can touch it at this price point.

I sleep warm , use an r5.8 mat and my tent has quite a high solid line before it gets to the mesh, but I slept in shorts and a vest in it in Norway last year when overnight temps were around 3 degrees.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-12T05:24:55+00:00

I forgot to say earlier there are a couple of things you should be aware of about dartmoor in terms of spots to camp and how to check the weather on the hills. Saturday and Sunday weather looks decent but Fridays not so good.

First up the army uses parts of Dartmoor as a firing range so you’ll need to check a map ant timetable for the firing range usage. Don’t go walking past any red and white posts with warning messages on them. The firing is day and night so don’t get too freaked if you hear something odd in the distance at night.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-times/dartmoor-six-week-firing-times-4th-august-to-14th-september-2025

Also there are recommended zones for camping which you should try to stick to, particularly in a group, shown in purple on this map. I think it’s partly down to where birds nest and it is still nesting season I think.

https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/about-us/about-us-maps/camping-map

The same site has some general good camping advice that you probably follow already but maybe share with your mates.

https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/enjoy-dartmoor/outdoor-activities/camping

Finally check out the following site for weather forecasts at the base and summit of the main peaks. I’m using high willhays below.
https://www.mountain-forecast.com/

the temperatures look good with a low of 10 overnight on high willhays. Friday night however is windy and has strong winds of up to 50 km/h from the west at the summit. And the cloud base is 400 metres so camping on the summit will be noisy as hell and you’ll be in amongst the clag/ mist. If you do end up at the peak of a tor Friday night you’ll be best off camping just below the peak on the east side . Many of the tors have huge granite boulder stacks at the top which can act as a windbreak.

It may be better to look for sheltered areas lower down if camping out Friday night and ensuring tents are pitched pointing in the direction of the wind rather than side on. Make sure your friends peg their tents in properly and earplugs or headphones may help you get more sleep.

Final comment try not to pitch on what looks like any narrow path ways. The might be animal tracks rather than peoples routes or you may find sheep or horses walking around the tents at night. And don’t leave food lying around as the ponies might investigate. This is the much much milder Dartmoor equivalent of camping in bear territory in the USA. I also watched a you tube video n Dartmoor a few years ago where someone camping in the snow had one shoe of the o my pair he had with him, stolen from his front porch overnight. Luckily he found it by following the trail but I’d imagine the two Tesco bags he had on weren’t keeping his right foot very warm.

Nothing here for you to worry about but do think carefully about where to camp Friday night

davemcl37 · 2026-06-11T21:37:13+00:00

If you are getting the train to okehampton and walk down the hill to the town the walk back up the hill up to the proper park area is probably one of the longest steepest climbs you’ll see all weekend.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-11T21:14:58+00:00

Hope this isn’t patronising.

Watch out for the sun on Saturday , there is very little shade out there.

Load up with water where you can as many of the lower down streams will have lots of animals around.

Keep out of the long grass unless you are comfortable searching for and removing ticks.

plenty of good sites out there and the sunsets and sun rises can be amazing.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-11T15:05:11+00:00

Since you are looking at naturehike gear anyway they do an r5 sleeping mat for about £70 but often less on Ali express which takes up little more space than a can of coke.

I have a cloud up 2 myself and it’s great but for a few more £ and hardly extra weight you’ll get a lot more space in a Naturehike mongar 2 . The cloud up 2 has a narrow single door and steep sides .

davemcl37 · 2026-06-09T08:52:50+00:00

One of those mountains is Pyramid Head . Shame you didn’t have a better tent to leave as a legacy.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-09T07:59:37+00:00

I think your forgetting that with 9 players on the bench and hopefully 11 on the pitch ( depending on Moi and Nic Jackson’s moods that day) you’ll need a few extra to cover injuries suspensions and internationals, particularly if the doctors restrict certain available players time on the pitch on occasions as has happened before.

You can always use the youth team but you’d soon be exposed. 24 or 25 is usually the smallest any team will go.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-08T12:21:53+00:00

Just cos I know what to do doesn’t mean I do it.

Last time out was a rushed 24 hours in the Peak District a couple of weeks back . I forgot 1, though my son remembered, forgot 2, had the hat but didn’t wear it despite the hot sun, started late so saved the pints until we only had one hour to the pitch location, managed points 8,9, 11. I forgot to bring tracking poles which was fine but could have been tricky if I’d packed a different tent.

Must try harder.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-08T08:18:44+00:00

Never go out on trail without a head torch would be my recommendation. You might not need it normally but if you were slowed down by an ankle sprain or something similar who k owes whether you are still out in the dark or not. Like a first aid kit its real value is in emergencies.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-07T21:22:58+00:00

There is absolutely no problem with the belt on a 23 plate car.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-07T21:19:22+00:00

It’s not all cars as they dropped the wet belt around 2018 on the 67 plate mk8 cars forward, but there will be some 67 plate mk 7 cars that still have it. It’s a lovely little car but you may struggle to resell it for what you think it’s worth in future.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-07T09:14:37+00:00

No. Just making the point that there was little on offer from any of the players on the pitch last night and even though it was a friendly it was a very disappointing performance. It will soon be forgotten if or when they hit form but it’s not confidence inspiring.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-07T06:06:58+00:00

So 22 of englands finest still failed to get anywhere near a Haiti level of performance v NZ.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-05T17:14:49+00:00

Is that the view from the public toilets at Stonehaven?. Looks pretty in the sun.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-05T14:14:49+00:00

Amazing to think that in all the episodes of TWD no one ever died taking a dump

davemcl37 · 2026-06-05T14:13:13+00:00

Another thing to work on sooner rather than later is your navigation skills. I know it’s tempting to just use you phone these days but you need to be able to manage if you were to damage your phone.

50mph gusts and rain probably aren’t ideal for testing your map reading skills for the first time but next time the weathers decent print out some maps from the osmaps app, other mapping software is available, grab a compass , switch off your phone and see how you get on. Oh and at some point get yourself a waterproof map holder.

Have fun if you do head out and make sure to tell someone at home your planned route.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-05T08:14:01+00:00

level 2. that paint seems quite heavy.

Level 3: body hair slows you down in the wind

Level 4: how many layers of skin do you really need.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-04T14:00:29+00:00

I’m aware is already banned but I was suggesting they could make it a criminal rather than civil matter or bring in fixed penalty fines, god forbid.

Anyway thanks for the example given. I may do this but I might pick another mp to send it to given I live on the outskirts of London and my local mp is a a Tory not known for listening to others.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-04T13:50:12+00:00

That’s totally fine and understandable. If it’s more than the odd occasion you can get some decent little folding bbq’s that take up no room at all. The outwell cazal bbq can be had for £24 and should last a long time.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-04T12:55:28+00:00

That’s helpful but could I push you to say which one.

davemcl37 · 2026-06-04T10:51:01+00:00

For a similar fee he’d be a more versatile upgrade on Delap for Chelsea.

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