Touching the Gin

A blog inspired by Joe Simpson's book, but with less blood and more gin.

As pretty much all of you will be aware, I am currently off the fells and nursing a broken foot.  I don't even have a god story to go with it - I was spring cleaning and fell downstairs when I was looking for the feather duster.  The best part is, it turns out the feather duster was upstairs all along.  Anyhoo...

Being incapacitated for a couple of weeks and now being mobile but slow and wobbly has given me time to reflect on all the teeny tiny things about hiking that I have been taking for granted but can now no longer do.  I like to think of myself as someone who has always pondered the smaller details, but there's a lot I have missed.

Also, although this is a light and cheery blog, these events have totally driven home to me issues around access to the outdoors that I had not previously considered.  That's a topic I am not even remotely qualified to tackle, but if you're interested in learning more about that then follow Debbie North, she's the accessibility champion for Julia Bradbury's The Outdoor Guide.

Right, back to the list of things I have missed...

1. Carrying things - for the first two weeks I was totally reliant on my crutches and couldn't even carry a cup of tea.  I repurposed my rucksack for a lot of the carrying and using flasks for hot drinks, but a G&T simply does not taste the same out of a flask.

2.  Pulling on a fresh pair of walking socks - who knew socks were so complicated?  I can just about do them on my own now - on the plus side I had to invest in some very snazzy long socks to go under my aircast.  Whaddya think?

3. The comforting feeling of a good pair of walking boots - I *love* my boots but it's going to be a good 6 weeks or so before I can wear them again.  Or at least wear both of them.  I love the safe and secure feeling of lacing them up and knowing I'm good to go!

4.  Walking without pain - a small thing but worth mentioning.  Walking has always been my 'thing' - not just on the fells but everywhere.  I have walked through towns and cities whenever I can - you always learn so much more about a place that way.  Now that every single step is at best uncomfortable (when I walk in the house) and at worst really painful (after 100 yards or so) I truly miss the ease with which I walked everywhere without giving it a second thought.

5. The sound of grass on my boots.  I *love* this sound.  I posted this short video on my FB page a month or so ago but hardly anyone paid it any attention so I assume it's just me.  There's a very specific sound long grass makes when it bounces off my boots and I love it!

(I *always* get my boots from the fab folks at Keswick Boot Company)

6.  Stiles.  Oh how I have bitched and moaned about stiles at the end of a long hike when all I want is a gate, but no more!  I realise a) how lucky I am to be able to hop over a stile and b) how utterly prohibitive they are if you are less mobile.

7.  Going out alone.  This whole 'new normal' has taken a bit of getting used to for me.  In the past my job saw me travelling the length and breadth of the country and now I never need to leave the house for work.  To restore some sanity I had created a 'fake commute' where each morning and evening I would go for a walk to top and tail my working day - it truly was a sanity saver.  Thing is, for now, I am not allowed out on my own.  I voluntarily handed in my crutches at the earliest opportunity so as not to get overly reliant on them and to get my foot moving again as soon as possible (Doc said he was OK with it if I was), but it's still early days and I need a walking pole on one arm and a bloke on the other.  Don't get me wrong, Steve is indeed a wonderful man, but I do miss going out on my own.

8.  The people I meet - during my fake commute I've chatted to plenty of people and really enjoyed getting to know a few 'regulars' that I'd bump into most mornings. Obviously I've no way of letting them know I'm out of action, and I wonder if they have even noticed I've vanished, but I do miss the quick chats and making friends with assorted dogs.

9.  Being invisible - this one was a big shock to me.  I've often heard people say that they feel invisible in wheelchairs but, for me, it has been the exact opposite.  In order to cover a reasonable distance at a reasonable speed, we gratefully accepted the loan of a wheelchair from a lovely friend.  This enabled us to get all the way from Hest Bank to Morecambe Jetty and back over the weekend.  Never have I been so stared at!  We made the journey with a combo of me walking a little then Steve pushing me in the chair.  When I was in the chair I was constantly stared at and was quite taken aback that no-one thought it a particularly rude thing to do.  Mind you, Steve wasn't to be entirely trusted with wheelchair duty...

10.  Chocolate biscuits!  Honestly - you thought lockdown was bad! I'm barely burning any calories at the moment so am on a strict 'no snacks' diet.  Oh how I miss a long day yomping over the fells with a rucksack full of sarnies and chocolate, and coming home to a huge pizza or plate of pasta, knowing that I have burned it all off during the day.  I've replaced my favourite chocolate digestive with raw carrots, which I quite enjoy, but it's not the same.  Thanks to the lovely folks at Shed 1, who sent me this as a get well pressie, I can still enjoy my gin ration in the evenings!  Cheers!

And if gin is your thing - check out our Gin, Cake and Rucksacks book where I explore the gin distilleries of Cumbria with a complete stranger.  I'm amazed we didn't break anything then, to be honest!

Click here to order

15 Questions every shoe review should be asking (and answering).

I don't usually do product reviews - it's not that I don't get asked, it's just that I'm not comfortable taking stuff for free in exchange for saying something nice about it, I mean, what if I don't like it?  And then there's the fact that I get asked to do reviews for quite a random selection of stuff that I wouldn't normally use - glow in the dark phone case anyone?

Anyway, you know what's coming don't you - I got asked to do a product review, but this time by a local company I really like and for a product I can genuinely use.  Hotter are a Lancashire based shoe manufacturer with a reputation for producing shoes for old people which is not only harsh and unfair, it's also wildly inaccurate. I am a HUGE fan of their shoes and wear them in my "other life" as a business skills trainer where I have to be on my feet all day so need something comfy to walk around in.  (Call me old, go on, I dare you!)

They have a new range of GORETEX shoes and we were invited to their shop in Kendal to enjoy a few nibbles and give the shoes a whirl.  I agreed but did mention that a) it wouldn't be a straightforward review and b) it would be a review in 2 parts - I expect new stuff to work, but when I'm shelling out £100+ for a pair of walking boots, I expect them to still be working in 12 months time, so part 2 will be this time next year. (Edit: 6th May 2016 - Scroll to the bottom for the update!)

And so to the review - I've devised a series of questions that may, or may not, be important to you when buying new boots; questions which normal reviews don't seem to cover for some unknown reason...

1.  How quickly can I get them off when I arrive home desperate for the loo and don't want to tread mud through the house?

Pretty darned quickly it turns out.  I'm sure I'm not the only person who's need to for the loo increases exponentially as soon as I put my key in the door - I need a boot which will fly from my feet and land on the pile in the hallway with speed and precision.  The shoes are a very comfy fit, but aren't overly tight and the sides are super soft meaning I can prise them from me feet in seconds and leg it to the bathroom ahead of Steve.

2.  Can I dunk my feet in the local spring without them getting wet?

Yes, but you can't do it and take photos of it without getting some very odd looks from passers by.  The shoes have been produced in collaboration with GORETEX and so are 100% waterproof.  AND did you know that apart from waterproof boots and stuff, GORETEX also make an enormous range of other products including guitar strings, bleach bottle caps and artificial veins?

Unfortunately my jeans aren't waterproof so when my hand slipped as I was trying to get up after taking this photo and I dunked my boot right in, my leg got soggy but my foot stayed dry.

3.  Will they work on the commute on the train?

Absolutely - although they're designed for the outdoors, they're light enough to wear when you need to commute during the snowy winter months.  Or snowy spring, summer and autumn months if you live in Cumbria.

4.  And once I've got to work, will I be able to stuff them into my bag?

Yes, they're light, flexible and stuffable - though they're nice shoes so don't do anything horrid to them.

5.  Do they come in different styles?

Boots for folks with 2 left feet..?

Boots on the left - Ladies Summit boots, boots on the right gents Thor shoes

Yes - different colours, boys style, girls style, hiking boots and walking boots.  And they go up to a size 12 for gents which is handy, if like Steve, you come from a family of giants. 

6.  Can I creep up on sleeping geese without disturbing them?

Yes, the soles are super soft and supple meaning you can creep along like a member of the Famous Five on the trail of a dastardly villain.

7.  But what about the outdoors - can they handle it?

When we first looked at the boots the chaps at Hotter were very clear about what they could and couldn't do - they're perfect for low level hiking but if you're after a full on 16 hour Scafell level hiking boot, you might want something rather more sturdy.  And you have NO idea how hard it was taking that photo on my own, stood on one leg in a howling gale.

8.  Will they match my rucksack?

As it happens, yes, though I really don't care about stuff like that. So long as they are comfy and waterproof I'm happy.

9.  Can I wear them to the gym?

Well, now you're just being silly- unless you happen to live in Grange-over-Sands where we have a gym on the prom, obviously.

10.  Do Hotter only make walking shoes?

I am happy to confirm that you can walk in any pair of shoes Hotter make.  They started off making house slippers and now make a whole range of shoes that they promise will be just as comfy.  (I promised Steve I wouldn't use the photo of him looking at women's shoes - oooppps!)

11.  Are they properly British?

Yes - the Hotter factory is based in Skelmersdale and turns out one pair of shoes every 20 seconds.

12.  But the daisies, what about the daisies?

Although all Hotter shoes are filled with millions of air bubbles, they don't allow you to float, so stay off the grass if you don't want to crush the daisies.

13.  Will my cat like them?

Cats, being cats, are ambivalent to most things - but they will probably like the box the shoes come in.

14.  Are they Spoon Club proof?

In an effort to fully test them in all conditions, the shoes stayed glued to my feet all week - and that included a trip to spoon club where, I'm happy to report, they suffered no ill effects and my bowl is coming along nicely.

15.  So where can I buy them then?

Hotter have an ever increasing number of shops across the country - they had 5 shops in Feb 2010 and now they have 75 - best bet is to check out their website to order online or find your nearest outlet.

Tune in next week for glow in the dark phone covers and headphones that change colour in time to your music...  (OK so that isn't going to happen, but watch this space in 12 months time for my Hotter review part 2).

6th May 2016 - ONE YEAR ON:

Well here they are - after a full 12 months of use and abuse they have come out the other end with mostly flying colours.  They have remained waterproof, despite me being somewhat lax with the cleaning/ waterproofing regime and they still look OK despite me wading through bogs, across fields  and completing several laps of London.

The boots today. Right now. Well, about 10 mins ago actually....

The only minor niggle is that the lining on top of the insoles fell apart after a few months but that didn't seem to affect anything much - they were still comfortable and still kept the water out - and trust me, I have done a LOT of miles in them.

As mentioned in the main review they really are low level hiking boots - perfect for dog walks, ambling along lakes, lochs and river banks and they're perfect as something a little more sturdy and waterproof than trainers for office commutes in bad weather when you don't want to get your nice shoes soggy.

So it's taken me a year to properly finish my first product review - but rather like the folks at Hotter - I believe that if you're going to do something then you should do it properly.  Right, I'm off to slip them on for a quick trip to the village - does anyone want anything from the Co-Op while I'm there?

Hiking kit - functional or fun?

Maybe I have an unhealthy relationship with some of my hiking gear, but while we were out today I was pondering how some of the kit serves a purely functional purpose whereas I have formed a close personal attachment to other bits.  I appreciate that you may want to give me a wide berth on the fells after reading this...

For example my Sigg water bottle full of juice is very lovely, but is purely functional.  When I am thirsty it is there to quench my thirst.  My flask of tea on the other hand goes way beyond that.  There is an almost unspeakable joy in sitting atop a mountain in the warm sunshine with a hot flask of tea.  Something a flask of juice does not even come close to.

Then there's my cardigan.  It's nothing fancy, it didn't come from any outdoor clothing store and it most certainly is not about to win me any style awards, but it's absolutely perfect for stuffing into a small corner of the rucksack and, being made of an odd combination of bamboo and cashmere, offers that extra bit of warmth on spring and autumn hikes.  It's not that I don't like my waterproofs, it's just that they're, well, different.

And tell me, is there anything finer than a well worn in pair of old leather walking boots?  Walking socks may come and go and very nice they are too, but with a pair of trusted boots you have a history together; muddy bogs traversed, tricky summits scaled and stinky summer hikes endured.  They're a part of you, moulded perfectly to your feet with never a blister or a cross word.  When they die it's almost impossible to throw them away and they take up residence at the back of your cupboard; you know you should do something with them but you just can't bear to part with them.

And last but not least, my map and compass.  Now my trusty Silva compass has had its moments and, since I learned to keep it away from my mobile phone, has rarely missed a beat but, lovely as it is, I have no wish to sit and gaze lovingly at it for any period of time.  My OS Maps on the other hand I could sit and pour over with either a cup of tea or something a little more lively for hours on end.  I love maps; new maps or old maps, I am just happy to sit reading them, picking out new routes and footpaths to enjoy in the future or discovering forgotten routes and buildings from the past. If like me you love a good old map, then pour yourself a brew and lose yourself on this site: Old Maps Online.  I can waste days on that site (don't say I didn't warn you!)

Steve thinks I'm slightly bonkers (though to be fair he does have evidence aside from this) so please, tell me I'm not alone.  Does anyone else love their hiking gear too?

You know you live in a hiker's house when...

As I was surveying our hallway while strapping myself into my hiking boots the thought occurred to me that the homes of hikers contain some unique features.   Perhaps you'll recognise some of them. (Of course it could just be us...)

 1.  The number of flasks/ water bottles etc. outnumber the number of residents by about 4:1 and, although there are a multitude of drinking vessels in every size shape & dimension to suit every conceivable scenario, you generally use the same 2 or 3 each time.

2.  The number of waterproofs outnumber the number of residents by about 6:1.  Lurking in the cupboard will be a range of garments, some of which will have now truly earned the title "vintage" and yet we are still unable to part with them.  "Might come in handy for visitors" is our usual excuse.

3.  Somewhere near to the waterproofs will be a basket or drawer containing enough gloves and hats to keep Blacks going for a few weeks; evidence of our continuing quest for "the perfect pair".

4. The hallway will generally be a muddy obstacle course of boots and doormats.  Yes I know I'm meant to put them away, but they need to dry first.  Honest.

5. Talking of drying, when planning the layout of your bathroom, "space to dry the waterproofs" will be a consideration.  Shower rails were not meant for shower curtains alone...

6.  And while we're in the bathroom, the following items will have pride of place in your medicine cabinet.

7.  Behind a door somewhere, probably in your spare room, lurks a space designated as "rucksack corner".  This is a space where rucksacks can hide away, biding their time until 2am when they topple over and slide down the wall, knock the door closed and scare the living daylights out of you.

8. Your "snack cupboard" will contain enough chocolate and high energy bars to give your dentist nightmares for a week.  Mixed fruit and nuts will also feature on your shopping list and in your rucksack, but will probably only be eaten when the chocolate has run out.

9.  One of your book shelves will look a lot like this (on a good day, after I've tidied).

While another will look more like this. (For long cold winter evenings.)

10.  And your magazine rack will be overrun with walking and outdoors magazines chock full of walks you plan on doing.  And best keep all the back issues too just in case; though when you come to look for that perfect walk you remember seeing, you won't recall just which magazine it was in, or when, and will hunt through the entire pile muttering something about "sorting this lot out, one day."