Shakeout Trip: some observations

These are my raw notes scribbled on the train home from Wexford on the evening of day six of the Shakeout walk.

The daily pace is fine, as are all the ancillary activities - breaking camp, eating, route finding and navigation, camp selection (need more practice and chutzpah here though) and sense of safety in unusual situations.

What’s not sustainable is doing 30km/day (or whatever number of hours my daily schedule reveals) for six days straight without a break. That might be doable after a month or two, but initially I should take a day of rest after every third or fourth day, or play around with half-days, resting in the afternoon or having a slow start. Entertainment and cosiness on break days remain an open question, as does gear safety if I want to go exploring somewhere without all my shit. Really need to ramp up the couch-surfing engagement.

What kind of worked and kind of didn’t:

• Wet bivvy bag? No time in the schedule to dry it out.
• I need to be more assertive choosing camping spots which are suitable for putting up the basha.
• The basha is very noticeable, but keeps everything dry.
• The bivvy is super-discreet, but gets wet and isn’t totally waterproof. Rock solid in a pinch, though.

What worked really well:

• Two-section rucksack body. I never needed to delve into the top during the day, only when setting up and tearing down camp.
• Waterproof bags and packets for everything - (though wet toothbrush could become a health hazard?) plus spares - both bags and packets.
• Everything had a home. I never lost anything or had to search for an item.
• Daytime/nighttime regime.

What didn’t work so well:

• I overstocked on food.
• I didn’t need so many clothes - but if it had been colder, I would have needed them! How to judge? The mountains were amazingly warm. Lighter, cooler sleeping bag?
• It was easier to get food than I expected. Caveat: prepared, not fresh.
• I need a waterproof, discreet bag¹ for the rucksack.
• I didn’t feel like (nor need) the rigmarole of making porridge.
• Tea is superfluous and bad. Try hot chocolate instead?
• Country shops are a shit source for decent high-energy foods.
• The turd trowel. I never used it.
• The paper hat. It was a waste of space.
• The money belt doesn’t work with the rucksack on.
• The Swiss Army knife. Too heavy for very little utility. I didn’t need to cut² a single thing.
• The torch. Never used it.
• An excess of spoons and fire-making options.
• I want a light, mouth-sized, non-gimmicky spoon.
• Lighters fail! Matches just need to be kept dry. And they’re light.
• The thermometer. Never used it, it got in the way of the compass.
• The sleeping bag and bivvy combo are probably too warm for Irish summer and Autumn use. (Check Skurka.)
• The particular socks I chose. They have baggy and knobbly toes and are marginally too big.
• I’m still not convinced I’ve found the right shoes for the long trip. The Belugas risk crushing my toes. One day (day one?) they were quite bruised.³
• Predictability or quality of drinking water supplies. I did worry about cryptosporidium.

What worked well:

• Bag + bivvy + basha + mat + basha poles, proving inflatable mats are a joke. Brambles, ferns, holly - you name it, Irish flora will puncture it.
• I’ve improved my map-reading skills immensely. I only got lost once! “Stay found” and “don’t make the map fit the ground” are two very useful maxims. If I’d truly followed (b) I would have become un-lost as soon as I found myself in the chicane⁴.
• High-energy nut and fruit packets from Lidl make a surprisingly adequate breakfast.
• The Pocket Rocket is magic.
• So are my Primus pot and pan.
• Velcro binding assortment.
• Spare ziploc and waste bags.
• Compact camera - case location, overnight dry storage and battery life, all good. Controls stupid though.
• The map in the freezer bag with the route highlighted. Fun, easy and foolproof.
• Having the compass to hand. I only used it twice, but it gave me assurance both times.
• Blister care policy, foot care. Daily sock-washing routine. Hat tip to Skurka⁵.
• The sleeping bag exterior can get surprisingly damp and still be dry inside.
• Clock, pen, notebook always to hand for timestamped logging. Insanely useful for post-trip analysis.

My trousers:

• Removable legs a real win, not a gimmick.
• Pocket system strong and safe.
• Stretchy and comfy.

My tech gear:

• Underpants - both pairs are winners - but what about the scratchy thigh thing?
• The blue top and Trespass top combo: snug and adaptable.
• Hat and gloves always to hand. Extremities warm, legs and body cool.
• My Gore-Tex jacket. It’s dry and windproof and the moldable hood is a winner. Zip on the way out?

• Earplugs for heavy traffic. Made the last day tolerable and I’m still wearing them. They went in at 11:48 and it’s now 19:00.

• Watching and listening for all traffic like a hawk.
• I never once felt I needed distraction from the moment.
• Waking up at first light, rising at dawn.
• My sleeping bag! I was always warm (maybe too warm?) and dry.
• The bivvy bag. Takes punishment.
• The basha. Simple and adaptable.
• Getting loads of restorative sleep. Even if I’d woken multiple times during the night, it all summed to enough sleep.
• Pocket-sized notebooks.
• My attitude. I didn’t dwell on things past or future and was very in the moment most of the time.
• I was completely happy with the solitude, but when it came to social interaction, I was up for it.
• Margaret’s remarkably generous hospitality at the drop of a hat. Send her a thank-you!
• Using foliage to wash pots!
• Water purification tablets.
• Knowing the moon phase and day length.
• Having a simple timepiece. Get a better one. (Pocket watch.)
• Double-wrapped butter stash! Butter porridge! Bread and butter!
• Finding that I wasn’t hungry in the evenings.
• Feral shits and having a plan to dispose of loo paper. Most shits domestic.
• Having a daily “rubbish bag” externally on my pack.
• The basha poles!
• The stakes! …but they’re heavy bastards. (Maybe buy⁶ same length/thickness light ones.)
• Having both chocolate and fruit and nut mix. They fulfil similar but different nutritional niches.

• Night time/day time packing routine and bag layout. Illustrate.