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Can we have a kit list? How are you charging your phone?
Phone charging has been a pain. I do have a pwer pack so can go 3 days. Charged it all at jojos last night but have also had to use plugs in toilet blocks
Kit list blooming heck. Ill take a photo when i camp up tonight
You want a solar charger, that's what you want. Bit heavy though.
Something like this - you flip out the panels, stick it on top of your trailer and it charges its own battery during the day. Then you plug in at night and recharge.
In Scotland?
Probably better with a dynamo 🤣
Or if you want reliability, there's an Anker folding panel only that you can plug into your own battery. Just done a calculation on the efficiency.
It says it's 70x34cm unfolded, less a bit for borders. Assuming 20% efficiency and you're at 50N ish, that'd give a peak of about 40W on a sunny day. If you integrate for the angle of the sun from 0-180 degrees over say 12hrs (it's more than that in summer obvs) I make that about 80Wh of power that you could generate, in Scotland, in the sunshine. Li-ion batteries charge at near 100% (apparently) so I'm going to say 80Wh of available power in to the battery, which is about 6,600 mAh. Plenty for a phone, on a sunny day (which is about 3,000 mAh ish, and that's a conservative estimate since you have more than 12h of light - much more, in Scotland. As you move south later in the year there'd be less daylight but more chance of sun and higher intensity. And even if it's not enough on dull days, you can still get some, and it'd make your power bank last longer. You might only need to charge it every 10 days instead of 3.
Yes, he'd be way better off with a dynamo but he's already on his way, so that might be harder to organise 🙂
EDIT someone check my maths I have forgotten how to integrate
First time i have relied on elektrickery for navigation.
Not seen much sun this trip
Surely for Scotland, a waterwheel would be better than a sun collector 🙂
I think I have ballsed up this maths a lot so ignore those numbers.
Not sure if it works for you TJ, but as an avid reader, more than poster for the ohhhhhh....18 years or so I have been hanging around here would be really happy to share a few beers with you, have a chat in person and offer you somewhere to stay and a wee ride. Based in the Chartreuse mountains. Between Grenoble and Chambery.
Mugsey beware i might turn up
Au top!
I think this might be how horror stories start. Tartanscarf has invited me to stay in his bothy in the woods. He and the great ape promise me "a good time" tonight. Is that banjos i hear?
Its actually a really nice bunkhouse. Well recommended. Glencoe independent hostel
I think i will be safe
Is that banjos i hear?
Don’t worry, the sound of the feral dogs will soon drown that out.
ha ha excellent.
@tjagain: sent you a message
The great ape and tartan scarf. Bought me beer nice chaps
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Nice to meet you in person after all these years. Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Ta
Enjoyed that last night, sorry I had to cut it short! Great to meet you, might see you this morning if you're not away bright and early in the drizzle :0
Ta. Slow start for me today. Its foul out there
Nice to meet you guys and have a bleather and the bunkhouse is very nice
Not decided yet. Brudge of orchy ish or oban ish deoending if i can face glencoe
This is an inspiring thread. A great personal adventure and the kindness of strangers.
If you are passing near Stony Stratford (Milton Keynes, North Bucks, South Northants) please call in. B&B&Beer available. Let me know when you're Netherlands bound as we've got family and regularly there. Blaricum just east of Amsterdam. They can also provide accommodation - luxurious accommodation and beer! I'd be happy to join you for a poodle from the ferries if you are going in that direction.
Keep posting this is wonderful!
Thanks for that wingnuts.
I was wondering if i was boring you all or if this would be seen just as an ego stroking thread.
Ill carry on updating if folk are still interested
Well you're not so keep doing the job!
Oban direction has the advantage of NCN78. Cafe at Benderloch.
I guess it depends on where you're headed next 😃
Don't worry about boring us, but some nice pics wouldn't go amiss.
I was wondering if i was boring you all or if this would be seen just as an ego stroking thread.
No it's good. The ego stroking ones are the pages of existential verbiage. This just feels like keeping up with what you're up to, it's about right. We need to show you how to get photos on the thread though.
We need to show you how to get photos on the thread though.
But only after we've solved the phone recharging issue 😂
I can do photos. Are the not showing?
The ben with its head in the clouds
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Generic view
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Working for me.
Shame you aren't heading north when you hit the mainland, there appears to be a handful of us round and about in Scandinavia too.
But only after we’ve solved the phone recharging issue
Which relies on my dodgy maths.
A little soul bearing then.
The last year has been a struggle and morivation is hard to find. This trip is in many ways a teast run for me. I have never camped on my own before now. I need to find out if I can cope with touring on my own. I need to get off my arse. I have pushed myself fairly hard with 4000m ish of climbing in the first week.
Over the last few days i can feel a real uplift in my mood. The kindness of folk and the exercise seems to help. My troubles are not constantly in the forefront of my mind any longer.
I am feeling positve about touring for longer now and the idea of riding to the Mediterranean seems feasble.
Shite weather tho. Bollox
Glencoe it is today but on the road not the devils staircase
Looks like a full waterproofs all day sort of day
I feel the same way about doing outdoor stuff. When I'm out in the hills or riding, that's all I focus on - the ride, the walk, where to camp, what to do the next day, what I need to get, what I need to adjust etc. I don't think about any other life issues, I really do leave it all behind.
I hope you can keep it up. One reason we're interested is that the long distance tour is a dream so many of us have.
tj - an inspiring thread, please do keep it going ! Pictures are good too !
Look out for runaway campervans...
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/tourists-warned-over-handbrakes-after-27041378
Effing scary enough with inexperienced drivers in hired vans
Murky Glencoe
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Road then whw was the right call. Devils staircase can wait for another day
Nice, doesn't look too busy.
Missed your original post TJ, gutted for you and hope you're doing alright. If you're passing through the Alps on your way south, hit us up for any help / advice we can offer. Your brake pads will only last one day though.
@tjagain - like many on here, I'm following you with great interest and enjoying it (without getting soaked and knackered).
keep up the good work !
@tjagain what are your plans for the next couple of days? I'm off and not due back into work until Friday evening.