Keswick mountain festival

Just spent a few days up in the lakes and for once didn't pack the walking boots.....

The reason we went. What a man and what a story, 'individual genius'

Top quality lavvu scran

An early start (4.30am) for a great cycle via Bassenthwaite

Vic made it up Kirkstone pass and Whinlatter for that matter

First BBAR test

Last Sunday was the first real test of the season, the Charlotteville CC 50, and unfortunately the weather gods didn't smile to favourably.  The sun was out but so to was the wind and on an out and back course a ferocious headwind on one leg seriously affects the times, and your sanity!  The build went well, nice campsite the night before, good warm up and equipment ticking over nicely but then the race........

Started well but after 20 miles slight hip pain, after 30 miles, severe hip pain, after 40 miles, my god i'm going to have to stop.....sod it you didn't travel all this way not to finish, last 10 miles serious 'col face' and then thankfully Vic was at the finish to help me into the back of the Berlingo and prise the bike from under me.  Couldn't entertain walking for 30 minutes, but after the ibuprofen kicked in some mobility returned and now 3 days later all's well.

Overall I felt good physiologically but need to have a positional re-think.  Managed a 1:53:21 (winner 1:50:29) which is the slowest i've done a 50 (conditions didn't merit quick times) but still got 6th which merited a whole £10.  Pretty chuffed considering there were 108 starters and that's the classiest field i've ever raced against.

Roll on the 100 in two weeks


A cold start but a good warm up, note the high quality technical hoodie.

I'd like to think it was because I was going so fast

Rice anyone?

Have been trying a flour and oat free diet for a while now.  Started it because I thought flour may aggravate my eczema (I have been tested a couple of times and both results showed a 'mild' allergy to wheat, oats, barley and rye) and then found I started feeling better for it, so have stuck with it.  Camp/expedition food needed some thought so I've come up with a couple of ideas, I admit, rice for breakfast is not everyones cup of tea, but it's not half bad.  Anyhow, my criteria was as follows:

- Flour & oat free (that's gluten free flour and wheat flour)
- High energy
- Light
- Small
- Easily packaged in freezer bags
- Easily prepared using jetboil or equivalent (8 mins cook time) & only one boil to include a drink
- Nutritious and tasty (hmm, the tasty bit is personal preference)
- Non perishable (ish) should last 3-5 days
- Easily purchased
- Fairly cheap

Not the easiest list to adhere to but here's a breakfast and dinner choice, try it, you might like it!

Breakfast - Approx 650 kcal, weight - 220g, Package size - half a wayfarer meal

Ingredients: 125g basmati rice bag (10 or 12 min cook time), dried mixed fruit, creamed coconut (approx. 40g), sugar

Boil approximately 700ml water (take about 300ml for a brew), add the rice bag and boil for about 7 mins, remove from heat and remove rice bag. Add fruit, coconut and sugar to water, stir until coconut is dissolved then open rice bag and add contents and stir.  Cover and leave for approx. 5 mins before eating.

Dinner (or tea if you're from up north!) - Approx 700 kcal, Package size - half a wayfarer meal

Ingredients: 125g basmati rice bag (10 or 12 min cook time), Chopped sun dried tomatoes, diced smoked sausage, some seasoning (smoked paprika, thyme & garlic works well) or veggie stock


Boil approximately 700ml water (take about 300ml for a brew), add the rice bag and boil for about 7 mins, remove from heat and remove rice bag. Add tomatoes, sausage and seasoning and stir, then open rice bag and add contents and stir.  Cover and leave for approx. 5 mins before eating.


I have tried and tested both recipes and am fairly chuffed with the results. If you try, let me know what you thought or if you have other ideas or variations let me know.