Berghaus Freeflow 20 Daysack

OK, confession time: since the end of last year, we have done very little walking. And, with the dual constraints of work commitments and weather conditions, much of that has been confined to short skips round the local lanes - an hour here and an hour there, grabbed as and when we could squeeze them in. So, whilst we haven't had much in the way of excitement to report, we have at least kept ticking over, readying ourselves for when things improve and the need to google "kit list for ark excursion" recedes.

However, despite the limitations of time and meteorology, what I have been able to do is put a recent acquisition - a Berghaus Freeflow 20 daysack - through it's paces, albeit rather gently to date (in fact, both Missy G and I have been trying it out, but more on that later).





Front view showing zippered front pocket and walking pole attachments

The Freeflow range has been around in one guise or another for some time now, and is very much a staple of Berghaus's daypack collection. Notable mainly for a back system which keeps the sack away from the back to aid ventilation and reduce sweating, there are a number of differently sized options designed for a variety of different uses, from quick trundle to lightweight overnighter. Over the years, the range has gained plenty of fans (although, to date, has not counted either of us amongst them).

 

At 20lt, this is the smallest size in the range. For a variety of reasons, we would both normally use a slightly larger capacity for year-round, day-to-day use - it's what we are used to and what we prefer. So rather than measure the Freeflow 20 against our personal preferences, I'll try to assess it objectively and treat it for what it is - a small, lightweight daypack. 





Side view showing back system and mesh side pockets

In fact, for a small pack, the Freeflow 20 is quite well endowed with features, with an inner and outer zipped pocket, side mesh pockets, an internal hydration bladder sleeve and tube outlet, walking pole attachments, adjustable waist and chest straps, and a stow away rain cover. This is what Berghaus themselves say about it:  http://store.berghaus.com/p/day-sacks/freeflow-20-rucksack/434556
 

In use, the first thing to note is that it is very comfortable. Admittedly, there is a limit to the amount of stuff you can load into a 20lt bag, but what it can hold it does seem to carry well. There is an adjustable back system, which means we were able to get a reasonable fit for both me (5'10) and Missy G (5'1) without too much difficulty, whilst the chest strap adjusts to accommodate both the male and female chest area anatomy.





View of back system showing padded, ventilated shoulder straps,
lumbar padding and adjustable chest and waist straps

There is also a webbing waist strap, rather than a padded hip belt. This is for stability rather than supporting any load - because the pack is short, the waist strap sits much too high to rest on the hips (even in Missy G's case). In any event, the small capacity of the bag means it is unlikely there would be sufficient load to warrant weight transfer to the hips anyway. Both chest and waist strap have an elasticated section to aid comfort and ease of use - a simple, but effective addition.

The main compartment is accessed via a large all-round zipped entry, giving a wide access to the bag which makes it pretty easy to get everything in and out. This means there is no lid like on some rucksacks - and hence no outer lid pocket - but there is a small zipped pocket inside the main compartment suitable for valuables like a wallet or keys (there is a key clip inside). Also inside is a sleeve to accommodate a hydration bladder and an outlet for the drinking tube (which is centrally placed to allow the tube to pass easily over either your right or left shoulder).



Wide all-round zippered opening, showing internal zippered pocket,
sleeve for hydration bladder, drinking tube exit and grab handle 

On the outside, the bag has a pair of stretch mesh pockets (one either side) each large enough to take a 1lt drinks bottle or small flask. There is also a vertical zippered pocket with a mesh pocket inside - an unusual combination I've never seen before, which even the Berghaus website doesn't mention or describe what it was intended for. However, it proved quite useful for storing the things you might want quick access to (although note that things can fall out quite readily if you forget to zip it up properly!).



View inside front zippered pocket, showing mesh retaining pocket

The back system is good, both in terms of comfort and allowing a flow of air to mitigate against a sweaty back. The bag is kept away from direct contact with the back by a combination of a stiff, pre-curved panel and a taut mesh panel which create a fixed gap to maintain airflow.  This is assisted by the shoulder straps which have holes in the padding to reduce weight and aid ventilation.

In general, the system does work quite well in this respect, but there is a downside in that the pre-curved back is a bit of a hindrance when it comes to packing the bag. In earlier, larger models this was quite pronounced: not quite so much here, but it is a smaller bag and the volume/ability to get stuff in and out is slightly compromised. Other manufacturers do seem to have less issue with this, whilst still providing a successful "airflow" type back system. It's a small niggle, but ought to be solvable and is the only real negative to an otherwise perfectly good product.

On the plus side, the zips run freely (something I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about), and the zip pulls are large enough to operate even when wearing gloves.

Finally the bag features an integral rain cover, which is stored in a pocket at the base of the bag. My personal preference is to use a waterproof liner as I think it is more reliable in nastier weather, but the rain cover here seems good enough to keep moderate rain out. A reasonably snug fit can be achieved so it doesn't flap around too much in the wind (although I haven't tested it in anything more than a gentle breeze).

Pros:

Well made from quality materials and components.

Comfy to use, with ventilated shoulder straps and airflow back working well.

Plenty of useful (if sometimes unusual) features.

Tidy and well thought out, looks good too.

Cons:

Capacity and ease of access slightly reduced by curved back.

Perhaps a bit too small for a full day outing or a winter trip.

Conclusion:

In general, this is a lovely little daysack - well made from quality materials and components, and with some nice touches. Although I have one or two minor niggles with the Freeflow 20, all in all it's a very nice product that should last for many years, and if you are looking for a solid daysack for summer use (or shorter trips where you just need a drink, some food and an extra layer) at an affordable price, you would be hard pressed to get anything much better.

As mentioned earlier, for a full day out both Missy G and I prefer a slightly roomier bag, but in the right circumstances I can see us getting quite a bit of use out of it.

NB. The Berghaus range has a number of different sizes and styles available. For more information go to www.berghaus.com



 

Something Of A Curate's Egg

As far as Missy G and I are concerned, 2013 will go down as something of a curate's egg of a year. There were definitely some good parts - very good, in fact, with some memorable trips - but, outside of the walking, there were some less good bits that happened along as well. I won't bore you with details of the not-so-good bits, but the good included our trip through Montenegro & Kosovo, hiking in southern Albania, and an excellent week along the Camino de Santiago from the Pyrenees to Logrono, as well as a number of great daywalks.

As a result, we had been accumulating mileage quite well, and by the middle of October we were making great strides towards topping last year's figure of just under 740 miles, racking up our best ever annual total along the way. However, the brakes were applied somewhat during the last few weeks of the year as I found myself in a bit of a predicament - firstly unceremoniously chucked out of work, then in a temporary role until Christmas - and with an understandable change of priorities as a consequence.

Nevertheless, we kept plodding along whenever we got the chance, and duly reached our new best ever at the beginning of December. Soon afterwards, we passed a cumulative 6000 miles since we began recording our annual mileage back in 2005 - a statistic that I commented on in a previous post - and it seemed from there on like we would cruise gently towards the end of the year. At this point, it hadn't occurred to us there was another milestone hoving into view: that of 800 miles for the year. It was a long shot, but it just might work!

Entering the festive break, we took our boots everywhere and put them on at every opportunity. Bit by bit, we crept nearer the goal, until, the day before New Year's Eve, we found ourselves heading north for our now-customary get together with friends in Dentdale. What followed was two days of eating, drinking and celebrating by night, and sloshing through muddy fields in the pouring rain by day. And it was muddy, and, boy, it did rain: at one stage I wasn’t sure whether we were walking north, south, east or west, but we were definitely walking upstream.

 

But, by the time we'd reached Sedbergh on New Year's Eve afternoon, we'd done the necessary, and pased the 800 mile mark by a whisker. Mission accomplished.  For warmth, and by way of celebration, we squelched, dripping, into Duo cafe, sank a huge pot of tea, shared the last piece of (appropriately named) orange drizzle cake, and reflected on another year of walking as we tried to dry out and not leave mud on all the surfaces with which we came into contact.

Once again, we saw the New Year in with good friends, great food and a quality Rioja. And, it has to be said, an improved positivity. We'd finished the year on a high note, hitting our target with only hours to spare, and I'm looking forward to starting a new, full-time job next week. We have also heard some exciting news on the walking front (but more on that if it comes off). All in all, it looks like 2014 already has much to commend it!

Bring it on!

Linton Falls

Weir between Linton & Grassington

Muddy trousers!

Playing With New Technology

Hopefully, if I have any idea of how this gadget works, this should be the first post using our new tablet. Eventually, we hope this will allow us to blog on the go, which will be very useful especially on longer trips.

 

Anyway, Boxing morning in Usk was bright and sunny and not too cold, as can be seen from the accompanying photo. So we went for a brisk six-miler to walk off the Christmas dinner and build up an appetite of sorts. A beautiful morning, and well worth the effort!

 

An Odd End To The Year

Quite unintentionally, and to my detriment, it’s been a blog-free end to the year. I hadn’t intended for things to tail off as they have done, but you don’t always get a choice in the way things pan out. Stuff happens: you deal with it, you move on. 

However, I didn’t want to sign off for 2013 without wishing all readers, regular and otherwise, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! And, for those of you who blog yourselves, I promise I’ll try to catch up with all your missives over the festive break.

Anyway normal service (or what passes for it!) will be resumed again next year. In fact, rumour has it that Santa might be delivering a shiny new tablet, so Ambles & Rambles may be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern era at last! Blogging on the go: now there’s a thought to conjure with, and I’m looking forward to testing it out before trying it in earnest during the bigger trips of next year.

 

I’ll round up the end of year stats early in January, as we’re hoping to clock up a few miles over the Christmas break. However, we’ve had a great year, and set a new annual record into the bargain - now that can't be bad, whichever way you look at it!

 

Before I sign off, I’ve just time to report a bit of weirdness. We were out walking yesterday, when – quite out of the blue, and a propos of nothing at all – I wondered out loud what our cumulative mileage might be for all the years since 2005 (the year we started regularly logging our walking stats). Despite recording our annual total, this cumulative count was something we hadn’t checked before. A quick bit of mental arithmetic had me guesstimating we might soon be approaching the 6,000 mile mark, a landmark it would surely be worth celebrating when the time came.

 

When we got home, we added our day’s mileage to the annual total, and added our annual totals together, and – you know what’s coming here, don’t you? – found we had actually passed the 6,000 mile mark during that very walk, round about the precise time it occurred to me to check.

 

Spooky, or what?

 

I’m no advocate of the paranormal – rather, I’m inclined to the opposite view, allowing pesky things like facts and evidence to get in the way of a decent  “unexplained” event – but it was an unusual coincidence, if coincidence it was!

Upper Harlestone, Nobottle & The Bringtons – approx 6.00 miles

Sunday November 3rd 2013

 

Map: OS Explorer 223 – Northampton & Market Harborough
 

Upper Harlestone – Midshires Way (W) – Nobottle – Little Brington – Great Brington – Chinkwell Spinney – Edge of Althorp Park – Upper Harlestone
 

It’s been quite a while since we last went out on anything other than a trundle round the local paths and lanes, and even longer since my last blog post. There are a number of reasons for this, none of which I will bore you with now (maybe later, eh?): suffice it to say that what with one thing or another we haven’t really had the opportunity.
 

So, faced with the prospect of a bright, sunny Sunday morning and with little to distract us, we decided to take advantage and get our boots muddy for the first time since returning from Albania. And we needed to reccy a walk for the next issue of the parish magazine. All in all, it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.
 

On the Midshires Way between Upper Harlestone and Nobottle

 

The circuit itself was a fairly simple six-miler connecting a group of four villages located just to the southwest of Althop Park (home of the Spencer family, if you are struggling to recall the name). We began by parking in Upper Harlestone and taking the Midshires Way westwards towards the hamlet of Nobottle.

Designed as a link route between the Ridgeway and the Trans Pennine Trail, the Midshires Way runs through 230 miles of Middle England from Bledlow in Buckinghamshire to Stockport, Greater Manchester. With more than 40 miles of the route in Northamptonshire it is a path we come across quite frequently, but my last encounter with it was over one weekend earlier this summer when walking two different routes between Cromford and Turnditch.   

DAY 1

 

DAY 2

 

Heading for Little Brington

From Nobottle, we left the Midshires Way and picked a line across the fields towards Little Brington. The weather was still treating us kindly, and the surrounding countryside, whilst being nothing more dramatic than gently rolling agricultural land, looked as good as it gets. I’ve probably mentioned it before, but with its open farmland, country houses and quaint villages built from the local golden sandstone, the area has more than a hint of Cotswolds about it.

Great Brington Church, built in local stone

After picking up the Macmillan Way (designed to promote and raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief) we reached Great Brington, where we sat to rest for a few minutes outside the solid-looking church and watched the world go by. Then a short walk across the fields brought us out on to the road that skirts the edge of Althop Park and leads back to Upper Harlestone.
 

Having a rest

 

At around 6 miles, this is a lovely little circuit for a half-day stroll. It’s a bit muddy in one or two places, but with some road walking and a number of good paths it is quite a manageable choice in winter. In fact it would make a great outing on a cold, frosty winter’s day – and there are a couple of fine-looking pubs en route should refreshments or food be on the agenda.

 

It’s been about 8 years since we last walked this route. On the basis of yesterday’s findings, we should ensure it is not another 8 years until we go again!

Albania: The Labëria Highlands & Ionian Coast – Day 7

Saturday 28^th September – Tirana & Home

After an early breakfast when we said goodbye to our fellow travellers – most of who were leaving on an earlier flight – we had the morning free for our own exploration of Tirana. There’s not much to say except here are some of the photographs.

 

Ismail Qemali - founder of the modern state of Albania in 1912

Monument commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Albania

Close up of the monument: Gent's ancestor's signature

Old bridge near archaeological dig

Optical illusion? Or does this building get wider as it gets higher?

Skanderbeg: national hero

Skanderbeg and the Ethim Beg mosque

Boris bikes? Or Skanderbeg cycles?

 

Albania: The Labëria Highlands & Ionian Coast – Day 6

Friday 27^th September – Rreza e Kanalit, Llogora NP

 

Total Distance: 6.65 miles / Total Ascent: m / Total Descent: m

 

Today’s walk was a trundle along part of the Karaburuni Peninsula, a line of mountains whose western edge slips into the sea (technically, the Adriatic at this point). Starting from the top of the Llogora Pass, we would make our way over a few minor summits as far as the Deep Pass, then descend to the hotel for lunch.

 

After another early breakfast, we again made the short transfer to the top of the Llogora Pass, and were out on the trail by 8.00am.

 

Looking back to Mt Çika

 

Heading out over the area marked on the map as Rreza e Kanalit, a rough vehicle track led up from the Llogora Pass in a series of switchbacks that made for easy going and kept the gradient relatively moderate. The views improved as we gained height, especially those across to yesterday’s conquest, Mt Çikës, where the route could easily be picked out.

 

First summit with communication masts just visible

 

Topped by a cluster of communication masts, the first summit of the ridge was soon achieved, and we took a short break to regroup after the initial climb. The views were excellent, as expected: the clear blue skies interrupted only by a little cloud bubbling up on the seaward side of the ridge.

 

The twin summits and ridge of Mt Çika

 

Looking along the ridge

 

Beyond the masts, no obvious path existed on the ground – just open hillside covered in rock and grass. But we picked out an undulating route, roughly following the crest of the ridge, to reach another summit – this one topped by a good-sized cairn – where again we rested to regroup.

 

Resting by the cairn

 

Steeper ground required a careful descent into the notch of Deep Pass. Cattle were grazing the pastures, the clanking of cowbells filled the air, and the whole feel of the surroundings took on a decidedly Alpine feel.

 

Dropping into Deep Pass

 

Deep Pass

 

Maintaining the illusion, the last section of the walk followed a very Alpine-like path as it made a steady descent through the woods. I love this sort of path every bit as much as those over undulating ridges or to rocky mountain summits – a shady, sun-dappled earthy path, gently stepping down and down in the cool beneath the trees that eventually delivered us right back to the hotel. This last couple of miles of proper walking were an absolute joy – and a lovely way to mark the end of our trek.

 

Start of the descent

Walking through the woods

 

Back at the hotel, we had time for a quick wash and brush up before lunch – another great meal with beef in a bean soup as the centrepiece and two deserts to follow.

 

The afternoon was spent in transfer to Tirana: first to Vlorë, then the reverse of the outward journey via Fier and Durres. Traffic was busy as we approached the city, but there was still time to check in to our hotel and have a quick tidy up before our 7.00pm gathering.

 

Fuel stop on the way to Tirana. Sells unleaded, I should imagine.
The peculiar image is a drawing of Skanderbeg's helmet.

 

Although dedicated city-goers might find Tirana a little short on sightseeing, for the trekker in transit there is more than enough to see and do – with plenty of culture shock for those who have just arrived from the more remote corners of the country.

 

It’s a great place for a look round and an evening out, and is fast becoming one of the trendiest cities in the Balkans. The central area is not especially big, so it’s fairly easy to get around, and these days it has quite cosmopolitan feel about it with lots of good restaurants, great café culture and an increasingly “happening” nightlife centred round the area known as “The Block”.

 

Part of the Berlin wall: a gift to Albania from Germany

One of the thousands of mini bunkers built during the time of Enver Hoxha

 

We had a short walk round the centre on the way to the restaurant, taking in a few sights on the way: Skanderbeg Square, the old town walls, parks and monuments. Then it was time for our farewell meal: different departure times in the morning meaning this would be our last gathering as a complete group. After a week of superb, authentic, traditional cuisine, we opted for somewhere with a slightly more international menu. Pizza proved very popular.

 

Farewell dinner

 

After the meal, some with early starts made their way directly back to the hotel, but a few of us were keen to stretch the holiday a little further. We finished the night with a beer at Tirana Rock, then walked a roundabout route back to the hotel, finishing off with a late night ice cream on the way!    

 

Don't be fooled by the rocks we trot / We still, we still bevvy on The Block
(J Glo, Tom and Dan)