The Outdoors Station

Part Two. Much to my embarrassment, Andy prepared this two part podcast back in March while I was away in Australia, but somehow like all good plans, I just haven't had chance to edit it and launch it before now. He was joined by Steve Walton who many may know through his blog or images which can been seen here http://www.stevewaltonfineart.com/ joins Andy (whose blog is http://www.andyhowell.info/trek-blog/) as they wander around the Focus on Imaging Show like the pair of quality photography geeks they are, talking about anything and everything outdoor photography related. There's lots of little asides and tips scattered like golden nuggets amongst these two podcasts, so download and tune in. More gear, more chat and hopefully more information to inspire you. Enjoy!

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Part One. Much to my embarrassment, Andy prepared this two part podcast back in March while I was away in Australia, but somehow like all good plans, I just haven't had chance to edit it and launch it before now. He was joined by Steve Walton who many may know through his blog or images which can been seen here http://www.stevewaltonfineart.com/ joins Andy (whose blog is http://www.andyhowell.info/trek-blog/) as they wander around the Focus on Imaging Show like the pair of quality photography geeks they are, talking about anything and everything outdoor photography related. There's lots of little asides and tips scattered like golden nuggets amongst these two podcasts, so download and tune in. Steve is a Nikon Pro user so the first thing he did was make a direct route to the Nikon stand to get his hands on the product which everyone has been talking about. The D800! Enjoy!

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In this Podcast, Andy takes the helm and interviews two people with inspiring stories to tell. The first is author Kev Reynolds at the launch in London of Cicerone's new Swiss Alps guidebook. Another well thought out and laid out addition to their range, this stunning guidebook describes each mountain area throughout Switzerland – the peaks, passes, valleys and bases – to help you identify the best destinations to plan your trip. Later he meets Christy Acton who has recently started Monobo Adventures. An adventure travel tour company that takes people who travel to special wild places around the globe to provide an authentic and unforgettable experience. Having explored every corner of these fascinating places they want to share their passion for these places with you, where meeting the local people is just as important as soaking up the amazing landscapes.

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The 5th May 2012 saw the official launch of the Wales Coastal Path in Cardiff, appropriately on the sea front, a stone's throw away from Cardiff Bay. The project links together all the various Welsh coastal paths and brings them all to the same standard as one official route, with way marking and a website to enable backpackers or walkers of all ages and ability to enjoy the 870 miles of glorious scenery. The paths also links with Offa's Dyke path, which runs along the border of Wales and England, making it 1027 miles. The only path in the world to circumnavigate a country. This podcast features interviews with those involved in the project, the first runner to complete the route and the first official backpacker to undertake the path after the official launch. All links and information on www.theoutdoorsstation.co.uk

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Part two - One summer, writer and musician, Jasper Winn set himself the extraordinary task . He would kayak the whole way around Ireland - a thousand miles - camping on remote headlands and islands, carousing in bars and paddling clockwise until he got back to where he started. But in the worst Irish summer in living memory the pleasures of idling among seals, fulmars and fishing boats soon gave way to heroic struggles throughs storm-tossed seas … and lock-ins playing music in coastal pubs. The book 'Paddle - A long way around Ireland' is a great read, something that, for once, the reader feels he could do himself. Just a guy out for a day, and then another, and then another. Until it became the stuff of legends. Jasper talks us through the book and in this two part series, talks of his childhood history, his passion for nature and we discuss the crossroads where technology and adventure meet and sometimes takes all the fun out of it.

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Part one - One summer, writer and musician, Jasper Winn set himself the extraordinary task . He would kayak the whole way around Ireland - a thousand miles - camping on remote headlands and islands, carousing in bars and paddling clockwise until he got back to where he started. But in the worst Irish summer in living memory the pleasures of idling among seals, fulmars and fishing boats soon gave way to heroic struggles throughs storm-tossed seas … and lock-ins playing music in coastal pubs. The book 'Paddle - A long way around Ireland' is a great read, something that, for once, the reader feels he could do himself. Just a guy out for a day, and then another, and then another. Until it became the stuff of legends. Jasper talks us through the book and in this two part series, talks of his childhood history, his passion for nature and we discuss the crossroads where technology and adventure meet and sometimes takes all the fun out of it.

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The final part of the interview with Warren and Esther Sanders after the first year of their four year cycling trip around the world. Here we discuss heading into and through the USA, the downright awkward Homeland Security and the generosity and hospitality of Americans generally. There's many interesting aspects and associated websites which have made their life easier and those of many long distance cyclists. Hopefully we can touch base with them once again in another year and see how the trip has progressed. Total escapism, so sit back with a coffee log into 'The Sports Wool Diaries' and dream your next few hours away as think about your ideal big trip!

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Time to escape and join Warren and Esther Sanders on a four year cycle trip. Wouldn't that be great, to pack up your life, cycle away from work and push off into the night? Just how easy is it? How much does it cost? What sacrifices have to be made in your life and, well, is it any fun? We join them in Jan 2012 as they rest up for Winter in Germany, after a year of cycling around New Zealand and the USA. In part one we discuss the setting off and New Zealand, and part two touches on the USA and some of many and varied people they have met so far on route. So sit back, log into 'The Sports Wool Diaries' and dream your next few hours away as think about your ideal big trip!

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It's my first podcast of the year, which is perhaps slightly later than desired, however I do share with you all the reasons for the delay and hopefully it'll make up for it. We discuss the new 100% UK made wood burning stoves currently being released by backpackinglight.co.uk and share some of the technical dilemmas such an ambitious project entails. The new Outdoors Station website is now up and running in fine form and there's a brief introduction to that for those who haven't visited for a while. My MP3 player is slowly gathering new and interesting material from various sources, which I think may be of interest to fellow listeners and Andy Howell interviews the warden at Glen Affric Youth Hostel, as to his plans and preparations for the 2012 season, which will be of interest to TGO Challengers I'm sure. All in all, a feast for the ears. Enjoy!!

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This is the second part of our 'Christmas within Tent', where Andy and I complete the final course of a traditional three course meal which was cooked during a storm in the worst weather of the winter so far, near Crickhowell, Brecon in the heart of Wales in 2011. Naturally an evening of fine dining wouldn't be complete without a wide ranging topic of discussion, and so we touch on manufacturing in the outdoors and various other related aspects of enjoyment and business in the UK outdoor industry. We head to bed early, holding onto the tent pole for most of the night, until we rise to a much calmer almost balmy morning of fine Autumnal sunshine and, more importantly, no rain. Breakfast is another real meal affair, and this time fresh, thick, juicy Pancakes are rustled up to set us up for the days walking ahead. Finally like all good days out, we complete our journey in a pub in Hay on Wye, and we all hear Andy agree to plan, prepare and cook something interesting, somewhere exciting, for our next big bay out! Stay tuned for that one!!

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