TURAS Camping and 4WD Adventures ISSUE TWO

ISSUE

02

WHATS inside

EUROPES LARGEST 4WD SHOW

DUAL BATTERY SYSTEMS FISHING WITH YOUR 4WD TOURING THE ALPS ,EXPLROING

AFRICA, CAMPSITES

FREE

INTERACTIVE

EMAG

t s 1 s e p o Eur

CAMP COOKING

OVERLANDING & MUCH MUCH MORE

THE ABENTEUER & ALLRAD

SHOW 2017 PREVIEW

EDITORIAL W

elcome to the second FREE TURAS Camping and 4WD Interactive e magazine. We have had great feedback from the first edition and we hope you enjoy issue 2. As the evenings are getting longer and the spring and summer approaching here in Europe it is time for us to start getting our vehicles ready for the camping season ahead. In this issue we focus on camping equipment with a specific focus on dual battery systems, solar power options and other battery related products . From a travel perspective we take a trip through the Alps and a Safari in Africa, we also chat to some chefs who also just happen to love camp cooking and of course we also share some of our own camp cooking recipes from on the road.

In future issues you can expect to see more touring adventures in Europe and beyond with a special feature in the next edition of us travelling to the Abenteuer & Allrad 4WD and Camping show in Germany and also the first of a number of webisodes of us touring in our vehicles with a focus on Iceland in ISSUE 3 which will be out in May 2017. We will have more on camping tips, segments on camp cooking, kitting out touring vehicles, showcases of the latest camping and 4WD gear and much much more.

m a e t S A R U T e th

TURAS magazine aims to bring you on a journey as we seek out the best 4WD tracks and routes across Europe (and beyond). We setup camp in some of Europe’s most picturesque locations, where we whip up some cracking camp cooking feasts, sometimes we’ll catch a fish for the campfire too.

Join us as we guide you to the latest camping and touring locations and review the latest camping and touring equipment. We really hope that you like what you see and that you find all of this information valuable in planning your own camping trips. We hope you enjoy this second issue. Please let us know how we are doing and send any comments, feedback or suggestions. Thank you and Happy Camping! From the TURAS team

the editorial team

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

GE

EAR

EXPLORING

ALPS

the

T

he Alps are the highest and most extensive mountain range system in Europe,running for 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) through Switzerland, France,Monaco, Italy, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia. This dominant mountain range was formed millions of years ago when the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided and creating this spectacular mountainous landscape.

The highest mountain in the Alps is Mont Blanc this dominant peak reaches 4,810 m (15,781 ft) with numerous other mountains reaching over 4,000 m (13,123 ft).

Expect to see the goat like Ibex wandering through these peaks and living at heights of up to 3,400 m (11,155 ft). This part of the world was a hub of cultural activity with evidence of humans living here over 5,000 years ago. The Celts are believed to have been a well established community here during the 6th Century BC.

It is believed that Hannibal made his way from Spain and crossed the Alps with a 30,000 strong army in 218 BC to take on the mighty Roman Empire in Italy. It is also believed that nearly forty elephants traveled with his army through the difficult mountain passes,the exact route he took is debatable but that has not stopped 4WD enthusiasts from guessing which track they took and exploring this incredible and challenging environment.

So with all of this history, incredible alpine scenery and a maze of winding tracks to explore with your 4WD we were keen to learn more. We spoke to Alpine Rovers who run guided tours through the French and Italian Alps.

Alpine Rovers is a small but dedicated group of Land Rover and overland enthusiasts with decades of experience amongst them. From gentle scenic green laning trips in the UK to a full blown Camel Trophy style expeditions through the vampire infested Transylvanian mountains these guys have done it all.

With over 20 years of experience exploring this region, the guys at Alpine Rovers have put together a selection of tracks and sites in this mountainous landscape to explore in your 4WD.The guided tour will take you to amazing heights where you will see historical buildings that include forgotten forts and World War II bunkers.

This 4WD adventure will also give you the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of visionary adventurers, brave mountaineers and the great Hannibal and Napoleon who crossed through these passes on foot and horseback.

Director Michael Glass explained that on the Alpine Rovers tours they strive to ensure that not only do you explore the off road remote mountain tracks but also on the tour most of the nights are spent around a fire in secluded locations on the mountains with spectacular views, sunsets and crystal clear starlit nights.

These guys also don’t like to stick to a fixed touring agenda, hence allowing you to informally embrace the sites you see along this route. The tracks that me-

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nights are spent around the fire in secluded locations

ander their way through the ALPS reach a staggering 10,000ft, expect plenty of hairpin bends and if you are afraid of heights you probably should not look down on some of the tight turns.

The tours have been designed so you can enjoy them in the most standard of 4×4 vehicles and is open to all levels of driver experience so no need to be concerned.

Tips on Preparing for an Alpine Overland Adventure

If you do plan to take your own 4WD on this tour it will need to be in good running order and road legal.

Michael highlighted that you do not have to spend large amounts of your hard earned cash on equipping your vehicle for an Alpine adventure.

A couple of mandatory checks include having plenty of tyre tread, check your wheel bearings are well greased, service your brakes and handbrake, check your suspension, lights etc.

These tours have been designed so your standard 4WD can tackle what lies ahead, this trip is not about breaking vehicles. As regards packing for this trip, well, less is more, so you can leave the kitchen sink at home.

Your vehicle must also be TAXED, MOT’d, and INSURED (check that it is covered for Europe).

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EXPLORING THE ITALIAN ALPS

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The tracks that meande their way through the AL reach a staggering 10,000

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er LPS 0ft

Because you are driving in Europe you will need to have beam benders also know as headlamp converters,breakdown warning triangles and when on the French side of the Alps you are required to have a breathalyser test kits (two) on board.

You should also have a breakdown recovery service that covers you when driving in Europe. It’s worth noting that no fuel cans should be carried on the exterior of the vehicle, also check with your ferry operator if allowed to carry spare fuel.

If you have a classic 4WD, like a Willy’s Jeep, a Series Land Rover, a Toyota Land Cruiser or any other make or model that’s not exactly in its first flush of youth but you want to take your pride and joy on an Alpine overland trip well that’s not a problem. The guys at Alpine Rovers also cater for these older vehicles.

Michael explained that just because

your vehicle is old, that doesn’t mean it can’t do it! and that’s where the Classic Safari comes into its own, on this tour the pace is slower,and accommodates for the older vehicles abilities.

Additional Recommended Equipment to carry in your 4WD includes: • • • • • • • •

First aid kit High visibility jacket or vest Fire extinguisher Spare bulbs set Tow rope/recovery equipment Jack & wheel brace Any special tools for your vehicle Spare wheel.

Communications: • Mobile telephone, switch to operate in Europe • CB Radio (optional), check that it covers European Channels

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15-18 JUNE

2017

EUROPE’S LARGEST CAMPING AND 4WD SHOW

T

he ABENTEUER & ALLRAD is now widely accepted as the “World´s largest 4WD and Camping Expo”.

With 250 international exhibitors and over 50,000 visitors that includes 6,0000 campers attending the 2016 show, this is as big as it gets.

The show is all about showcasing 4WD vehicles, off-road-equipment, outdoor camping gear, overlanding and adventure-traveling. If you are interested in any of these well you should definitely lock the 15th to 18th of June 2017 into your calendar.

There is definitely no other place in the world where visitors can inform themselves in the same way as by attending the ABENTEUER & ALLRAD says Marion Ripberger, managing director of the organizing company pro-log GmbH.

The show is all about showcasing 4WD vehicles, offroad-equipment, outdoor camping gear, overlanding and adventure traveling.

It’s a pretty central location for tourers to visit from all over Europe .

Held in a small town called Bad Kissingen located just 150 km from Frankfurt in Germany and just approximately a two hour drive from the Czechoslovakian border is the annual Abenteuer & Allrad 4WD and Camping show the largest of its kind in the world.

This is a very central location for overlanders to visit this well established event from all over Europe.

With British, Italian, Swiss, French, Swedish, German, Norwegian, Irish and a few Australian, South African, American, Brazilian and Mexican flags flying, this is truly a multinational 4WD gathering.

showcase their spectacular tours around the world. And if you want to experience some of the vehicles being showcased, once again at the 2017 show visitors will be able to experience first had what it is like to drive vehicles like quads, Hummers and trucks in the cross-country track section.

So what else is on offer at the 2017 Show?

The event will showcase the well-known national and international 4WD brands and cross-country-vehicles including some new additions.All well-known adventure travel agencies will also be well represented offering current touring offerings including The assortment of products being showdaily-trips to extreme tours into the depths cased at the 2017 event in Germany will inof Africa.The event will also feature a huge clude 4WD vehicles, quads, ATVs expedition display of camping and touring equipment, tourers, desert adapted-vehicles and off road clothing, and accessories. trucks. Travelling and rally-organisers will

The Campsite One of the real highlights of the show is the campsite, in fact the campsite is pretty much a show all by itself. With over 6,000 people camped up with there vehicles, you could happily spend a couple of days

just wandering around the campsite che the huge variety of overland vehicles an ups without actually visiting the expo at impressive.

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One of campsi a sho

ecking out nd camp set all, it’s that

the show of s t h g i l h g i h l One of the rea e is the campsit

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f the real highlights of the show is the ite, in fact the campsite is pretty much ow all by itself, with over 6,000 people camped up over the weekend

kids at r fo s e ti i v ti c a of Plenty the 2017 show

Something for all campers at the 2017 show

For the third year in a row a series of lectures called FASZINATION ABENTEUER REISE will one again be part of the shows packed agenda. In the past few years famous speakers like Michael Martin “Planet Wüste”, Climber Alexander Huber and Willi Weitzel with his fascinating children´s program “Willis Wilde Wege” entertained the crowds and educated the different age groups attending.

talks that will be on offer.

Thomas Schmidt the shows organiser told us that the 2016 show increased in both the number of companies exhibiting and visitors attending, he was very pleased to report that the show attracted over 50,000 visitors in total and that he was very excited about the 2017 Expo .

So if you are in Europe this summer the ABENTEUER & ALLRAD 2017 4WD expo At this years show the lec- will take place between the tures will start on the 15th 15th to 18th of June 2017, of June with “Weltenwanthis event is huge and has derer” Gregor Sieböck who something for everyone.We walked halfway around the are very much looking forworld. Also Sabine Hoppe ward to attending the 2017 and Thomas Rahn will be Expo so if you have nothsharing their experiences ing on in June and you have from travelling through 54 not experienced the Abencountries while circling the teuer & Allrad Show be sure planet in six years. This is to lock this event into your just a flavor of the types of calendar.

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TANZ

WILD

Images an

ZANIA

I R A F A S D

nd text Shaw Safaris and Mark Hendrix

A

frica is one of those continents that offer 4WD enthusiasts thousands of kilometers of unspoilt landscape and the opportunity to be self sufficient while exploring and viewing the wild animals that roam this ancient land.

self drive 4WD Safaris strive to share their love for Tanzania, it’s wonderful people, its wildlife and spectacular scenery.This Safari Company started 10 years ago when Erika and Paul, the owners, decided to do a self drive safari as tourists in Tanzania on their honeymoon.

porated well equipp top quality and pra equipment that wou comfortable Safari e Over the last ten ye ika have fine tuned DONT’S of what to not to take on a Saf stiletto shoes, lipst With numerous companies now ofPaul explains that they did enjoy the ers and other luxur fering adventurous tourist package overall experience but certainly saw plained, they have n deals that include fully equipped a lot of room for improvement. With back of a Shaw Safa 4WD’s with camping equipment and no fridge freezer, cups and only very Defender. details on recommended routes this basic camping equipment provided alternative way of seeing the land is in their 4WD, they thought maybe Paul believes that u definitely for the adventurous type. they could provide a better Safari destinations in Afri We spoke to Shaw Safaris one of experience and with that ,the seed vides a real adventu these companies who are leading was sown. and this applies to the way in self drive safaris in the ditions, the weathe spectacular Tanzania.

The couple eventually set up their animals you will see own self drive safari business in encountered, it’s ju Paul Sweet one of the directors of Tanzania with the objective of proence Paul explained Shaw Safaris explained that their viding a top notch safari that incor-

ped vehicles with actical camping uld guarantee a experience. ears Paul and Erd the DO’S and take and what fari, no need for tick, hair dryry items Paul exno place in the ari Land Rover

unlike other Safari ica, Tanzania prourous experience, the driving coner, the variety of e, and the tribes ust a rawer experid.

On arrival in Tanzania, Shaw Safaris will meet and greet you at the airport and transport you to Twiga Lodge. Here you can relax after your long international flight. You will stay at the Twiga Lodge for just a day before setting off on your Self Drive Safari, so you are pretty much straight into it after arriving.

The list of equipment each car has on board is extensive. You are provided with everything from GPS (with Tracks4Africa installed with numerous way-points included), you will also get maps, a fridge freezer, tools and spare parts, roof tents, spare tyres, spare fuel, awning, cooking equipment, gas and a BBQ.

For visitors who have limited 4WD experience, they should not be deterred explained Paul. The guys will introduce you to your hired 4x4 and will give a full briefing on the vehicle’s capabilities and all the camping equipment provided. Paul said that it’s not absolutely essential clients have previous 4x4 experience before doing a safari,however they do recommend you try and do at least a day’s training if possible prior to arriving in Tanzania.

Shaw Safaris use five door 300TDI Land Rover Defenders, known for their durability and ruggedness the world over these machines sing adventure. Maintenance of the Land Rovers is very important with regular attention given to each vehicle; the Landy’s are fully serviced and thoroughly checked before and after each safari. The last thing you want to happen is to break down in the middle of the jungle with a bunch of hungry lions eyeing you up for dinner.

All the vehicles come fully kitted with camping equipment that includes a fitted 50 litre fridge freezer, camping stove, ‘tents, safari beds and all bedding. Other items include cutlery & crockery: a full set of knives, forks and spoons, dinner plates, side plates, bowls, wine glasses, mugs, plastic glasses, and egg cups.

up bowl, dishcloths and pot scorers, scrubbing brush, wire brush, washing up liquid, washing powder, clothes line, kitchen foil/ cling film, loo rolls and kitchen roll, mosquito coils, matches and a lighter.

General Equipment provided includes cool bags, table, chairs, 6kg gas bottle, water conYour kitchen is made up of a 2 ring gas cook- tainers, fuel cans x2, welding gloves, 1st aid er, grill with legs to cook over a fire, 2.3Lt kit, mini fan, wind up LED flashlight, slingshot, eurohike kettle, set of saucepans and frying axe, saw, shovel, fire extinguishers, pump up pan, chopping boards, set of knives, wooden flower shower, lights, storage boxes, glasses spoons, kitchen scissors, ladle, slotted spoon, repair kit, GPS, sat phone, radio with ipod conwhisk, turner and masher, vegetable peeler, nection, inverter for charging small appliancpizza cutter, tongs, flat grater, measuring jug, es, tool kit, hidden safe, and a lockable storwaiters corkscrew, tin opener, tablecloth and age area. tea towels x3, Tupperware (various sizes), egg box, flask and mugs.

We think this list could just about cover everything you might need for a couple of days in You are also provided with a folding washing the jungle.

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Make sure your camera batteries are always charged There are five legendary tribes in Tanzania to meet.

If you find a snake when out walking give it a wide berth and leave it alone

As regards routes, Shaw Safaris provide maps and will give you suggested itineraries. If you have concerns about getting lost they will also provide you with a GPS with built in coordinates so you don’t need to waste valuable holiday time setting up the navigational system.

Paul explained that a very common question asked by clients is will they be able to see the

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animals without a guide? The answer is simply “yes”. Shaw Safaris will give you some tips of do’s and dont’s regarding the animals during the briefing before you hit the tracks.

According to Paul you will pretty much be guaranteed to see various wild animals that make African Safaris hard to match.

Shaw Safaris Ltd. Postal/City: Usa River Email: info@shawsafaris.com Phone: +255 (0)7689 45735 www.shawsafaris.com

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D

S

Y R E T T A DUAL B

S M E SYST r e w o p e l b a i l e r remote and when camping

Its around this time of year that we start tinkering with our vehicles to see what improvements we can make on our 4WD’s in preparation for the approaching Spring and Summer camping and touring seasons. A recent job that we completed on one of our vehicles included the installation of a REDARC Dual Battery System, one of the smartest systems on the market.

Gone are the days where dual battery systems are only found in RV’s and caravans. The installation of dual battery systems has become very popular in 4WD vehicles around the world,

particularly in countries like Australia where most 4WD vehicles carry fridge freezers.

But they also have a number of other uses that include giving you access to power to run lights and other appliances at your campsite for a coup of days at a time and making your camping e perience a much more enjoyable one.

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d ple ex-

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Gone are the days where dual battery systems are only founD in RV’s and Caravans

Cold beers at the campsite

Uploading another article on the road

So how does it work?,well basically the setup is simple; a second or third auxiliary(deep cycle battery) is installed in addition to your starter battery.

The second auxiliary battery is charged by your alternator when you are driving and when you stop and set up camp, the dual battery system cleverly separates your starter battery from your deep cycle batteries giving you the power to run all of your on board appliances without draining power from your starter battery.

So what are the benefits of dual bat-

tery systems; well when you get used to having a system on board its very difficult to travel on extended trips without one.

First of all it’s great to be able to set up camp for a couple of days and be able to run a fridge freezer, camping lights and charge some of your gadgets without worrying about your starter battery going dead.

Dual battery systems are designed to ensure the deep-cycle battery is charged, without the chance of the vehicle’s starting battery being discharged.

D desig bat chan b

Dual battery systems are gned to ensure the deep-cycle ttery is charged, without the nce of the vehicle’s starting battery being discharged.

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If you plan on extending your camping trip you can now easily set up a solar panel that can connect to your dual battery system allowing you to top up your deep cycle batteries when stationary.

1. Installing a leisure battery. 2 Powe run you various appliances & 3. Cold your campsite from the fridge freeze

about these later.

vehicles into ultimate expedition vehicles. T With the help of Lorcan and Elliot combine their electrica who happen to be brothers and ical qualifications and four wheel drive enthusiasts we de- skills to build the ultim cided to install the REDARC BCDC vehicles. From installin 1225D Dual Battery System into roofs, dual battery sys REDARC provide an easy to install the Land Rover 90. eling, kitchens, lightin solar solutions designed to suit a systems to name but a wide range of needs for your 4WD We came across the lads a while boys provide the full p vehicle, camper trailer, caravan or back after discovering their new very quickly installed t motor home.For those who wish and exciting 4WD business.The BCDC into the Land Ro to stay a while and keep batteries lads operate Pathfinders and are charged solar products can provide bespoke specialist that convert excellent solutions and we will talk and restore both vans and 4WD

er points to d drinks at er.

tourers and The brothers al, mechancarpentry mate touring ng pop up stems, panng and water a few, these package and the REDARC over.

3.

Clockwise; The lads at Pathfinders are guaranteed to provide you with the best solutions to suit your 4WD power needs; The REDARC BCDC was designed for the harsh Australian conditions;The BCDC unit provides smart solutions for all your camping and power needs.

REDARC’s range of in-vehicle Dual Battery Chargers like the BCDC 1225D is designed, built and tested in the harsh Australian conditions.With features like fully sealed construction and fan-free cooling - water, dust and vibration this system is built to handle challenging tracks and deep water crossings.

So whether you’re travelling through the steep and rocky tracks in the Alps or crossing rivers in the Northern Territory in Australia this system

has you well covered.REDARC highlight that their knowledge of Australian conditions is engineered into every unit making them also more than suitable for most European conditions.

from the engine bay to inside a van, 4WD or camper trailer.

We chose to install the unit behind the passenger seat in the Defender as the leisure battery is located under the passenger seat.

Dual Battery Charger range operate up to a market-leading 80°C meaning they are going to work in even the most extreme heat of any country on the planet. A higher operating temperature and compact in size also allows for flexible installation options,

With more and more electrical devices being used when travelling,along with more complex vehicle electrical systems, having the right battery charging solution has never been more important.

This BCDC Dual Battery Charger ensures optimum performance of electrical equipment such as fridges, lights, and even hydraulic pumps when they’re powered from a dual battery setup.One of the benefits of this system is that it uses a unique, multi-stage charging algorithm.

The BCDC Dual Battery Chargers have been designed to charge any commonly-used automotive auxiliary battery to 100% while you’re on the move and from solar when you’ve stopped.

ed.

The REDARC BCDC in-vehicle battery charger ensures your auxiliary battery will achieve and maintain an optimal charge regardless of its type or size. The charging algorithm has also been independently verified and tested to ensure battery life is maximised.

Charging algorithm

The BCDC also features a three stage charging algorithm,when the vehicle has started charging the main Charging profile battery and it reaches the required voltage level the Most vehicle alternators are BCDC charger will commence not designed to fully charge charging the auxiliary batan auxiliary battery, an insuffi- tery in boost, the boost stage cient charge rate will, at best, maintains a constant current shorten the life and perforuntil the battery reaches its mance of the auxiliary battery predetermined ‘absorption’ but may result in the battery voltage. The BCDC charger being flat when least expectwill then remain in the ab-

sorption stage holding its set voltage until the battery is 100% charged. The BCDC charger then switches to the ‘float’ stage where it retains the 100% charge until a load on the auxiliary battery causes the battery voltage to drop below a predetermined voltage where it then re-enters the boost stage.

Well thanks to Lorcan and Elliot from Pathfinders for another professional job completed in the Landy.The new REDARC Dual Battery System now gives us a reliable dual battery system to adequately run our on board fridge freezer, lights and other camping appliances with confidence.

Now it’s time to find that perfect camping spot and set up camp for a couple of days and not worry about running out of power .

g n i c u d o r int

The award winning Australian company REDARC design and manufacture a range of battery management products for the European Recreational Vehicle market including our SBI battery isolator, BCDC In-Vehicle DC to DC Charger and the Manager30 battery management system.

resented the interests of European manuf industrial companies in the caravaning in

With a logistic partner based in Poland, R now well positioned to deliver a high leve tomer service by making the REDARC pro cessible to all distributors, trades and end In 2015 REDARC was accepted as a supplier member ers to any destination throughout Europe in the CIVD - Europe’s largest caravaning industry eye out for these high quality products. association. For the last 50 years, the CIVD has rep-

facturing ndustry.

REDARC is el of cusoducts acd consume so keep an

SOLAR BL

Portable solar blankets that are purpose-

LANKETS d i r g e h get off t

-built to accompany you on your travels

A

can be loud and need fuel.

s a follow-on from our previous article on Dual Battery Systems we are now going to look at options that you can use to top up the power in your leisure battery after you have set up camp. Solar power is the perfect option here and there are a number of easy to install solar solutions designed to suit a wide range of needs for your 4WD, camper trailer, caravan or motor home.

Vehicle Power: Power from your vehicle is stored in your battery and can power the average campers requirements for a limited period of time When this stored power runs out, you must start the vehicle again to charge the battery. Your vehicle is much like the generator, it is loud and requires fuel, and it can take some time to charge your leisure battery again.

Before we look at the benefits of solar power let’s have a look at some of the other sources of power used by campers and overlanders today. Examples include generators, vehicle power, mains power and stored power.

Mains Power: Mains power is a great source of power, as long as it is available. If you rely solely on mains power this will limit your travel options to caravan parks or powered campsites.

Generators;On the negative side generators

Stored Power: Stored power in portable Dual Battery Systems are great for powering your gear for a limited time. Once this time is up you will need to recharge your batteries, either via a generator, your vehicle, mains power or alternatively via solar power.

The REDARC 72W Amorphous Solar Blanket is a

portable solar blanket, designed to be folded in a compact size for easy storage and is a third of the weight of a comparable size crystalline folding solar panel.

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Solar can also generate power on a cloudy day

So is solar power a better option?. First of all solar power is one of the cleanest forms of energy on the market with sunlight being a natural renewable source of power, and it is free.

Solar power is also environmentally friendly, its a relatively abundant power source and it makes no noise unlike some other options highlighted above.

Solar power will also generate power when direct sunlight is available and now that the technology is constantly improving even on a

cloudy day a solar panel can generate power.

This means that the correct size solar system (e.g. fixed panel or solar blanket) and some efficient usage of your stored power could give you the freedom to travel and camp in remote locations without the need for mains power.

ensure you get and save it for

If you are thinking about using solar panels as a source of power on your next adventure, well, there are a number of options on the market.First of all you have the fixed solar panels, these are solar panels that are permanently attached to your 4WD,camper trailer or RV. You often see them on the roof of vehicles and they come in different sizes and vary in output of power.

The second type of solar panel includes portable panels,these panels also come in different sizes and are stored away in your vehicle or campervan. The idea is that when you set up camp you use them to top up your power, being portable means that you can put them facing the sunlight at different angles and hence maximising their use, on the downside they

can be bulky to store particularly in a 4WD. And most recently added to the market are solar blankets, these products use high quality cells, have a high output of power, are light and can be folded up neatly and stored in the back of your 4WD. We recently received a 72 W amorphous solar blanket from REDARC to try out with the recently installed BCDC Dual Battery System.

This innovative solution to solar power provides a portable solar panel that does not take up a lot of space in the back of your vehicle.

The beauty about these solar blankets are that they can fold up quickly into a very manageable size are light and durable.

If you are thinking about using solar panels as a source of power on your next adventure well there are a number of options on the market.

A fi to w s in a c th li ti

Solar panels top up your leisure batteries when camped up for a couple of days; The REDARC solar blanket can be easily folded and stored in your 4WD

B c c o th T w to

Amorphous cells are also constructed from a ine layer of silicon which enables solar panels o be more flexible and therefore can be lightweight. The Amorphous cells can also withstand higher temperatures without output beng affected compared to crystalline cells. They also perform better in low light conditions compared to crystalline cells mainly because hey can absorb a wider band of the visible ight spectrum due to the uni-solar triple juncion cell technology used.

Overall we were very impressed with the quality and output of the REDARC solar blanket and by combining the REDARC BCDC Dual Battery system with the solar blanket it offers the perfect solution for easy accessible free power that allows you to stay at your favorite camping location for as long as you like.

Driving a short wheelbase 4WD and having a roof top tent means we do not have the room for a solid permanent solar panel installed on the roof or the space to store a solid panel in Being portable light and easy to fold out, you the back of the 4WD so the foldable REDARC can quickly lay the blanket wherever is practi- solar blanket are the perfect solution for us. cal, for example on the bonnet of your vehicle, It’s the perfect size and can be stored neatly on the ground or you can hang the blanket on behind the driver’s seat taking up very little he side of your 4WD ,or on the windscreen. room.

The REDARC solar blankets have eyelets, which cleverly allows you to attach to blanket o pretty much anything that is stationary.

C d f b f e

O a o m t e u f s m c

Connecting the solar blanket to the BCDC dual batteries system was also very straightforward, in just a couple of minutes you will be set up and won’t have to worry about your food or beers going cold in your fridge freezer.

On the down side the blankets are not cheap and though if you are looking for a flexible option they should be looked at as an investment. One of the real comforts about having the REDARC products are having the knowledge that they have been designing and manufacturing automotive electronic components for the recreational and aftermarket industry sectors for over 35 years and this experience makes them market leaders in their field. You can’t help but feel confident having these

products on board and if you are considering in setting up a dual battery system in your vehicle in the future make sure you consider a flexible system that suits your needs like the REDARC options.

The Solar Blankets are not yet available to be purchased in Europe but they can be sourced from the REDARC website and shipped by REDARC to Europe from Australia.

So for those who wish to stay a while longer at your favorite remote campsite and want to keep those leisure batteries fully charged, well REDARC solar blankets can provide a very effective, durable and flexible solar solution that will guarantee to enhance your camping experience.

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BESPOKE pecialists s

The word Bespoke is an adjective for anything commissioned to a particular specification. It may be altered or tailored to the customs, tastes, or usage of an individual purchaser. And that is exactly what brothers Lorcan and Elliot do under the Pathfinders umbrella. These guys equip and fit out touring vehicles to the customers exact requirements, and they have certainly have built some show stoppers over the last few years. ​ he Pathfinders business has grown over the last decade to T become one of the most desired camper brands both nationally and internationally, with many of the Pathfinders vans and 4WD vehicles regularly spotted around Europe The guys pride themselves on their bespoke designed vans and the quality of the work that goes into them, this is what makes their fitted vans and 4WD vehicles so desirable. We will be linking in with the guys in future editions, checking out some of their projects and asking for advice along the way.

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ever

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UDDLES s e i l l e w d o o g d e e n puddles

MADE FOR THE

GREAT OUTDOORS As keen campers who just happen to love the great outdoors and our 4WD’s mainly because they take us to places well off the beaten track in all types of weather. Sometimes when the weather turns for the worst it often means sometimes getting stuck and having to set up camp in pretty muddy environments, and when this happens we are very grateful to have our Keldun Huntsman Wellies in the back of the Land Rovers.

The Keldun wellies offer more that just keeping your feet dry when you are either recovering your vehicle in deep water or setting up camp in very muddy conditions. These wellies are 100% waterproof and exceptionally comfortable with a polar fleece lining, a 3mm Neoprene upper and a high quality sole with excellent grip.

Who said wellies can’t be stylish. We recently caught up with Pat Kelly aka Mr. Kelly Kettle himself to discuss these quality wellies that have recently hit the market.

Pat is a Director of Kelly Kettle and is the great grandson of Padraig Kelly who invented the world famous Kelly Kettle another item that we always have always packed in the back of our vehicles.

Keldrun wellies are also the brainchild of Pat, in partnership with Andy Duncan. Both Pat and Andy are outdoor enthusiasts with very keen Interests in shooting and fishing and not your average fishermen either, the lads met while representing Ireland in an international fishing competition and have been friends ever since.

Pat explained that through their similar interests and passion for the great outdoors and time spent in the field they both came to realise that what they wanted and required in a boot was simply not available on the market. They then both set about developing a boot that could stand up to the rigours of the countryside,could be worn all day in comfort; be capable of handling the heaviest briar and scrub in the field and be purchased at a competitive price.

And now with the Keldun wellie finally developed after two years of testing, I think they just might have achieved all of there goals.

Manufactured using 100% soft natural rubber, an exceptionally durable exterior cladding combined with an deep ergonomic and extremely comfortable sole, the completed product is a very impressive boot that will give years of comfort. Both Pat and Andy hope that if you become a Keldun™ customer, you will become one for life.

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SMART

BATTERY

CHARGERS

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CTEK MXS 10 Battery Charger The MXS 10 is a charger that offers state of the art technology. It is ideal for professional use and excellent in workshops, caravans, RVs, boats cars or your 4WD.

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atteries have been around for a long time, in fact the first lead acid rechargeable battery was invented by a French man in 1859 though they were not initially used in vehicles until the 1920’s. The reason for this was because the first cars did not need batteries, mainly down to the fact that they had no electrics, were crank started and the lights were powered by gas and as a result there was no need for starter batteries. But this all soon changed when electrics were introduced to vehicles.

So how does it all work? basically a car battery provides a surge of electricity that your vehicle’s electrical components need in order

1.The CTEK MXS 10 solves a broad range of battery problems; 2. This smart charger keeps your batteries in good condition;3. Some of the first cars did not have batteries installed.

to function. Effectively when you turn the key in the ignition your battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Not only does your battery provide the initial power surge to get things started and working,it also helps to regulate the voltage output from the alternator and this prevents unwanted power spikes in your vehicle.

There are a couple of ways we can avoid these types of scenarios and the well known Swedish company CTEK is well ahead of the game when it comes to smart battery chargers and using modern technologies like your smartphone when checking your batteries condition.

CTEK develops and manufactures battery chargers for all types of lead-acid batteries for both private, leisure and professional use. They are well recognised internationally for their innovation that enables the company develop cutting-edge technology that makes CTEK battery chargers and accessories unique worldwide.

a broad range of battery problems.

It offers features such as battery diagnosis that shows if a battery can receive and retain a charge, a special reconditioning function that restores stratified and deeply discharged batteries, unique maintenance charging and a temperature sensor for optimized charging regardless of the weather conditions.

One of their high tech battery chargers includes the MXS 10, this is a battery charger that offers state of the art technology and is ideal for professional use and excellent in workshops, caravans, RVs, camper trailers,boats or cars and of course FOR your 4WD . The MXS 10 solves

It also has a power supply mode which allows the battery to be disconnected from the vehicle without losing important configurations.

With an easy to read display it allows you in steps to follow the entire charging process.

SMART CHARGERS

The MXS 10 is a fully automatic 8-step charger that delivers 10A to 12V batteries from 20–200Ah and is suitable for maintenance charging up to 300Ah.

The charger is IP65 classified (splash and dust proof), designed to protect vehicle electronics and non-sparking, reverse polarity protected and short-circuit proof and CTEK have enough confidence in its quality that they offer a 2-year warranty.

We have been using the MXS 10 over the last few weeks and have been very impressed with its ability to quickly charge our batteries but also to give you instant information on the condition of your starter and leisure batteries.

Some of the key features include;the availability of numerous accessories that simplify using the same charger for multiple batteries, it is water-resistant so that the solution could be taken to the problem even if it rains or snows, it has a power supply that simplifies battery replacement without losing vehicle memory. The MXS 10 also has a patented maintenance charge for a unique combination of maximized life and performance, it can recondition deep discharged batteries and has a patented desulphation that extends the battery life. You wont get any sparks, it is short-circuit proof and reverse-polarity protected for untroubled usage and an automatic detection of end-of-life batteries that eliminates surprises.This unit definately ticks all of the boxes.

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Using the CTEK MXS 10 is Easy 1.Connect the charger to the battery.

2. Connect the charger to the wall socket. (Power-on lamp lights) 3. Press the MODE-button to select charging program. Normal and slightly bigger batteries For charging in cold conditions and AGM batteries Reconditioning of deeply discharged batteries 12 V power supply or float maintenance 4. ‌ and ready, its as simple as that.

BATTERY SENSE

Y A free to download iPhone or Android App provides a simple to understand condition report on your vehicle’s battery. It will send a push notification if the battery’s state of charge falls to a critical level or if measurements have not been taken for seven days.

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get yo lot of techno inform like up and ge data h can he road.

Follow the CT health

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ou can have all the equipment in the world on board for your next remote camping and touring trip but if you don’t have the means after a break down to our battery going well you can end up in a strife. With the improvements in modern ology and the way in which you can gather mation by using applications on your phone, pdated weather forecasts, GPS co-ordinates eneral information, access to this important has now made travel safer and easier and elp avoid you getting in trouble when on the

wing the introduction into the market of TEK Battery Sense you can now track the h of your vehicle battery with a unique Blue-

tooth enabled smart tracking device that sends information on your battery’s health directly to your phone with the data delivered through a free to download iPhone or Android App. The process is simple, basically if you have the information and know when it’s time to charge your battery, you can prevent vehicle breakdowns and maximize your battery’s performance. By simply reading the data on your phone, Battery Sense provides valuable information about your vehicle battery in a simple and user-friendly way.

No more worrying about the condition of you battery, all you have to do is take out your phone and check its condition its as simple as that.

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WATER

Have you ever run out of water when camping,touring, hiking, fishing or just out enjoying the great outdoors? and as a result been tempted to drink some water from a stream or water source that you just happen to stumble across?.Care should always be taken if doing so, with nasty pathogens like cryptosporidiosis drinking what seems like safe and clean water can quickly make you ill. If you are unfortunate enough to drink contaminated water with viruses, bacteria or cryptosporidiosis you can soon experience unpleasant symptoms like diarrhea that will surely upset your day or weekend in the great outdoors.

So best advice is don’t take the sure that the water you are drin are a number of ways to filtrate should you find yourself in a si has run dry, these include, boil through cloths, sand etc. The o are that you are not guaranteed but by using a simple filtration ney you are pretty much guaran free water without worrying abo

e chance unless you are 100% nking is safe. If unsure there e water before drinking it ituation where your supply ling or filtering the water only issue with these methods d to kill all of the parasites, n bottle like the SAGAN Journteed to get safe and parasite out nasties getting through.

Over the last few months we have been using the Sagan Journey water bottles. These innovative, stylish and easy to carry bottles remove bacteria, cryptosporidium giardia and a whopping 118 waterborne chemicals, including fluoride and other contaminants making water safe to drink.

The easy to pack bottles are very handy to have as part of your kit when heading out on trips be it either touring,hiking, fishing camping or just getting away from it all.

The 750ml bottles comes with a replaceable internal water filter.

The filters have been tested and meet or exceed the following EPA and World Health Organization water quality standards for up to 300 gallons of water,then simply replace the filter and go for another 300 gallons.

Remember when out and about just because you come across clear water, does not mean it’s safe drinking water!Filtered Water Bottle gives you peace of mind knowing your body is receiving healthy,

safe water wherever your journey takes you, be it touring, camping or on an outdoor adventure.

Having one of these bottles packed in the back of your vehicle 4WD or in your backpack particularly if you are in a remote area is an essential part of your family survival kit,better be safe than sorry.

Removes up to 99.9999% of bacteria Removes up to 99.99% of virus Removes up to 99.9% of cryptosporidium / giardia These bottles can filter up to a whopping 946 litres or 250 gallons of contaminated water over their lifetime and will most definitely assist you in getting out of a bad situation.

For more information check out https://www.kellykettle.com/home-pageproducts/journeytm-water-bottle-with-filter-blue or click on the link to the right of the page.

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CAMPING r u o y h t wi

Kelly Kettle

m u n i m u l A s V l e e t S s s e l S tain For years Kelly Kettles were made from Aluminum, and these kettles have been known to last for literally decades! However, in recent years in North America, Europe, Japan, Australian, etc, there has been significant move away from Aluminium products to steel and the Kelly Kettles have also moved with this trend.

So why this move?

• Stainless Steel is slightly heavier than Aluminum and is a stronger metal and therefore more resilient to dents.

• Steel has a melting point almost twice that of Aluminium.

• The Kelly Kettles come with upgraded steel fire-bases as standard (traditional aluminium bases used to burn out quite quickly). These new Steel bases can be turned into an efficient wood fired camp stove by simply dropping thehugely popular ‘Hobo Stove’ accessory on top.

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Its no secret that we love camping with our Kelly Kettles.Using only a handful of fuel such as sticks, Pine cones, Birch bark, dry grass, etc. the kettle will boil in just 3 - 5 minutes. Enjoy hot water for tea, coffee, re hydrating food, bathing, cooking, etc.....irrespective of weather conditions or your location. These original camping kettles make boiling water & cooking, fast and easy for fishing & hunting, Car Camping, trekkers, Scouts, power cuts, people working in the outdoors or fun family picnics.

The kettles are normally constructed from a durable heat-conductive metal, such as aluminum, stainless steel, copper or tin. The source of heat is typically from small items of combustible material such as paper and twigs. A base placed below the main body section holds the fuel and contains the fire whilst it burns. Additional fuel can be added to the fire without removing the kettle by dropping it down the chimney. Common among all designs is the principle of internal chimney to create the efficient upward draught of heat. Our Kelly Kettles are always top of our camping packing list.

N E V O P CAM

BREAD made easy

the n i s e t u in 20-25 m n camp ove

self raising flour works best

FRESH BREAD d a o r e h t on One of the easiest breads you can quickly bake in your camp oven is a simple Damper bread. This simple bread was originally made by Aboriginal Australians where they used seasonal grains in the recipe. The bread was then made popular by stockmen during the 1800’s as they drove cattle all over Australia.

These men carried limited supplies as they traveled by horse with only basic rations such as flour, sugar,dried meats and water.

For these nomads freshly baked Damper Bread was a popular source of food after a hard day’s work. The basic damper ingredients included flour,water, milk and baking soda, with additional ingredients easily added depending on preference.

Back in those days the dough was simply added to the ashes from an evening campfire and baked. For those stockmen who were lucky enough to carry a camp or Dutch Oven the dough was placed on the hot ashes and then the hot coals placed on the lid of the camp over, this created an equal spread of heat and after 20 - 30 minutes a you will have a perfectly baked loaf, add some butter, red jam or syrup to your damper and you will have the perfect treat.

When we go on extended camping trips we always bring our Camping/Dutch Oven with us. The kids love the idea of kneading some dough placing it in the camp oven and baking a tasty camp bread over the open fire. It’s also very easy to add ingredients of your choice to the dough and this makes the whole experience great fun for the kids and of course the adults.

So what are you waiting for? get your camp oven for the coming camping season and start experimenting with your favorite ingredients and create your signature camp over Damper.

s b r e h h s e fr garlic and

Dampers ingredient

Self-raising flour Salt Water/water al For this Damper our addition d herbs ingredients included garlic an

Preparation

er into a bowl. at w or ilk m d an lt sa r, ou fl Add ually Add your milk or water grad stirring as you go. ay, when aw ix m d an r ou fl g in is ra lf se Add your a flat on ce la p d an h g ou d e th t well mixed take ou to prevent e ac rf su e th on r ou fl e m so surface with the dough from sticking Knead for up to 10 minutes. gh shape the ou d e th ed d ea kn e av h u yo When utes. in m 10 5r fo d an st it t le d dough an bake for Place in the Dutch Oven and 20-25 minutes.

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CHEF CAMPE

ERS

1

The ChefCam scene. A cou er and now r

They are cer time to esca plore the gre falia Atlantic they are well mote places.

Here is what

1 VW Syncro Westfalia Atlantic 2 The our pride and joy.

Cooking the perfect meal on the trustee rotisserie.

2

“I’m Michael together we started Chef way to captu camping and tasty recipes

We have bee were 4, and an’s family h that serve 25 for weddings bookings too business, so away and we ternoon or 1

To make up out and cook food. Camp I remember mer holidays parents in th they are still Dad has one who are alive homes (or gi simple, but e

mpers are the newest team of Chefs to hit the camping uple of lads who met at infant school, grew up togethrun a Hotel and Restaurant on the Wirral in the UK.

rtainly busy, but somehow, they seem to find ape from the basement kitchen and exeat outdoors. Using a VW Syncro Westc, with permanent 4wd and diff locks, l equipped to reach some pretty re.

t they had to say;

l and the tall one is Kieran, run ChefCampers.com. We fCampers in April 2016 as a ure the fun we have whilst d to hopefully share some s for people too.

en best friends since we we work together in Kierhotel. We are the 2 chefs 50 covers in 1 day, catering s, parties and restaurant o. The hotel is a 24hour o it can be tricky getting time e are often limited to an af1 or 2 nights at a time.

for this, we take our camper k up some simple, but amazing ping is such a big part of our lives. growing up and spending my sums travelling Europe with my Grandheir motorhome. I’m pleased to say l travelling in their motorhome and my e too, so we are 3 generations of campers e and well. They have pretty luxurious motorin palaces as I like to call them), whilst I opt for a effective vehicle, a 27 year old Syncro Atlantic.

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The VW Syncro Westfalia Atlantic is a very special vehicle, less than 15 of these were ever built and it has some amazing features for an old van.

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The VW Syncro Westfalia Atlantic is a very special vehicle, less than 15 of these were ever built and it has some amazing features for an old van. It had a eberspacher night heater and double glazing, fitted as standard. Along with an underslung LPG tank to run the fridge and the gas 2 ring stove, which even has a pre heating system to allow it to run in very cold climates.

The Atlantic can sleep 4 adults, but we find it most comfortable with just 2 and my little dog. The permanent 4wheel drive system is brilliant and when I select the diff locks, it really can take me across some difficult terrain, to find the best restaurant views on 4 wheels.

We have huge plans for the future. An external catering company, cooking shows, live recipe demonstrations and off course, more content on our social media platforms.

Join us as we attempt to start a cooking revolution in camping, the ChefCampers.

STEP ONE Dice the veg into a meat tray, add the garlic too Score the Pork on the thick skin Season with Salt, Pepper, herbs Place meat on top of the veg and onto the BBQ (we used a cobb and a webber go anywhere, indirect heat for both) Add a splash of Cider (you can add more later)

S tep 1

STEP TWO Cook to an internal temp of 65 degrees celsius (150f) around 2-3 hours. Remove the meat and cook skin side down, over hot coals (for tasty crackling)

STEP THREE Let the meat rest while you focus on the sauce Stir the vegetable’s and add flour to thicken up the stock into a gravy, add more cider if desired (we didn’t) Slice some bread Slice the meat

y o j n e & e v r e s an r e i K & l e a h Mic

S tep 3

S tep 2

Here is one of the lads recipes that uses a BBQ to cook something a little different, A Scrumpy Belly of Pork ingredients for

PIG BELLY PORK Belly pork joint Salt Pepper Garlic Celery Carrots Onions Leek’s Cider Flour

ed k o o c y l t c e f the per pork belly

a c e h at t

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Why take the kids camping?

If anyone ever asks me what are the advantages of taking the kids camping I just recount the following story and let them work it out for themselves.

At the beginning of summer last year we took an overnight camping trip to The Apple Farm Camping and Caravan Park in Cahir in Co. Tipperary with our two kids age 6 and 3.

It was our first camp of the season and was an impromptu decision so we decided to go somewhere not too far from home as we weren’t as prepared as usual and were only going for one night.

We set off mid morning on a Saturday and returned Sunday evening in time to prepare for work and school the following day.

When we arrived at the farm we were greeted by the owner who very kindly gave us a complimentary bottle of apple juice when we checked in.

Although pre season the campsite was busy and we drove around looking for a spare site to park up. We ended up setting up camp beside a lovely couple who were on their very first camping trip with their two young daughters.

While we surveyed our site checking for an electricity and water source we struck up conversation with our new neighbours.

We ended up chatting most of the afternoon while watching the kids run from one camp to the other excitedly swapping stories of their adventure so far.

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We ended up chatting most of the afternoon while watching the kids run from one camp to the other excitedly swapping stories of their adventure so far.

The following day we were up early preparing breakfast as were our neighbours, after realising we’d forgot our essential breakfast ingredient, coffee, we found ourselves bartering milk for coffee and eventually we all gathered around the one breakfast table relaxing, sipping coffee and enjoying the crisp morning and each others company.

After breakfast we took a walk around the farm, through the apple vines and rows of strawberry plants. We were lucky enough to see a family baby rabbits running in and out between the

vines. We took the kids to the playground a this and our son tried his hand at tennis for first time with his new found friends.

Before leaving the campsite that day we all swapped contact details and promised to sta in contact and maybe even plan another trip the near future.A year has passed and we wi meeting our new found friends on a short ca ing trip in a couple of weeks and might even make this an annual event.So the moral of th story is bring the kids camping and make so new friends.

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ay p in ill be ampn he ome

COASTAL

FISHING THE BASICS FOR BEGINNERS

Over Rove fishin novic ing m ralon stone

Beach go fi cense varie

If you

r the years we have been kitting out the Land ers for those quick getaways and extended ng trips.We would still class ourselves as a ce/ recreational fisherman who love nothmore than setting up camp on a beach, pier, ng a iver or lake and casting a line within a e’s throw of our 4WD’s.

your 4WD, well chances are you will not be disappointed. Searching for those hidden away beaches and coastal fishing locations will bring a whole new dimension to your future 4WD adventures.

The first thing you should do before planning a fishing trip along the coast is to prepare your hes in particular are the perfect locations to vehicle for possible beach driving. Firstly make ishing with your 4WD and mostly provide li- sure you can drive on the chosen beach and then e free fishing and the opportunity to catch a check the tide times, the last thing you want to ety of tasty species. happen is getting stuck alone on a beach with the tide is fast approaching. u do decide to try this as a new hobby with

Its also important to additional equipmen make your beach dr this in turn will allow ing your fishing and

Air your tyres down before hitting the be ach

gauge in e r ty n a y r r a c s y Alwa your vehicle

Before hitting the sa down accordingly, a checking your tyre p formance on the san in your 4WD’s perfo tyres. A portable 12 to have packed into ered by your battery coming off the sand never hit the beach

o prepare your 4WD for beach driving with some nt on board,good preparation is guaranteed to riving experience an enjoyable and safer one and w you to spend more of your valuable time enjoyd less time trying to get unstuck in the sand.

and check your tyre pressures and air your tyres a simple tyre deflator is an excellent tool for pressures. Tyre pressure is a major factor in pernd and you will immediately notice a difference ormance on the soft stuff when you deflate your 2v air compressor is also a very useful piece of kit o the back of your vehicle, they are normally powy and allow you to inflate your tyres quickly after d.And lastly as set of tracks we use the TREDS and without them. HAPPY FISHING

ked in c a p s y a w l are a e beach the TREDS h t g n i tt i h efore our 4WD b

‘ h c Bea

g n i v i Dr

s p Ti 1

Lighten the load on your 4wd

2

Lower your tyre pressure

3 always Carry recovery 4 equipment Maintain Momentum

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Searching for those hidden away beaches and coastal fishing locations will bring a whole new dimension to your future 4WD adventures.

ARCTIC GLAMPING Driving to Kakslauttanen involves driving along the eastern coast of Sweden , before entering Finland .

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Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is an enchanting, otherworldly arctic resort, located 250 kilometres (150 miles) north of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, four-hour drive from the Arctic Ocean.

Its a 34 hour, 3,111 KM drive from Calais,or 29 hours (2,470km) from Berlin so if you are planning on driving there it’s probably only feasible if you intend to spend some time there or to include it as a destination in a larger Scandinavian tour. There is free parking places next to all the cabins and there are plenty also in front of the restaurant buildings. You could also fly into Ivalo airport (just 30 minutes away) or Rovaniemi Airport which is served via a bus service which passes near to the resort.

Driving to Kakslauttanen involves driving along the eastern coast of Sweden, before entering Finland, and when you get there the Resort would also serve as an excellent base for visiting Norway, for example the North Cape. It takes about an additional 3 hours to drive from the resort to Norway.

The family run resort has been in existence for over 42 years, and has been continually enhanced over that time.

The resort is particularly renowned for its iconic Glass Igloos and the magical Northern Lights- and there’s plenty of other arctic secrets to explore.

Numerous unique excursions from reindeer and husky adventures to a meeting with Santa and panning for gold make for a memorable stay.

The resort is located in the midst of some of the cleanest natural environments in the world and is also located right beside one of Finalnds largest national parks, Urho Kekkonen National Park.

“There are a wide variety of accommodations available from the famous glass igloos, to snow igloos , to a variety of chalets , cottages and huts.’

deep , n e n a lautt you can s k a K ge of the forest, d e e h t At se of u o rt a H e s ’ h a in the lso find Sant a

Kakslauttanen is one of the best places in the world to wonder at the magical glow of the Northern Lights. Up here, the season is incredible eight months long, from late August until late April. As long as it’s dark and the skies are clear, there’s always a chance to capture the miraculous Auroras. What makes Kakslauttanen special ls that you can enjoy the most amazing viewing experience from the comfort of the high tech glass igloos. The igloos are made of thermal glass, so even though it might be icy cold outside, inside it’s always deliciously warm. With no city lights to spoil the view. you can simply lie back and enjoy nature’s very own firework display. Even without the Northern Lights making an appearance, a night under the arctic sky is still an unforgettable experience.

In Lapland, they say that there are weeks. However, rather than it being eight distinct seasons, each with its pitch black outside, there’s a magical own unique set of wonderful expeglow reflecting from the pure snow, riences to enjoy. The seasons range which creates a unique light. In Janfrom the extremes of the Polar Night, uary and February, the midday sun when the sun doesn’t rise for weeks paints the sky in brilliant shades of and the temperatures can hover pink and purple, and when she sets, around -30°C, to the nightless sum- everything turns a fairy-tale shade of mers, when the sun never sets. There blue. And it’s not just the light that is are few other places on earth where soft - the thick layer of soft snow creyou can experience such a contrast. ates a silence that is magically soothing.

Autumn is a marvellous time for observing the Northern Lights. The Aurora season starts around 24th Au- During spring, all the winter activgust when the nights get dark again. ities are still available but the days That is also when the glass igloos quickly grow longer. In March and open for the season. Autumn is op- April there are long hours of daylight timal time for hiking and other out- and the brightness is intensified by door activities. During approximately the white snow. You have so many the first three weeks of September options for activities here, feast your nature is ablaze in colours of “ruska”, senses and work on your fitness with a Finnish word for the Autumn leaves some cross-country skiing on densely season. From August to October, the packed snow or maybe go for a reinforests are filled with mushrooms deer sleigh ride in the crisp, bright and berries. Due to the high expospring sunshine? sure to sunlight in a short period of time, the region’s berries and mush- Summer brings about an almost surrooms are both tasty and packed real feeling, when the Midnight Sun with vitamins. Travellers are free to lights up the sky 24 hours a day. help themselves to the natural treats Between mid­May and early August, provided by the forest and wetlands. the sun never sets, but this doesn’t mean scorching heat; rather, the Winter - Up north, the winter is long. weather is perfect for outdoor activThere’s snow on the ground from ities in the arctic landscape, which about mid-November until the end is filled with many outdoor activities of April. In the heart of winter, from during the summer. hiking, horseDecember to February, trees sag un- back riding or quad biking in the der the weight of the snow and there middle of the night under the glow is little daylight. In midwinter, we of the Midnight Sun is an experience even have the Polar Night, when the that will be hard to forget. sun stays below the horizon for six

UP NORTH, THE WINTER IS LONG. THERE’S SNOW ON THE GROUND FROM ABOUT MID-NOVEMBER UNTIL THE END OF APRIL.

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FINLAND words and images Garret Bradshaw

d a o r e h t o t e s o l c r e e d n i Re

Garret Bradshaw of Landrover X Ireland shares some Finland. Despite the fresWhly falling snow of his experiences on the road in Finland. constant low temperatures the roads in Fin very well serviced and safe to travel.

Finland was the 8th Country on my 18 country trip. This part of Finland is spectacular, contain I came in through Sweden in November 2016. At of beautiful lakes and forests and also graz -20 degrees this was a far distance from what I am used to back home in Ireland but I was well used Reindeer that are often seen very close to t to it by now. My first stop was in Rovaniemi where At one point I turned a bend in the road an I spent the night. Rovaniemi is beautiful city which across a small herd of 8 reindeer grazing is right on The Arctic Circle in Finish Lapland and side of the road. It was thrilling to see the home to Santa Claus & Santa’s village boasts an ac- their natural environment , feeding and no tual line Depicting the Arctic Circle running through cerned about this camera-toting interloper it. I couldn’t resist the photo opportunity. Its also a few snaps I decided to leave as i didn’t w an excellent stopping point for family’s with kids disturb them. where they can send a letter to Santa.

The second day I made my way South to Pyhäjärvi

and the nland are

ning lots zing

the roads. nd came on the em in ot conr. . After want to

On day 3 I made my Way to Helsinki to get the Ferry to Estonia. I stayed in a Campsite just outside of Helsinki a short 20 minute drive to the ferry termina, the campsite is open all year round and can facilitate everyone from backpackers to campers and also has log cabins available for hire. The facilities on site were good with hot showers, WiFi, Kitchens and a TV /Rec room.

Overall my abiding impression is of Finland as a beautiful country that has the most amazing sunsets in Winter, the trip was worth it for this reason alone. The wildlife is abundant and feels very special to encounter. I never got to see the Northern Lights which was a disappointment, but I look forward to returning in the future with the hope of having another opportunity to witness them.

Follow Garrett at http://landroverxireland.com/

In the winter months, all vehicles must have winter tyres – preferably studded .

n o i t a m r o f n i for more

e r e h k c i cl

some intere

fin

Finland is the seventh largest co in Europe, in terms of area.With people per square mile, Finland most sparsely inhabited country EU. There are 187,888 lakes larg 500 square metres in Finland.

Finnish roads are generally in go dition and there is plenty of bea peaceful scenery along the way f to enjoy. The general speed limi land is 50 km/h in built-up areas km/h outside. Both limits are in long as no other speed limit is s ed. On major highways you can

esting facts about

nland

ountry only 41 is the y in the ger than

ood conautiful, for you it in Fins and 80 force as signpostdrive 100

km/h in the summer and 120 km/h on motorways.

In the winter months, all vehicles must have winter tyres – preferably studded.

Roads are generally not gritted. Instead, they are maintained by snowploughs. In winter the general speed limit is reduced everywhere to 80 km/h.

The Finnish Transport Agency provides news updated and important information on road & weather conditions and on traffic & roadworks throughout Finland. http://www.liikennevirasto.fi/

3 EURO

CAMPS

Every issue we bring you a peek at some of Europ sites in Italy, Romania and France, each

OPEAN

SITES

pe’s coolest campsites, this month we visit with a unique appeal of its own

1

Rosselba le Palme campin

ITALY

The stunning Elba island is the biggest of the islands in most beautiful natural settings. the Tuscan archipelago.

The campsite offers mobile homes of Elba is also the closest to the mainland and is situated in caravans,glamping in a range of beau one of the most picturesque parts of the Tyrrhenean Sea. and also camping for caravans and ca Elba is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park, motorcycle or on foot campers. and the third largest island in Italy, after Sicily and Sardin- The facilities are wonderful with a ni ia. Elba is about 50km east of the French island of Corsica. and mini market. There is a good swi On the south of the island, there are large sandy beachand a gym. es, interspered with rocky outcrops and on the north the There are numerous daily activities fo coastline is lined with rocky gorges and small stony inlets. pool and around the island, and also The ferry to Elba is approximately an 15 hour drive from The campsite also runs a course for “ Calais. Followed by a short 30 minute hop accross in the ery week during the high season that Cavo - Piombino ferry, run by Mobylines. ture trip that provides guided excursi Rosselba le Palme campsite will really appeal to Campers observations, mineral collections, bar who seek nature holidays. a real Scouts camp, all provided by h Tents and caravans are placed in the shade of wonderful palms and tropical trees, in one of the Island of Elba’s

ng- Elba Island

f various sizes, rental utiful huts and tents amper vans to car

ice bar, restaurant imming pool, a beach

or kids , games in the a kids restaurant. “Young Explorers� evt takes kids on a naions, meteorological rbecues and nights in highly skilled guides.

click here for more information

2

Babou Maramures- Breb

ROMANI

IA

Its a 20 hour, 2,000km drive from Calais to Breb, Maramures, travelling through between 4-5 countries depending on your chosen route.

mania in March 2010.

From the garden of the main house you can walk into the fields, the forests and up to mount Gutai or explore beautiful and historic Breb town. The campsite is run by Matthijs and Eveline, a Dutch couple who moved to Ro-

The campsite also provides a tent for rent -for a minimum stay of two nights-. In the tent, which is meant for one or two persons, there is a full double mattress and fresh linen, the tent also has a great view overlooking the

The campsite is situated in the garden behind the house where they have around 6000 square metres available for tents and campers The Babou Maramures campsite is situated in where you can choose your own pitch. There Breb at the foot of mount Gutai in the beauti- are hammocks and fire pits also dotted about ful and traditional Maramures region. the site, which are available for campers use.

mountains.

The last 900 metres to the site is through the village on an unpaved road, which means the s, road is covered with gravel and small stones.

For cars and jeeps, this is no problem. Small campers and caravans also can reach the site, unfortunately the road is not suited for caravans larger than 5.5 metres and campers largr er than 6 metres.

r o m r o f e r e h k c i l n c o i t a m r info

3

Huttopia Forest Village-

FRANCE

- Senonches

It’s a 3 and a half hour,326 KM drive from Calais to Camping Huttopia at Senonches.

The campsite which is also Just 140 km from Paris, is located with in the le Perche national park.

The Perche is one of 51 designated Regional Natural Parks in France – an inhabited rural area of remarkable beauty whose environment and cultural heritage is at risk. Thanks to the Park, a strategy is in place to ensure its sustainable development. This involves a wide range of social, cultural and economic initiatives to protect nature, share local traditions and support the local community into the future.

Huttopia offers environmentally-friendly holidays amid nature for people looking to get away with the family in a lovely piece of wilderness.

The campsite is eco-friendly with an emphasis on getting off the grid and away from ‘civilization’ for a few days, inviting people to savour an alternative experience in the heart of nature based on simplicity, comfort and complete harmony with nature The campsite has a private ‘forest’ which can be, explored by foot, bicycle or on horseback and a variety of original and fun nature-based activities are available every day of the week during the summer.

The site offers a range of comfortable, high-quality facilities that blend harmoniously into the environment, within the forest there is an amazing complex of eco-designed wooden buildings, a natural swimming pools that uses plants instead of chemicals for maintenance. Around the huts are huge and well-shaded spaces and a variery of different and very unique rental huts and tents made from canvas and wood that enables you to camp in luxury.

There is a small lake where you can go boating, in one of the small row boats or you can sip a coffee on the terrace, watching boaters on the lake.

HUTTOPIA EXPLAIN THAT

“

HUTTOPIA HAS ENDEAVOURED TO IMPLEMENT GOOD ECOLOGICAL PRACTICES ACROSS ALL OF THEIR SITES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT THEM

“

e r o m r o f e r e h k clic mation r o f n i

R E H T A WE

S P P A ost of your time m d en sp to n la p When you dvantageous a y er v e b n ca it in the outdoors the weather has t a h w ce n a v d a to know in in store

WEATHER TIMELINE Weather Timeline is a simple weather app that focuses on summarising the next hour, the next 48 hours and the next week so you don’t have to. It presents the forecast in a timeline to help you quickly glance and digest the information and has a strong focus on color to outline the weather conditions.

The app includes current weather alerts/warnings for your chosen locations and includes a time machine weather forecast so you can look at the forecast months, even years in advance or check what the weather was like several decades ago.

YR.NO YR.NO is an app produced by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK.which contains weather forecasts, textual forecasts, meteograms and extreme weather warnings.

We have found this to be one of the most accurate weather apps (along with Weather Timeline/Dark Sky) we particularly like the meteogram as a way of representing the forecast, see screengrab.

7

PRINCIPLES

e r o m r o f e r e h k c cli mation r o f n i

ENJOY NATURE

RESPONSIBLY • Plan Ahead and Prepare • Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces.

Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack It In, Pack It Out) • Leave What You Find • Minimize Campfire Impacts • Respect Wildlife • Be Considerate of Other Visitors.

THE PRINCIPLES OF

LEAVE NO TRACE PLAN AHEAD

PRACTICING A “LEAVE NO TRACE” ETHIC IS VERY SIMPLE MAKE IT HARD FOR OTHERS TO SEE OR HEAR YOU AND LEAVE NO TRACE OF YOUR VISIT.

P B MO IN IR T G M O , IN R CA H R G H OM A V A M E AN ,U S I H K O NG 20 W & 17 .

M

CA

.

EXHIBI

ITIONS 2017

UK CARAVAN CAMPING AND MOTOR HOME SHOW

With over 350 stands at the show, it’s a great place to browse, compare and buy the latest 2017 model caravans, motorhomes, campervans, trailer tents and folding caravans, plus tents of all shapes and sizes and caravan holiday homes and lodges, all under one roof.

The show is a great day out in the excellent Birmingham NEC facility. There is plenty to see and do and kids go free. Running for six days from 21st to 26th February, the show offers a unique opportunity to see all the latest trends, coolest destinations and lots more. The show also feature a range of addi-

tional attractions including an assault course, dog agility arena, live cookery demos and an area for towing and reversing tuition. This year for the first time there are also bushcraft workshops, a trampoline park and caving and climbing experiences.

Learn more on the website.

R

(GEA

OUR OLD

RELIABLES

AR THAT NEVER LETS US DOWN)

Cascade designs is one of the best known brands in the outdoor camping and expedition equipment sector. Receiving its first patent in 1972 and releasing its first product the ‘Therm-a-rest’ Mattress two years later. Today, over 40 years later, the company remains a private, family-owned organisation that has grown to be one of the most respected outdoor equipment manufacturers in the world. They have achieved that distinction through a combination of

the Therm-a-Rest brand’s Cascade still build the vast enduring popularity, and majority of their products also via the acquisition of in facilities in Seattle, USA strong companies with su- and Cork, Ireland. The perior products and shared products all come with a visions, and by sticking life time warranty which to the same fundamental guarantees that products principles which they were will be “free from defects in were founded upon: provid- materials and workmanship ing relevant and innovative for the life of the product”. products, exceptional quali- However even products ty, and service that exceeds which are damaged via use customer expectations. and wear and tear can be sent back to Cascade where Though much of the they will be repaired at very world’s manufacturing has reasonable rates. shifted from North American and Europe to Asia,

We a fans for a mare an M whic come item have Platy Pack Line prais

at TURAS have been of these products highof Cascade products ly enough. Every product a long time, using Ther- is still going strong after est Mattresses and years of continuous use.

MSR whisperlite stove, ch has over time bee one of our primary Cascade Designs brands ms of equipment. We are: e also enjoyed using ypus water systems, MSR, Therm-a-Rest, Sealktowl towels and Seal- Line, Platypus, E-Case, dry bags. We cannot PackTowl, Hummingbird, se the quality of all Jet Rest and SkyLounger.

MSR WHISPERLITE STOVE The WhisperLite stove has been the number one choice of outdoor adventurers for over 25 years. Backpackers, climbers, hikers and adventure travelers alike have come to rely on its easy-to-use design and durable, stainless steel and brass construction to deliver dependable performance in most any situation.

Th Th

Sti ma ma it c co tre nie the

E T I L R E K C O L B E N I L K C L A A P E S DRY

Seal Line Blocker Lite PackTight packing system takes advantage o the flat-sided, rectangular shapes of the blocker dry sacks, closely nestling them together for easy, space-saving and intuitive organis tion Waterproof strength: 50% stro ger than sewn and taped seams, a seams are welded to deliver superior strength, durability, and water proof protection over time.

THERM-A-REST BASECAMP MATTRESS

he deluxe, updated version of the classic herm-a-Rest mattress.

ill sleeping on your ultralight backpacking attress while car camping? The Basecamp attress is here to remind you of how good can be with the exceptional comfort and onvenience of a robust foam core matess. It offers excellent self-inflating conveence, exceptional all-season warmth and e top-notch support and stability

of

saonall r-

GRAVIT Y WATER F WORKS 2. 0 ILTER SY STEM GravityWorks 2 Litre System Bottle Kit allows for both filtering and backflushing water, pump-free. It takes the hassle out of getting clean water on any journey with less effort and in less time than other back country filtration systems.

The GravityWorks 2.0L system holds up to four litres (depending on configuration), is lightweight and packs small, making it ideal for 1-4 people in the backcountry. The included Bottle Adapter lets you create your system using your own bottle or reservoir. Includes 2 L Dirty Collection Reservoir with quick release fitting, GravityWorks. Filter Cartridge, Universal Bottle Adapter and hoses.

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