Well here it is the grand finale of Bob's epic TGOC 07 podcast is up for your listening pleasure on itunes and soon Backpackinglight.co.uk and The Outdoors Channel.

What I think comes across in these final two podcasts so well is Bob. The warmth in his voice when he meets an old Challenge friend, the fun and enjoyment when he interviews people, or describes Challenge HQ. This is some one enjoying what they are doing, and enjoying the people he is with. 

I think Bob has managed to put together a series of podcasts that improve over last years podcasts for the Challenge. Bob, Rose, Andy and Kate have done a great job in describing their journey across Scotland. They managed to get some great interviews along the way, make us laugh, and feel their tears.

I can't even imagine how much effort, the countless hours Bob must of spent editing not only his own recordings but Andy's as well to make up this series.

What are your series highlights?

Mine are the following:

Backpackingheavy.com

Rose leaving Bob, and Bob's emotional comment

Bob at Challenge HQ

Bob and Rose, what a double act.

So a big thank you Bob for all the hard work and this epic.

Wow me using big words. Let it not be said I do not educate my readers as well as entertain them ;)

Well Part 13 is up, Bob and his merry men make it to the East coast, as does Andy.

I'm going to comment about this episode and the final one once it is up. As I think something comes across in them that I hope others who listen to them pick up also. In the meantime sit back and enjoy this latest installment, we only have one more left before our journey with Bob and Andy comes to an end.

Here's the official email to confirm it

Dear PHD Customer
PHD DOWN SLEEPING BAGS, JACKETS, AND VESTS UP TO 50% OFF.
We are delighted to announce our Summer Sale is now on. It's a mixture of our popular items made in special fabrics, some specials, and a couple of lines made exclusively for the sale (the Minim 300 & 500 sleeping bags).
The sale is online now at:
http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/index.php?cPath=79
WHAT'S ON OFFER?
1. MINIMUS DOWN JACKETS AND VESTS IN GORE-TEX - Our most popular products with the extra protection of a Gore-Tex outer. Jackets on sale for £119; vests for £79.
2. MINIM 300 DOWN SLEEPING BAG - a product only available during the sale. With a Min Temp rating of 0C (32F) and a total weight of 570gm (20oz) this bag fills a useful gap between our Minimus and the Minim 400. For Mountain / Desert Marathons or ultralight backpacking this Minim 300 makes a great choice. On sale for £109 (our 'DYO' price is £189).
3. SNOWBIRD JACKETS & VESTS - your last chance to buy these old favorites, available in Olive or Sea Green. Vests reduced from £95 to £55; jackets from £159 to £85.
4. MINIM 500 DOWN SLEEPING BAGS - also only available during the sale. With a total weight of 800gms (28oz) and a min temp rating of -9C (16F) this bag gives another ultralight option for anyone extending their camping into the milder parts of winter. On sale for £139 (our 'DYO' price is £235).
5. MINIMUS DOWN SLEEPING BAGS - standard product in a special fabric (Green M2 Microfibre). M2 is a fine ultralight fabric in a plain weave. Dimensions, construction and down fill are as the original bag. The Minimus will be on sale at £89 (reduced from £164).
6. ARCTIC DOWN JACKETS IN GORE-TEX - with box-walls throughout and a taped GORE-TEX outer the Arctic is suitable for use in very cold, inhospitable conditions. On sale (in black) for £220 (reduced from £380).
7. MINIMUS DOWN VESTS & JACKETS - our most popular products, in M4 fabric. M4 is a fine ultralight fabric the same weight as M1. Available in Olive. Vests on sale for £59 (reduced from £95); jackets on sale for £89 (reduced from £144).
8. ASPEN DOWN JACKETS - lightweight down jackets, warm but smart. Nylon microfibre in & out. Sale price £89, original price £180.
9. TOASTY DOWN MITTS & BOOTS - being made for the last time ever. Simple winter warmth for the extremities. Both on sale at £29, reduced from £48.
10. CHAMONIX DOWN VEST - a limited-edition lined vest with fleece-lined pockets and collar. On sale for £59, reduced from £99.
The sale is online now at:
http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/index.php?cPath=79
As with all our gear, these sale items are designed, cut, sewn and filled in the UK, at our Stalybridge base.
Please note: you cannot use your customer discount on sale items BUT purchases of sale items DO count towards your qualifying balance (customers spending £130 or more qualify for a 10% discount for the year they qualify and the whole of the next year).
Best wishes
The PHD team.

Part 10 of the Tale of Two Podcasts is out or the TGOC 07 Podcast Diary. Whichever you want to refer to it by, you can pick it up from the usual places, itunes, Backpackinglight.co.uk and The Outdoors Station.

This is how Bob describes his latest installment:

"We meet Andy and Kate on route to Loch Callater Lodge and then share the rest of the journey over Jocks Road to find a secluded little spot in the woods, for a good rest and chat about using lightweight gear on the Challenge. Loch Callater has to be one of the most charming glens you could ever wish to walk along."

Wow Bob you are producing some great podcasts. We all owe you a big thank you.

Well apart from the OR Blog no one over here in the UK (except Duncan aka Aktoman) seems to have picked up on this yet.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=golite007

As they say on the page

"Our inspiration is the outdoor athlete, those dedicated to maximizing human performance in their chosen sport, not for medals or acclaim, but for their own joy in the outdoors. This YouTube channel will allow us to show you the great adventures people have wearing our product, and moreover just a cool place to watch some really awesome outdoor movies."

Here are some examples of the sort of stuff they are putting on there

PHD will be holding their annual Summer sale starting on 18th August.

From their email sent out this the sort of bargains you can expect to get.

(taken from email)

1. MINIMUS DOWN JACKETS AND VESTS IN GORE-TEX -  Jackets on sale for £119; vests for £79.
2. MINIM 300 DOWN SLEEPING BAG - a product only available during the sale. With a Min Temp rating of 0C (32F) and a total weight of 570gm (20oz) this bag fills a useful gap between our Minimus and the Minim 400. For Mountain / Desert Marathons or ultralight backpacking this Minim 300 makes a great choice. On sale for £109 (our 'DYO' price is £189).
3. SNOWBIRD JACKETS & VESTS - your last chance to buy these old favorites, available in Olive or Sea Green. Vests reduced from £95 to £55; jackets from £159 to £85.
4. MINIM 500 DOWN SLEEPING BAGS - also only available during the sale. With a total weight of 800gms (28oz) and a min temp rating of -9C (16F) this bag gives another ultralight option for anyone extending their camping into the milder parts of winter. On sale for £139 (our 'DYO' price is £235).
5. MINIMUS DOWN SLEEPING BAGS - standard product in a special fabric (Green M2 Microfibre). M2 is a fine ultralight fabric in a plain weave. Dimensions, construction and down fill are as the original bag. The Minimus will be on sale at £89 (reduced from £164).
6. ARCTIC DOWN JACKETS IN GORE-TEX - with box-walls throughout and a taped GORE-TEX outer the Arctic is suitable for use in very cold, inhospitable conditions. On sale (in black) for £220 (reduced from £380).
7. MINIMUS DOWN VESTS & JACKETS - our most popular products, in M4 fabric. M4 is a fine ultralight fabric the same weight as M1. Available in Olive. Vests on sale for £59 (reduced from £95); jackets on sale for £89 (reduced from £144).
8. ASPEN DOWN JACKETS - lightweight down jackets, warm but smart. Nylon microfibre in & out. Sale price £89, original price £180.
9. TOASTY DOWN MITTS & BOOTS - being made for the last time ever. Simple winter warmth for the extremities. Both on sale at £29, reduced from £48.
10. CHAMONIX DOWN VEST - a limited-edition lined vest with fleece-lined pockets and collar. On sale for £59, reduced from £99.
You can see a fuller preview of what's on offer at:
See Preview here

Bob has put up Part 5 of this years TGOC Podcast. It's available through the usual places and back on Backpackinglight.co.uk.

Well the title says it all, get it with your favourite podcast software (itunes for me)  tonight, and most likely downloadable from The Outdoors Station sometime tomorrow.

For all those that enjoy a brew up while out on the hill, it appears you maybe doing yourself more good than you thought.

Over at the dvorak blog they are reporting the following story "Caffeine and exercise team up to prevent skin cancer".

Reading the original story, the researchers still need to do more research into why this seems to work. So far they have only tested this theory out on mice, and are at some point in the future looking to take this to human trials to see if it still holds true with mankind.

In the meantime sales of coffee and tea have risen sharply for the rodent population, with rumours that a certain famous mouse was seen walking out of a supermarket with trolley loads of coffee. 

How could I forget this yesterday (most unlike me to miss a bit of self promotion ^_^ )? The new columns went up over at The Outdoors Station after a week off.

The Bloggers Round Up can be found here

And the Podcast Round Up can be found here

Meanwhile Bob has also put up part 3 of this years TGOC podcasts. This covers day 3 of Bob and Andy's TGOC, and has some rather good interviews. One that particularly stands out is mine ^__^ Only joking, but you will hear me talk very briefly about my rescue, and I don't sound so bad this time (the OM Lakes podcast I sounded a right tit).

A Little Moan

Well it's nice outside, so just about to get up and get out with the muts. But it's typical the day planned to spend sometime with Nathan doing a film thing (Simpsons movie and Transformers movie with a pizza inbetween) it's good weather, and tomorrow is meant to be raining again! At least I won't feel guilty playing Pokemon Diamond tomorrow (Gotta Catch 'Em All ;) )

And for all those that missed it, Griff Rhys Jones was pimping his book - Mountains: Exploring Britain's High Places - that funnily enough goes along with the series Mountain, starting on Sunday, on the Simon Mayo radio program. You can catch it if you are quick by looking for the Daily Mayo podcast on itunes, and download it from there.

Since April I've been under a NDA, or more accurately I gave my word not to say anything until the deal was finalised. And when a friend trusts me enough to ask for feedback on something and to not "let the cat out of the bag", then I'm not going to let them down.

Well now I can talk about it, because over at Backpackinglight.co.uk they have introduced the Lightfoot socks to their product range.

I've been wearing these with Trail shoes, out with the dogs, putting them through their paces on longer walks(even got them wet deliberately walking in streams). And I like them. They have performed just as well as the more expensive brands out there.

When I've worn the X-Socks, I can feel they are different when on the feet. These socks don't have that feel, but they did fit my feet well. Sometimes with socks, they feel lose, and these felt snug. With Seal Skinz I've had damp feet, now I'm not sure of this is from my feet sweating or from water getting in. But with the Lightfoots (or should that be Lightfeet?) my feet have remained dry on very hot days, despite me sweating like a pig.

I would of happily taken these with me on the TGOC now, but I hadn't had them long enough at the time to have enough faith in them for the crossing. But since then I think I've used them enough to know that combined with Trail shoes I won't get blisters. So next year my choice of sock to take has just got more complicated.

If you are looking for decent walking socks that won't break the bank, then look at these. Because at £12.99 for two pairs they represent great value for money.

I'll definitely be getting some for Kate and Nathan (if he doesn't use mine, at the moment he has the same shoe size as me).

Tomorrow is a big day for Alan Sloman, as Alan comes to his journeys end.

Alan has raised an incredible amount of money so far for the Sue Ryder Charity. But there is still time to pop on over and donate some more money.

Well the first of the new Blog Round Up columns is up and running at it's new home The Outdoors Station.

As I type Podcast Bob is busily trying to get the Podcast Round Up ready as well.

So pop on over, have a read, let me know what you think either email me at whitespider1066 AT hotmail DOT co DOT uk (replace the AT with @, and the DOT with . , and no spaces between the words.) or leave a comment on this blog.

Got back in after doing the food shop this morning to find that Nathan as usual had opened a letter to me that looked interesting to him. Unfortunately it was the now almost legendary Podcast Bob's "Tarp Video"!! OMG it has been finished. I know this has been in the making for a while, and Bob is a very busy person juggling so many hats. And from conversations last week I knew Bob was putting the finishing touches to the video. But I'd forgotten all that, so was totally surprised to see it there in my hands. So there will be a lot of happy people today.

I'll watch it, and put a review up later.

It's been up and running now for over a week, but the "NEW" TGO website is open to all comers.

With a new look, all the latest outdoors news, editorial blogs, forums and much more, the new TGO website launches TGO into the market as an outdoors portal.

Which means they will be going head to head with the forty pound gorilla of the UK Outdoors websites OutdoorsMagic (OM).

Up until the relaunched TGO site, TGO had a topic area on the OM forums. TGO have said that  they would like to still keep the OM area going. But in reality how long will they be able to do this, AND keep their own forum going? At the moment it appears that TGO are spreading themselves a little thin, requiring the staff to be a "jack of all trades". And it is this limited resources, juggling many balls, that I feel sooner than later that they will drop the OM topic area to concentrate on their own website.

So where does this leave OM? Well with Trail/Country Walking and TGO now having their own forums, it splits their user base. So the amount of people that use OM on a regular basis will drop. And it is this user generated content that brings people back. And without the user generated content attracting people then they have no reason to visit.

However OM are introducing a new user submitted routes section. And it is this that demonstrates some of OM's problems. This route section has taken forever to develop (about two years IIRC). In the meantime sites like Trail, WalkingWorld, have had a big lead building up content, and even TGO (they have a thread for favourite routes) even have a little lead of a couple of weeks. In the internet age you can't take two years to introduce new features, if you do you are dead in the water. The only saving grace for OM has been that Trail has been too slow developing it's own site, and TGO has only just started. Or to put it another way the competition just hasn't got it's act together either.

It will be interesting to watch from the sidelines to see who is the victor. OM are too slow in doing stuff, TGO haven't invested in resources, and Trail haven't even got a proper home yet. In the meantime you dear reader have three forums to choose from. Find the one that is right for you. You are the resource they are fighting for, as that attracts the advertisers. And advertisers mean money for them.

If you are having problems finding the forums on the TGO site, there is a link at the bottom of the page. Already on there you will see the TGO staff regularly posting on there, along with outdoors celebrities Steve Perry, Podcast Bob and Andy Howell.

Alan Sloman has reached Kylesku, which means he has done 90% of his Lands End to John O'Groat's (LEJOG) walk.

As if doing a LEJOG isn't enough he also completed a TGOC as part of his LEJOG, and then crossed back East to West to pick up his route again. Along the way Alan also bumped into a very Royal personage.

If you haven't been following his blog pop on over it makes great reading.

Don't forget you can still donate to the Sue Ryder charity that Alan is raising funds for by doing this LEJOG.

Will be a section entitled "City Walks". Which is described as "A voyage around the UK's great urban spaces". Apparently this will be 32 pages in length.

So one to keep an eye out for tomorrow if this sort of thing floats your boat.

I've had a quick look at the Walkingworld.com and without signing up yet, it looks like to get anything more than the free samples that Walkingworld.com gives to new members, it has to be paid for either with a year long subscription (which The Guardian has arranged a special rate on) or on an individual basis ie per route.

As regular readers of this blog will know, I have been trying to blag a press pass to the up and coming Harrogate '07 Show. Why? So I can get a sneak peak at all the new lovely outdoors toys that will be available for purchase next year.

Sadly while I was away experiencing the excellent hospitality of our Gaelic cousins a press release came out:

"In these rapidly changing market conditions the OIA’s major trade event in Harrogate has come under real pressure. So much so, that last week it was decided the best course of action is to cancel outdoorpreview 2007. The show reached a point where it was no longer seen as a viable marketing tool for those brands that were still supporting it and so we believe we should take a step back to re-examine the issue of trade exhibitions and how they can meet the needs of a fragmented trade.

Whilst the process of change has been high of the agenda of the OIA for many years, at a recent meeting of the OIA Executive Council, the decision was taken to specifically address the issues of the Association’s relevance and responsiveness within the changing dynamics of our sector. In meeting the challenges of change, recognising the need to continue being proactive, and provide services and benefits that have real meaning to today’s businesses, the OIA Council will be meeting again in early June when far reaching discussions will take place that will have implications in moving the association and the trade forward, and provide continuity and cohesion. Information on the development of this new strategy will be released next month.

We would like to encourage the trade as a whole, not just OIA members, to offer their views on what the OIA could and should provide to ensure the long term benefit of the UK outdoor leisure industry. As such we would welcome all constructive comments in advance of our crucial meeting on the 7^th June. Please email to the address below.

For more information, please contact Roger Southcott on roger AT go-outdoors DOT org DOT uk" (replace the AT with @, and the DOT with .)

So looks like my bit of fun has been spoilt. Personally I think they should have a public day as well as trade days. But we will have to wait and see what they come up with.