A trio of white horses..

Out for another huge mileage weekend ride-out over the weekend, this time all the way out to Pewsey, clocking up nearly 50 miles all round! Not exactly the arse numbing distances we need to get used to, but it was the first time out with the new tent, new lid, both sets of new panniers and it was a bit of an equipment experiment rather than a major trek out.

Cherhill white horse - with some cunning photoshoppery to get us both in the frame without the aid of a handy photographer to take it for us.

The new Vango Omega 350 breathes fresh air for the first time under the view of Pewsey white horse. Immediate impressions of the tent are good, nice and quick to put up, with nice smooth poles and quality hooks and fastenings. Only time, weather and abuse will see how rugged it turns out to be, but with a pack size easily stowable on the bike it's looking good so far.

Note Paula's new Held Takato lid on the bars which also seems to be going down well so far. As are the Touratech panniers with vango pillow on - real luxury!

A few pints of local Wadworths ale, a camp stove fry up and a healthy all day walk later, we rode past Devizes white horse on the way home to complete the trio. We came to the following conclusions:

- top opening panniers are a pain in the arse when you just strapped a pack over the top of them

- we still need to carry much less stuff (we took pretty much all we would on the Morocco tour)

- oversize 3-4 season sleeping bags and thick self-inflating sleeping mats make for a great sleep, but I reckon practically double the size of our kit!

I was hoping to not take my top box to Morocco, just take panniers and a tail pack, but what with the bulk of my camera, it looks like it will be coming along after all. As big as the TT panniers are there's just enough things that are too long or wide to go in them .. but we will see. Another trip to Wales in a couple of weeks, so we'll try again.

Meanwhile, kit wise - I've been stretching my Sidi's out using some Collonil Leather stretching spray - really good stuff and a handy product to know about if you have extra wide feet like mine.

Paula managed to flog her two pairs of boots on eBay (the Frank Thomas and Daytona's) for a little more than she paid for them, more than likely with her eyes locked on some Altberg Hoggs.

She also picked up some Hein Gericke trousers which look nice, simple and quality, in all black with her black jacket and mostly black helmet she's looking just as much like Darth Vader as I have started to look like a stormtrooper!?

Good times..