A few questions about camping/touring in France

[patheticshark]

OK, I got the Trangia 25. However, I get stroppy in the morning without coffee. So I'm currently thinking take the Trangia for cooking on but also bring along my pocket rocket and a gas cannister for quick coffeeing in the morning. Reasonable?

 

[chrtho]

OK, I got the Trangia 25. However, I get stroppy in the morning without coffee. So I'm currently thinking take the Trangia for cooking on but also bring along my pocket rocket and a gas cannister for quick coffeeing in the morning. Reasonable?

The thing about Trangias is that they're stable enough and safe enough (flame is completely enclosed) to be left alone while you do something else, so by the time you've sorted out the mugs and coffee or nipped to the loo, the water will be boiling away.

 

[patheticshark]

Me again!

We are leaving tomorrow! Well, I've totally failed to buy any meths for the Trangia so still have no idea how it works, but at this point I've decided to abandon UK fuel plans as frankly it's too much hard work and buy some alcool â brûleur from a supermerche when we get there. Any tips on finding it once I'm in a French supermerche (beyond attempting to ask in rubbish french)?

Apart from that things are going quite well - I did find a flat route through the Pyrenees (admittedly it's around rather than through, but still) and amazingly we have managed to fit an obscene amount of kit into four panniers, including kindles, iPod speakers, a book of crosswords, large trangia and assorted cooking equipment, and on and off bike clothes appropriate for wet and dry weather from 5-40 degrees. Still not sure how we've managed it but c'est la vie.

 

[chrtho]

We are leaving tomorrow! Well, I've totally failed to buy any meths for the Trangia so still have no idea how it works, but at this point I've decided to abandon UK fuel plans as frankly it's too much hard work and buy some alcool â brûleur from a supermerche when we get there. Any tips on finding it once I'm in a French supermerche (beyond attempting to ask in rubbish french)?

You did the right thing - it's probably 1/10th of the price in France. It can usually be found in with the kitchen cleaning chemicals.

Hope you have a good trip and no cooking disasters.

 

[mark]

French supermarkets sell alcohol in 2 strengths, 50% and 90% alcohol. 50% won't burn, 90% will. Both are in the cleaning supply section of most supermarkets. Read the label and please do not ask how I learned this.

 

[patheticshark]

Excitingly I didn't see your post before we left, but we successfully set fire to stuff so all was well. I did end up taking both stoves which resulted in some frankly ridiculous three course meals, including chicken fajitas with a bean chilli, homemade guacamole and tortillas chips, coq au vin and chorizo y lomo con patatas bravas. But yeah, the Trangia was dead quick for coffee etc so no need for both really, but a fun luxury having two stoves.

Thanks for the help everyone!