Gear for Sleeping Outdoors

Whether you’re camping or backpacking, how can you increase the odds (n.机会) that you’ll sleep soundly in the outdoors? A good start is to have the right gear:

·Car camping bags are typically cut wider, offering homelike and more roll-around room but less efficiency for retaining body heat (not so good on extra-chilly nights).Some rectangular (adj.长方形的) styles can be unzipped (adj.未拉上拉链的) to use as a quilt on milder nights.

·Backpacking bags are mummy shaped for a closer, warmer fit, and are usually lighter in weight. Many are filled with goose or duck down, which compresses (v.压缩) more readily than synthetic( adj.合成的) fill.

Sleeping pad: There are three types of sleeping pads — self-inflating (adj.充气的), air and closed-cell foam (n.泡沫塑料). When car camping, weight is not an issue, so you can enjoy a thicker, wider pad or mattress for comfort. When backpacking, weight is crucial, so a super-lightweight air pad or closed-cell pad may be your first choice.

Pillows: Bring one from home or use a small foam or inflatable camp pillow. Some sleeping bags have a pocket to hold a pillow or folded up clothing, such as a down jacket or fleece sweater.

Eye mask and earplugs: Eye masks are especially helpful when camping in northern latitudes (n.纬度) in summer or in campgrounds with surrounding light. Earplugs block out noises ranging from your tent mate’s snoring to rustling sounds in the bushes.

A Fantastic Round Trip Rail Tour of Scotland

※9 days

※$2,395 per person (Travel insurance is not included in the price but can be arranged.)

Special offer

Book a qualifying 2023 escorted(导游陪同) rail tour and save up to $250 per person. Book by November 24, 2022, so that your vacation start or end can be arranged to meet your travel needs.

About the tour

Lakes and valleys, as well as castles and islands, wait for our discovery as we travel through the beautiful island of Scotland. The explorations begin in Edinburgh, where we can explore freely before traveling to Glasgow. In Glasgow, we board the famous West Highland Line and travel along lakes, past mountains, and through unique villages. Leaving the mainland, we journey by ferryboat to the Isle of Mull and enjoy a visit to an ancient castle and authentic Scotch whiskey(威士忌酒). Then, we enjoy highlights such as Neptune’s Staircase, a cruise of Loch Linnhe, a ride aboard the Jacobite Steam Train. and the legendary Loc h Ness. One final train ride, the Kyle Line, takes us to Kyle of Lochalsh, where we visit the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle. After returning to Edinburgh, we can enjoy more representative views.

Highlights

·Three scenic rail excursions(短途旅行)

·Isle of Mull including Duart Castle

·Whiskey tasting

·Visits to Eilean Donan Castle

What’s included

Last week, I went to Montpellier in the south of France for an exam. So this trip was for business, not pleasure. However, I was looking forward to seeing some of my friends, who studied in Paul Valéry University in Montpellier. I was quite happy to go to Montpellier because it was a part of France that I hadn’t seen before. Upon arriving there, I was greeted at the train station by one of my friends. We decided to go for a walk to Place de la Comédie before heading to our exam. Then, we received a text message from our lecturer saying that the exam had been cancelled. I was initially furious because I had travelled three hours from Toulouse for no purpose.

After venting our anger, my friend and I decided to go to the nearest shopping centre — the Odysseum. I enjoyed my time here, especially since my friends took me to the aquarium there, and I picked up even more French words for sea creatures like a sea lion. Also we joked around a bit whilst there, so my journey to Montpellier wasn’t totally without purpose. After this, we went to Pizza Pino for lunch in the Odysseum. However, after that it was time to indulge in a secret passion of mine — shopping. I loved the shops in the Odysseum but I remembered after buying a new shirt for work and gloves that I need to save money for going home.

So I asked my friends to show me some of the sites, like Place de la Comédie. My favourite site of the whole trip must have been the Arc de Triomphe that is in Montpellier. My reason for this is that behind the Arc is a park area with an aqueduct at the top and an area to stand. From here, my friends and I watched the sunset before I had to go back to Toulouse. Overall, my trip wasn’t a total waste. I had a great day in Montpellier with my friends and learnt some new words in French!