David Wilson Out and About

18/02/2025

My new camera has arrived...
The DJI Pocket 3 with a larger 1-inch CMOS sensor, active tracking, and a 2" flip screen (to mention a few upgrades) is a beast compared to my old Pocket 2.

I have owned the DJI Pocket 2 since June 2020, and it has been (and still is) a marvellous camera, but it is time to sell it.

So, time to start familiarising myself with the settings and controls.

18/02/2025

I will be visiting Walmer on Friday the 21st of February for a walk between Walmer and Deal. Weather permitting, this should be a relaxing and enjoyable Kent coast walk. The route offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy watching the busy English Channel as well as to take advantage of numerous local seaside attractions. I planned on letting the train take the strain, but even with my senior railcard discount, this journey is £22 to £28. Also, the journey takes about 4 1⁄2 hours with 2 changes each way. This journey is an hour each way by car, there is free parking near Walmer Castle, and it will cost far less than £22 by car. I will not be filming inside Walmer or Deal Castle on this visit as it is half-term, and I need to familiarise myself with my new DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera. However, I intend to visit both English Heritage properties in the spring. I am (sort of) treating this walk as a recce, please let me know if you are interested in the history and video tours of each of these coastal defence castles.

16/02/2025

Two very tiring 12-hour shifts under my belt. A total of 25000 steps, 22.5 miles walked. Approximately 21 hours of the 24 standing time, and that is in between carrying out my duties. Now for my 12 days off, and tomorrow, I will rest before working on my next little outdoor adventure 😉

14/02/2025

I could not help myself, just bought another camera and kit to add to my every increasing arsenal 🤣

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo, Vlogging Camera with 1'' CMOS & 4K/120fps Video, 3-Axis Stabilization.

14/02/2025

Video Analytics.
I am pleasantly pleased with my latest video's performance in its first 24 hours,
176 views since it was published. 37.5 hours of watch time, which is 30% up on my last 3 videos.

As I often say, "onwards and upwards" 💪👍
https://youtu.be/9dDEq_ZkguI?si=w0DxYLxPlfOs4FAY

14/02/2025

Everyone needs regular access to nature - it’s vital for our physical and mental health. And to solve the climate and biodiversity crises we need to be better connected to the natural world.

Sign this petition from calling for access reform this election. We shouldn’t be shut out of our own country, or risk being told off for going for a swim! We need access for everyone.

14/02/2025

👍👍👍👍👍

13/02/2025

I am not sure having a massive chicken madras and chilli noodles while out on my walk was a good idea, but it tasted fantastic 🤣

Hi, I'm Dave (The Wandering Widower), welcome to my channel! ✅ If you haven’t already, please LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔️️️ COMMENT 💬 SHARE ↗️ Subscribing helps ...

13/02/2025

My latest video will be public on YouTube on the 13th of February 2025 at 08:00hrs.

12/02/2025

A lot going on in my next video. A woodland walk, drone flight, and cooking a hot meal.

12/02/2025

IN NEED OF FRESH AIR & MAKING A MEAL OF IT...
Not the best of days for a walk, but I really need to get out in nature for a mental reset.
Chicken Madras defrosted, Chilli Noodles cooked. A 650g meal all prepped for reheating in my SUV while on a woodland walk today.
(And yes, I will be taking my camera equipment and drones)

10/02/2025

PONDERING OVER MY OUTDOORSY FUTURE, THINGS I AM PLANNING IN THE BACKGROUND...

I may be on a short break from filming, but it does not stop me from planning adventures.

Over the past week, I have been doing a lot of thinking about what I am physically capable of in my current stage of Osteoarthritis. Shorter hikes and kayaking are still doable, however, longer hikes, backpacking, and wild camping are not. This year I want to get back into camping, although it will mainly be with my larger air tent kayak camping. In spring, I am planning a 4-day kayak/camping trip to Norfolk, predominantly paddling on the River Waveney. I will also be pitching up at the Basingstoke Canal campsite in Mytchett and paddling another section of the canal.

Now to my more ambitious plans. As I said earlier, it is no longer possible for me to carry a 10 to 15-kg backpack on a hike and wild camp. However, I met with a friend who co-manages a small woodland last weekend and obtained permission to wild camp in 10 acres of private woodlands. 10 aches is not a massive size, to put it into perspective, it is about 7.5 football pitches. Likewise, within this area, 8 clearings are easily reachable from my park up within this secure gated woods. Kneeling is one of my main issues, and although I would still be pitching one of my backpacking tents, I would also set up a large tarp shelter and have open fires within the woodland openings. I so miss the solitude and atmosphere of camping in dense woods, so I am looking forward to giving it a go again. If there are no issues during my first woodland camp, this could be a regular little spot for me as and when I want a local wild camp without the hassle of having to hide away. I can also pitch up at different locations within the woods, chopping (processing) wood and cooking over an open fire. I may not video all these nights under the stars, but cooking, having a cold beer, and putting the world to rights around an open fire may be of interest to some of my followers!

Osteoarthritis may dampen my spirit, but I will not let it beat me 🦵💪👊

Photos are of past adventures out on Dartmoor, a woodland camp, and kayak camping at Coniston Lake in Cumbria.

09/02/2025

Get 25% off my David Wilson Out and About merchandise. This offer runs for 14 days from the 9th of February 2025.

https://david-wilson-out-and-about.myspreadshop.co.uk/all

07/02/2025

I raised my spirit last night by teaching my second lesson in an ongoing series on Knife Attack countermeasures. I recorded this session as a reference so I can pick up where I left off at the next lesson, and I will be producing a highlights video for my students as a reminder of the movements and techniques studied. OK, this highlights video has no place on my outdoorsy YouTube channel, but I also have a martial arts YouTube channel housing training videos which I have neglected since being stuck down with OA.
https://www.youtube.com//featured

06/02/2025

I am struggling to get motivated to produce content for my YouTube channel at the moment, and I did not even get out on my planned walk this morning. One cold after the other, the continual pain and mobility issues from Osteoarthritis (OA), and the recent weather have left me down and dispirited. My channel viewing figures are slightly down, and I have lost a few subscribers recently. This could be down to me producing a few food videos, or perhaps my recent content over the past few months has not been interesting enough. To this end, I need to take a break from my regular content uploads to my channel to find my mojo again. This does not mean I will not be getting out in nature, quite the opposite, it just means I want time to enjoy my time outdoors without the pressures of planning, filming, and producing a video. From planning to publishing, many of my videos take up a lot of time and energy, often over 40 hours. What I will do, is take a camera out with me, nothing planned, and just record if I feel like it. So, until the end of February, no planned videos, maybe the odd video, maybe not.

I will still be planning outings in the background but with no particular schedule for recording. Hopefully, my energy and enthusiasm to plan and upload regular content will return soon.

Love and peace to you all, Dave.

05/02/2025

Armed with two drones and several other cameras, I will be taking a six to 8 km stroll at Farningham Woods tomorrow. Although local, the last time I visited these Woods was during lockdown in 2020. During this walk (provided I am not challenged) I plan on getting some aerial footage with views from the woods towards Horton Kirby, Farningham Village, and Dartford.

Opened by Sir David Attenborough in September 1986, Farningham Woods Nature Reserve sits atop a hill just to the north of Farningham village, and commands views over the Kent countryside all the way to Dartford to the north and Sevenoaks to the south.

A Site of Special Scientific Interest, Farningham Woods is one of the most valuable areas of woodland in Kent. A healthy 168 acres in size, it is home to the Small-Leaved Lime, a rare tree that is only found on one other site in Kent, and several other unusual plants, including the largest British colony of the nationally rare Deptford Pink.

The unusual remoteness and peaceful nature of the woods mean that it is a great place for quiet walks, and as such has quickly become a local favourite besides being a distinctive local landmark.

04/02/2025

BATCH COOK TUESDAY:
🐔Chicken & Mushroom Madras...
Still resting my knees and back after two twelve-hour shifts at work last weekend. To help me relax, I thought I would knock up a hot and spicy curry. Three 600g portions, one for tonight, two for the freezer.

I plan on going on a short (6km) woodland walk on Thursday, and I will also be getting my drone up. While filming, I will be heating a curry and rice meal in my 12/240v lunch box to eat on my return to my car.