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Post by whollygoats on Apr 1, 2017 16:39:52 GMT
Fair enough, although that site also says never to drink tap water and never to go barefoot. I think it's addressing the most risky countries! Agreed. But for most diabetics, particularly insulin-dependent ones, the going barefoot warning is universal. And, from what I understand, even variant tap water can upset some travelers, even though it might be considered 'safe'. Across Asia, we were persistently nagged about it and, when it was ignored, it was obvious. (I ate an apple without peeling it...which why I barfed on the Great Wall of China. Tap water has the same effect.) The one which amuses me is the insistence that I carry all the testing materials. Here in the US, all that stuff that they insist upon has spiraled in cost to insane levels and I've subsequently found that it's nice to have a few around and test occasionally, it is NOT NECESSARY for me to do that level of frequent testing. I carry the snacks and if I get light-headed, I eat. I carry the glucose tablets for acute incidents, but I've only used two in last four or five years. I will, however, be exerting myself more on this trip than I do in my normally torpid life, which will burn more energy and require more assiduous frequent refueling to avoid 'lows'. Which means I pack things like trail mixes, dried fruit, and 'energy bars'. I am NOT packing my CPAP in my carry-on...If I didn't have the CPAP, I might not need to check through. But since I'm supposed to have it, I obtained a travel version, which is still something of a mill-stone to drag around. And then there are hearing aid batteries.
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 1, 2017 16:43:32 GMT
Long ferry ride means I pack Dramamine.
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Post by Moose on Apr 1, 2017 19:40:03 GMT
When I first moved down South and drank Southern tap water it made me feel ill. Nasty stuff
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2017 0:23:07 GMT
When I was a kid we always drank water straight from the tap. We accepted the taste as there weren't any affordable alternatives. Though I've grown to dislike it. Nowadays it's bottled water everytime. Even filtered water has a nasty taste
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Post by Kye on Apr 2, 2017 1:00:51 GMT
I rarely drink plain water, but when I do it's straight from the tap.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2017 1:47:41 GMT
Tap water is not safe for me to drink
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Post by Kye on Apr 2, 2017 2:31:14 GMT
I know when I was in India, no one drank the water, not even the locals. When I was in Cambodia, I brushed my teeth with the tap water and ended up with a low-grade stomach upset that lasted for a couple of weeks. Nothing very terrible, but not really fun.
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 2, 2017 3:29:54 GMT
The tap water here where I live has been tested and found to have fewer contaminants, and is safer, than all bottled waters.
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Post by Moose on Apr 2, 2017 22:46:28 GMT
I am lucky, living in Cumbria, to now have access to good quality, clean tapwater.
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 2, 2017 23:35:35 GMT
From a remote mountain reservoir, I suspect. Is quality potable water a concern in the UK?
It can be in parts of the US, largely due to poor planning and lax environmental quality controls.
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Post by tangent on Apr 3, 2017 5:07:18 GMT
Is quality potable water a concern in the UK? We take drinkable water for granted in the UK, although the taste varies and is not always liked, especially in the Thames Valley. There are strict water standards with 99.96% compliance to those standards in England and Wales in 2016. However, that does mean there was 0.04% non-compliance and I found this interesting report from July 2013. And in January 2006, Welsh Water was fined ÂŁ60,000 for supplying water that caused consumer illness (cryptosporidiosis, diarrhoea). www.dwi.gov.uk/press-media/incidents-and-prosecutions/prosecution-record.pdfLead levels in Glasgow used to be quite high in the 1980s but standards have tightened considerably in the past 30 years. The standard for lead levels was reduced in 2008 from 25 to 10 micrograms per litre and there has been 99% compliance to that level since 2008.
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Post by Moose on Apr 3, 2017 18:03:08 GMT
Back to needles - Col went to the chemist earlier and asked. As I suspected, they apparently hemmed and hawed and didn't know. They did suggest that you register as a temporary patient at a local GPs and get needles that way, but they didn't know if the surgery would do that either. They did say that they thought you might end up paying quite a lot to get them as you would not get NHS rates
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Post by JoeP on Apr 3, 2017 18:25:14 GMT
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Post by Moose on Apr 3, 2017 18:38:38 GMT
That would work - we can take some here.
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 3, 2017 19:46:37 GMT
Nope...It's easier to carry the dual fistful of bundled syringes.
See...This is all the 'required' stuff I have to carry that means I change my garments less often because I have fewer of them.
"The Millstone" - a four-wheeled check-through suitcase.
"The Albatross" - a daypack; my carry-on.
The plan is to stow the Millstone at my 'camps' and take daily requirements (rain garments, lunch, snacks, maps, etc.) in the Albatross.
I'd rather save something like Moose's domicile for a laundry day. It's about half way through my itinerary.
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Post by Moose on Apr 3, 2017 21:51:07 GMT
We don't have a tumble dryer But it should - famous last words - but nice enough by that point that stuff will dry outside.
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Post by Moose on Apr 3, 2017 21:52:15 GMT
(for the record we can do laundry AND take delivery of syringes. It's not an either/or)
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 4, 2017 4:45:38 GMT
Well, I realize that, but I don't like to burden with too many favors and expectations.
And...Taking delivery of syringes? What will your postman think?
Asking about safe disposal will be an interesting re-occuring task.
"Excuse me, but do you have a sharps disposal?"
"Eh...A what?"
"Sharps disposal, for safe disposal of syringes and diabetic testing lancets."
"Uh...no."
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Post by Moose on Apr 4, 2017 18:27:56 GMT
Round here people just fling them in the street *eyeroll*
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Post by juju on Apr 10, 2017 9:29:58 GMT
So, Kelly... apologies for being absent from EF and not keeping up with this thread - can you tell me your itinerary in Wales?
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 10, 2017 18:43:16 GMT
I will fly out of PDX, via Vancouver and land at Heathrow late morning on April 21. It is my intent to proceed directly to Carmarthen, by rail. I'm booked for five nights at the Boar's Head Inn (birds of a feather, I guess) on Lammas street in central Carmarthen. From there, I'd planned on day tripping to the likes of St. David's, Mike's Donkey Farm, a local raptor attraction, maybe a shuttle in to Swansea to rubberneck on the double-deckers and select something there. What I'd really appreciate is some pointers from locals as to worthy sites that a foot/rail/bus bound tourist might reach from Carmarthen. A photo-op visit to the cromlech where you'd photographed Further Kye is distinctly in my itinerary.
I don't know how mobile you are, but if you have a motor vehicle, what I'd appreciate would be a shuttle to Aberystwyth after my stay in Carmarthen. I'd like to spend a couple days there and then on to Barmouth/Dolgellau, thence to Porthmadog/Portmerion, thence to Caernafon, Conwy/Colwyn Bay. I assume I'll be busing most of that, so any diversions from public transit would be supreme. Nothing set but my stay in Carmarthen; it is the only location I've booked in to, other than my final stay at Duxford and the tour to the Orkneys/Shetlands. After Wales, it's on to Man via the Liverpool Airport, with a return which should put me in Whitehaven on or near May 18. I have to be in Aberdeen to meet the ferry out on May 27.
So...You'll be seeing me shortly after my arrival in the UK. I will be confused and disoriented. I will probably also be tired and cranky. I will also probably sound rillyrilly funny trying to pronounce English place names, much less the stuff I see printed on the maps of Wales.....erm, Cymri. You'll need to give me some quick face-saving pronunciation lessons. Lessons, not lesions.
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Post by Moose on Apr 10, 2017 19:23:39 GMT
Oh I thought you were going to be in Whitehaven on about the 21st April? Not that it matters, I just might be wrong.
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Post by Moose on Apr 10, 2017 19:24:39 GMT
Nazz, where do you live? What's wrong with the water?
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 10, 2017 22:31:21 GMT
At this point, it seems like there are more 'tourist attractions'...aka 'tourist traps'...in the north of Wales than in Pembrokeshire and Dyfed. 'The Big Pit' is not w big draw for me. It looks like I'll be taking the train to go train around the Snowdonian peaks, a curiosity, in itself. And a castle or two, of course.
Oh...I've booked in to the airshow at the RAF Cosford Air Museum the weekend before I travel to my final 'camp' destination at Duxford. So, I was rather looking around to maybe book in to the area ahead of time. I looked on Google Maps at the region near the museum, from Wellington to Cosford, along the rail line to find hotels near rail stations. There's one in Shifnal, and one, sort of, in Wellington (but named 'Telford, and almost a mile from the station), but most of the ready access (close to the rail station) accommodations are in Telford. So be it; it looks a quick two-stop ride on the rail to the Cosford Station and a half-mile walk from the station. I'd so hoped to sleep in Wellington, but a Google Map look around makes it look on the 'seedy side', what with exotic dancer outlets, lots of food outlets and whatnot but no overnight accommodations.
ETA: I just booked in to the Ramada Inn Ironbridge Telford for that weekend. Figured I'd better get the jump on it if it attracts fly-bait like me.
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 11, 2017 0:23:21 GMT
Oh I thought you were going to be in Whitehaven on about the 21st April? Not that it matters, I just might be wrong. That's the date I land at Heathrow. Between Heathrow and Whitehaven is Carmarthen, Aberystwyth, Caernafon and Snowdonia, Liverpool Airport, Man, Liverpool Airport, and then to Whitehaven. All of Wales and Man with Liverpool Airport thrown in twice.
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Post by Sarah W. on Apr 11, 2017 16:49:47 GMT
Are you going to check out the iron bridge while you're there? First of its kind and quite impressive looking. Looks like you'd need a bus or something from where you're staying, though.
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 11, 2017 17:57:51 GMT
Are you going to check out the iron bridge while you're there? First of its kind and quite impressive looking. Looks like you'd need a bus or something from where you're staying, though. Dunno about the bridge, but probably. I'll train to Cosford, two stops down the line. The museum looks a short walk from the station there.
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 11, 2017 17:59:48 GMT
Wait...I just realized....Which 'iron bridge'? Where? I was under the impression you were talking about the 'iron bridge' presumably located at Telford Ironbridge.
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Post by Sarah W. on Apr 11, 2017 20:36:29 GMT
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Post by whollygoats on Apr 11, 2017 23:19:25 GMT
Ah. Not likely. At the Telford Ironbridge Ramada Inn, I'll be within a stone's throw of the Telford Central rail station, my ticket to get to Cosford. The iron bridge itself is some distance out of town in a different direction, not on a rail line, and a diversion from my purpose, so it will most likely make my itinerary only if a local kidnaps me and takes me there. It does look interesting, as iron bridges go.
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