Update: Based on authentic Australian swag designs and with input from our years of experience camping in swags, Wild Canvas, makers of tents, yurts and canvas products have begun producing these for sale in the UK & Europe – as far as I know they are the only Australian swags available to buy in Europe. Available from www.australianswags.co.uk
The Australian swag is a tough durable bedroll that can hold your sleeping bag and blankets and has a built in mattress. It can withstand heavy rain and simply rolls up to go – perfect for Landrover camping without the need for a full tent. although made for the Australian bush as demonstrated by Ray Mears here, it’s just as good in our climate and conditions, we just don’t need the scorpion-proofing as much, and thankfully so – one of the great delights about UK camping is the complete lack of dangerous insects and animals! No excuse not to Get Out & Stay Out as much as you can then. But the thick, solid canvas serves to keep out windy and rainy weather, and we have just as good a night sky as the southern hemisphere, and this is the way to enjoy it – for almost 3 seasons if the weather’s clear a swag can get you sleeping out under the stars in style and comfort – it’s THE way to go in my opinion. Just throw it in the back of your Landrover and your ready to go anywhere, stay anywhere! Here’s a video of a test of a genuine imported Australian swag from www.theaussieshop.co.uk:
Just got back from a short but great trip on the River Wye – The Landy coped perfectly well when carrying the 16ft Canadian “open canoe”. The canoe was strapped to the Rollbar and then to the rear hoop and then front and rear with ropes to the towbar and front tubular bumper: Rock solid and it’s a very aerodynamic shape so in fact made the Defender Hicap somewhat more stable in a straighline! It sat directly over the army issue desert tarp cover I use on the back hoops – I use this instead of the standard canvas or PVC hoods – I prefer this as it’s open to the elements but still provides enough cover even in heavy rain. It’s also easy to remove in seconds with a system of loops and ties using paracord – the real stuff taken from an army parachute which is incredibly strong, not the fake ‘paracord’ you can buy – important as this needs to take some strain at 50-60mph!
The hicap pickup flat bed obviously had more than enough room for any gear and paddles, life vests and my australian ’swag’ bedroll (whose native home is in the back if a pickup (or “Ute” as the aussies call them…) of course.
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Minimal gear this time - swag and 2 bags ready on the tailgate.
Arrived at the put-in point at Kerne Bridge.
"Hawkeye" Rich - describing all the the wildlife he's seeing up front
"Campfire Kev" steering in the back.
Gathering firewood at dusk
LOTS of firewood...
Morning at the Camp, Symonds Yat Canyon
Using the half-burnt logs from the previous nights fire to get it going again - a spark from a firesteel and a bit of blowing till it glows, then drop on some dry grass and it's away...
Getting the fire going again... Rain in the air...
And here's the rain....
"do you think it'll last?" "it's just a shower, let's wait it out..."
Really Big Rain kicked in about 9am... we waited for the Kelly to boil from under the shelter...
Hot Coffee... out of the rain... no problem...
Caption Not Required...
Still Raining... more coffee on...
The Shelter rigged to the canoe, propped with a paddle, simple and effective: only needed a single peg into the bank to stay up as the canoe provides the support.
The Crusader mug in use....
"hmmm, this rain is lasting for a while, lets have some breakfast..."
A cup of Oats...
Porridge cooking in the Crusader mug... straight on the fire.
We were a bit short of water so collected water running off teh shelter to top up - a litre gathered within about 10 minutes.
We'll move when the rain stops....
It didn't stop so we got back on the river....
Stopped under an old iron pontoon bridge, 'WWII style' and got the Kelly fired up again, wet-through, we needed more hot tea....
Getting the Kelly Going....
approaching the get-out point at Symonds Yat West
Thoroughly soaked, but completely invigorated.
Loaded up, the end of a great trip on the Wye.
Let's Go.
Back over the Severn Bridge towards Bristol, the rain finally did stop!
