Great. For the newbies (or am I the only one?) are there guidelines to follow in setting GRs? Like how many, and how far apart? Can BaM be incorporated? Do they all have to be done? Do they have to be done in one weekend or one trip? I'm sure the answers are somewhere above or in the links, but just...

Brilliant. I've got a bottle of Bearfaced from the brother-in-law waiting for dry January (stupid idea) to be over.

BNJ was indeed lovely. Black Bottle is a good blend of Islay malts including Bunnahabhain, or so I read once.

60% will be one of their specials. I wouldn't know about that.

This is good, if you've not seen it.


https://youtu.be/T_SaUGyPgyk?si=x10iM0SZzX1yHwzF

I was introduced to Bowmore many years ago and it's still my favourite, along with Ledaig which has recently come on the market again.

Had three Bowmore miniatures last year which were 12, 15 and 18 year olds I think. The difference was striking.

Amazing! Judo?

...allow a bit of meths to spill onto the tin lid and light this - it speeds up flare time considerably Like how the whisperlite works by the sounds of it (pump up bottle, release some petrol into the cup, CLOSE VALVE, light and let burn to warm the stove, then open valve to release fuel as it dies...

Good looking pitch there Dave. Liking the idea of an extra sleeping bag instead of bivvy bag - will keep that in mind. Here's to more dry nights.

Cool, thanks, got this mug which is 95mm wide.

https://www.weirdosonbikes.com/product/ ... -saucepan/

Mytimug looks very similar so should be good.

https://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/ ... ths-stove/

This one? Does the mug/pot just sit on top? I've got a windshield.

The insurance company were very nice about it afterwards to be fair.

What's the current meths stove of choice? Used to use a trangia for Ten Tors; these days I've got my trusty MSR whisperlite using unleaded petrol but it's a bit of a faff.

Like maybe one day riding alot of the day, but the next one riding most of the evening/night to get back up the calories/fluids etc. Could this work? A Sudanese colleague always maintained that Ramadan shouldn't interfere with work or study, but I think he stopped playing football for the month. It...

Thanks for that. Huge respect. Can't help with the Dales Divide but I fasted for one day with my students at the start of Ramadan last year and that was an eye opener. Late afternoon I found myself driving with no idea where I was supposed to be going.

I know you said missing fasting isn't an option but, genuine question, is it possible to defer a couple of days? Or is that just for health reasons?

It's remarkable, isn't it. 'Yep, I could totally sleep there' when viewing a car park, bush, cairn, bridge, bus shelter, uprooted tree, abandoned portakabin etc. It's like narcoleptic parkour.

Liking the...blanket? scarf? A good night to be out because it's about to get colder!

That brings to mind some kind of dystopian Eisentein-esque film of a darkly lit ruined hospital with dolls heads and half teddy bears lying around... I think I might know where you mean - 'ware the neds!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosslynlee_Hospital?wprov=sfla1This is the one he was talking ab...

Thar she blows. https://i.postimg.cc/QdfS2Kbp/PXL-20240114-073327030-NIGHT.jpg Built between 1723 and 1727, Scotland's first Palladian villa. It's since fallen into disrepair and been securely fenced off. Got round that by having the spot I'd spotted outside the fence. Cunning, you'll agree. https:/...

In any case, you can't hit a tortoise with an arrow :lol

Turkey is high on the list. That looks ace.

Something like that

Also, bumped into a chap walking his dog who mentioned another potential spot; an abandoned hospital, complete with children's toys last time he was there.

Ooh, teaser alert :smile: . Intrigued... https://i.postimg.cc/vZggwQ8C/PXL-20240113-115457084.jpg Recce done - was a bit worried about the fence but turns out that won't be a problem. My method, such as it is, is to scan Google maps on satellite view for areas of woodland, see if anyone has uploade...

Aiming for Saturday and a palladian mansion no less (recce needed).

Great stuff

I'm not keen on riding in the dark or the cold, in fact I'm not that keen on bivvying either....

I think it was established last year that daytime bivvies are acceptable if you work nights. Just a thought.