So El Capitan has decreed 16/17 December as the winter bivvy night. I was speaking with Sam earlier this week and he's insisting we stay at his field again. I'm well up for that as the shepherd's hut, round house and wood shed mean most of us can leave shelters at home. It's early days, so all we need at this point is someone to volunteer to put the route together. James put it up last year and we can do that again easily enough - in fact, Id be happy with that too.

Who's in?

I'm a maybe. Won't be able to confirm till very close to the weekend unfortunately

I'd love to be there but we're away in Lapland for Xmas from the following Friday so i might need to use that weekend to sort stuff out

Thanks Tim for organising it, a top weekend last year. "In" please. Thank you to Sam too obv. Ah yes, the famous woodshed - got a vivid memory of lying next to Javi who'd chosen the underside of the giant lawnmower to keep his head dry; don't try it at home kids :). The pub people were very accommodating of a bunch of filthy bikers, or are you thinking of "self catering"? Potnoodles and a barrel from Chiltern Brewery in the roundhouse!? :).

'Reg'

The pub people were very accommodating of a bunch of filthy bikers, or are you thinking of "self catering"?

I'm thinking we might have a BBQ. Nice big open fire. Selection of meats on the grill. Vegie option. Couple of of pot noodles for the traditionalists.

TheBrownDog wrote:Nice big open fire...pot noodles for the traditionalists.

Pot Noodle, eh? Sounds tempting.
Can I bring my nice big axe to go with the big fire?
And fireworks? One massive one each?


Incidentally, did we do the route last year? I recall a lot of standing about in the rain, followed by some dithering when we realised some of us were lost with no directions/phone signal/phone numbers/clue about what was going on .

All the hallmarks of a successful bikepacking trip .

I'll be well for up joining this years winter sojourn, the dreaded 'Noro Bottom Burps' got the better of me last year, trust me, you wouldn't have wanted me around !!!

I know the trails quite well around Berko and out towards Princes Risborough so would be happy to help with a route nearer the time.

Excellent. We're approaching critical mass.

I dont remember much of the route last year either. I remember a lot of standing about in the rain as the group elastic stretched and finally snapped and then lots of desperate searching for phone signals and Garmin reference points, a bit of a giggle when we turned up at the wrong pub and then deep relief when we finally got it right.

Sam has penty of axes at the field but, Pete, you're very welcome to play Head Lumberjack if you wish. Hey, I think we might have our theme!

We could just repeat the exact same route and see if, against all probability, we can get through it without any problems

Tim! You old scoundrel, you.

"I say...welcome to the Chilterns winter bivvy. There will be fireworks later my dear: of that you can be sure."

Gawd I've not watched a T-T film for ages, brilliant! Think I might dress as T-T look-alike.

You BBB rotters are an absolute SHOWER....

Ding...dong....I'm up for this, getting more sociable as I get older. Cravat compulsory ?

................ PEDANTS(*) CORNER ....................

I'm duty bound to point out that 'Ding Dong' was in fact one of Leslie Phillips's catchphrases rather than one of T-T's. Be that as it may, will be good to see you BDS , interested to see your post-WRT 'new improved' setup.

(*) Yes yes, I know: "PEDANT'S CORNER". Or possibly even "PEDANTS' CORNER" if anyone else can be remotely arsed to join in and be pedantic about my pedantry.
(**) actually, hoist by my own pedantry, it probably is just PEDANTS since strictly speaking Stu owns the corner within which we may avail ourselves of pedantry. Then again I did chip in a bit to the website costs last year so I might claim squatters rights over the PC bit of it thereby reinstating the possessive-apostrophe option. Er.

You've forgotten the medication again, eh Reg?

Sam's not sure sure about the fireworks on account of the very local locals, but he will ask. He's also going to join the ride this year - he's rebuilt his Troll as a 650B+ monster which Ive yet to check out, but he's an ace wrench and I bet the wheels are primo.

Right. Time for fajitas.

Yep! Where the hell did I put my dried-frog pills?

Unable to join you this year as going to Iceland that weekend (Country not supermarket!).

Enjoyed the warming coffee at the bonus pub and Sam's wood last year.

Stay dry.

Kevin

'Country not supermarket' . A cracking prior engagement.

Talking of prior engagements, one is reminded of Peter Cook's response to David Frost's ('The Bubonic Plagiarist' ) invitation to his dinner party (including Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew et al) : "Hang on I'll just check my diary..... oh dear, I find I'm watching television that night". Classic.

Iceland, December. Now that should be pretty damn character-building. The times I went it was early September and that was quiiiiiiite nippy sometimes in my little Lichfield tunnel tent.

Might I be permitted to join your happy throng again this year?

Pickers wrote:Might I be permitted to join your happy throng again this year?

More the merrier. In fact we need a proper score for the post pub squealing brake pad chorus. This year, we must film it.

I'm tempted by this...

...it's basically the time away for me as the Welsh bivvy, but on decent roads! Plus, I'm also kinda sick of mid / north Wales after doing the Cambrian Trail this year.

I am pencilling this in! Thanks for organising!

I'm 50:50 between this and Wales.

I would be really keen to join in with this. Don't know the trails well around that area at all, so would be great to explore different pastures close by

Welcome to the madhouse James. So now we have JamesO and JamesH in BBB Chilterns "subgroup" - could make for momentary confusion during "it's your round, James"

I'm reeling from Richard's mid-Wales slur and confused by the fact Zippy's considering giving up the fireside seat, buxom barmaid and yurt ... in favour of cold, wet and windy