BAM07, 7 out of 7 for me. This was on the Yorkshire Dales as part of my (failed) YD300 ITT.

I set up just before midnight and was up by 4:20 and breakfasted, coffeed and away by just after 5:00. This was my first bivi off the Island and the location was really good even if the ride didn't turn out as originally planned. This was also my first time riding in the Dales which looking back was also really good even if a day of riding in the pouring rain didn't seem so at the time.

RIP wrote:...'circumnavigate Stevenage'...

Proof one may find peace and tranquility in the unlikeliest of places. Good route choice Reg; you should do this for a living . The picture of the more retro-tastic members of the troupe standing next to the "Old School" sign outside the old school was one of those rare planets-coming-into-alignment moments.

The highlight for me was seeing the helmet-less two-year-old being plonked onto her petrol-powered quad bike , although we didn't linger to see the outcome.

Once you mentioned to the farmer you were looking forward to the "Smashed avocado on sourdough toast, accompanied by a small cappuccino with indulgent quantities of chocolate sprinkles" for breakfast, he seemed content we were not itinerant ne'er-do-wells considering taking up permanent residence in his field. The line "We got a bit lost on the way back from the pub" seemed to help too and is recommended as the opening gambit whenever one finds oneself on a bit of a sticky wicket.

Good stuff Reg, sounds like a good trip

Having had a wedding filled weekend on Friday and Saturday I managed to take today off work too and do the last part of the South Downs Way with my cousin who was over from Canada for the wedding

He'd never bivvied before (although does plenty of outdoors stuff). Walking trip rather than on the bike, great weather. 40 miles over 2 days, on the train home now, feeling absolutely shattered! And very sweaty!!

Cheers Ben, hopefully see you later in the year - got an idea for Welwyn area, easy train from your place

Pete's apposite sign: (might have one made and stick it on the bike)


Here's the new patented "portable tussocks" in action: (Missed a turning and swerved over a newly-mown field to get back on track )

RIP wrote:Cheers Ben, hopefully see you later in the year - got an idea for Welwyn area, easy train from your place

Very easy train, though Welwyn is rideable from home too (used to commute to WGC once a week)

Either way I'm game, and I'm much clearer post August

Ha .. good pics : ) Reg Gummage there, looking stylish And you got my post ditch-bomb 'I'm sure my bars weren't at this angle before..' moment. Must check bolts a couple of rides after fitting new stuff..

Thanks Chris, was a great route. Really nice byways among corn fields and quiet areas. Good to meet Si and Pete too, cheers to all for making it happen. Wasn't too bad meeting the farmer at 4.30am either Another time Ben, well worth it and I'm keen to explore a bit more in that area.

It's a month late but here's the write up of my June bivvy a month, just need to actually get out this month now!

http://www.blaircaldwell.co.uk/single-p ... o-Be-There

Blair512 wrote:It's a month late but here's the write up of my June bivvy a month, just need to actually get out this month now!

http://www.blaircaldwell.co.uk/single-p ... o-Be-There

Good one - not made it up to the top of the land art sculpture hill at St. Ninians so must make the effort as its just up the road from me. If you haven't already done it from 'muchty there is a nice route up to Glenduckie via various core paths where you can join the Fife coastal path which provides some nice riding to Newport.

And July : http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2017/07/so-low.html

This one's a bit photo-heavy but includes the new South Loch Ness Trail, a nice link route between the Cairngorms and the HT550 and an idea for a loop of the Monadliath.

It confirmed that my long-term fitness is on the wane - though that seems to match my enthusiasm at the moment too

Enjoyed that Colin, my enthusiasm has all but disappeared the last month or 2, hoping it reappears soon !

Good one Colin - isn't the lack of enthusiasm called the Scottish summer?!

htrider wrote:Good one Colin - isn't the lack of enthusiasm called the Scottish summer?!

I do think that contributes to the depression side of things. It seems we wait ages for the better/warmer weather, then it's suddenly July and half the year has gone....

Rainy
7/7 For me, I ignored the forecast and headed out. First success was getting out the door at 44lb all in. That might be heavy for some but it's a rohloff equipped ECR im hoping to drop some more with bike and kit upgrades, under 40lb is looking possible.
The plan had been to head up the Oxford canal and join the grand union ( my new job is located next to the grand union) however the heavens opened big time so I bailed early and set up next to a feeder lake. The telemark2 was rigged in a few minutes and I sat watching the weather.
I've taken to rigging the door of the telemark2 tarp style, your supposed to remove 3 of the corner poles and slot them together but usually I use the bike or a stick.
I was impressed how the tent held up in the very heavy rain and wind, at under a kilo I don't think I'll be switching to a tarp anytime soon, at the WRT I was set up and laying down on my mat before most had rigged tarps so it's quick as well.
The plan was to continue in the morning but I was woken by a phone call at 3am, my wife was ill and needed to go in for tests, I packed up in record time using my phone as a light, thankfully I'd re-rigged my dyno light the night before and managed to find a road despite being half blind due to packing my glasses with the tent.
My wife was fine ( false alarm) so all in all an exciting evening
Untitled by steve norris, on Flickr

The light which saved the day/night

Got out for a road based bivvy on Saturday night, glad I took the road bike now as the chain stay on the mountain bike snapped on my commute tonight! Write up to follow in due course, 7/7 for this year and now 20 months on the trot, I'm quite taken with this bikepacking malarky!

BAM 2017 - July
7 of 7
Running out of time in the month again, decided the best night would be after work's Burger social night.
So a late start after a decidedly average burger from a supposedly 'Handmade' burger chain and a beer too many, I pedaled off into the night.
I headed up to the same spot I used in Jan, not quite the route I had planned as it was thwarted by some big gates. Apparently QuinetiQ didn't want me riding across some cheeky heathland, so had to settle for a longer road section.



Just as well I'd packed the tarp as the Lookout I was planning to hide under was fenced off due to repair works, but I did mean I'd get to use my new Carbon Pole-a-Bear (thanks Artie Fufkin ).
So pitched up in the trees next door, must of rained over night as the tarp and the bike where wet.




Woke up later than expected, so a quick pack up and then to ride to work via some new sections and reversed previously ridden bits.
Fun bits of heathland, scarcely used bridleways getting stung to bits but the nettles, ground beaten up by the horse riders and lots of interesting 'never knew this was here'. Amazing what you can find virtually on your (work) doorstep.



Having got back to the office, I thought I'd crack on and replace the now rattling rear wheel bearings, to find I was lucky I didn't suffer an exploding tyre!!
That wasn't the only dodgy looking spot on the tyre!!

7 0f 7 .,... possibly the crapest bivi this year So full of new bike joy i finally get to take my new Ramin for a blast loaded up its first proper ride other than poncing around my road adding bits and fettling.

As i'd had a v busy July time was running short and blessed as i am to live on the coast i headed for the dunes. Now for the last 5 years ive ridden nowt but a fat bike and thought my new plus bike toy would handle the same!!! How wrong could i be, blasting through the dunes at my normal pace not paying attention to what line i take the Ramin bit back and chucked me off over the bars into nice soft patch of nettles!

Anywho i get up dust myself off and head for the beach with a very sore stingy leg.

My first indication that things could only get worse was the ominous grey sky rolling in


Not paying a jot of attention to the weather and having ditched some important kit at home i plodded on up the beach and towards my potential spot for the night.

I wanted a sea view so headed up high into the dunes and onto the ridge line and found a cracking spot


My view was lush and after clearing away some debris i pulled the bike up the bank and set to work setting up camp for the night



Cant see the bike so i was happy


Nearly ready for bed



So having settled in and all ready eaten at home i had a few swallows of night night juice from the magic silver flask of wellness and drifted off

Around midnight all hell had broken loose and i was now regretting some life choices id made... 1: No tarp, 2: no torch 3: had only brought my old crap waterproofs.

Stuck under a tree in what i thought was the biblical flood coming for Noah and his animals i was stuck getting soaked, The rain was hammering down with no sign of let up, my bivi bag held out till around 4amish and by 5 i had enough light to pack up and trudge home wet and miserable.

I have to say i do love a good welsh summer .... still a bad day out on the bike getting wet is better than a good day at work

On a positive note i am impressed with the ramin, for the money i dont think you can go wrong and for some longer trips i have planned i think its gonna be great. Ive added Jones bars, changed the rear cassette to a 10 speed with 42T, i'm thinking i may change the brakes and put bigger rotors on, but for the price and the stunning color is not a bad wee ride

7/7
A quick excursion round the wilds of thetford forest to try out the myog Costco under quilt (Which needs a dam site more down in it to do the job). Would like to have headed further afield but potential house moves eating up lots of free time.

Your picture makes me feel sick Al.

I'm amazed I didn't fall out in the night.

Not sure why it did that - its the right way up when I view it on my phone ?!?

Enjoyed that scribation RKB - you seem to specialise in interesting 'character-building' outings . It was so beautifully described I felt I was actually 'there'. Although I must admit it was even more enjoyable because in reality I'm 'here' - in a nice warm kitchen whilst leisurely consuming a spot of tea and toast . With 'three fruit' marmalade as it happens. Am liking the 'ensemble' stealth livery too .

Another last minute doorstep bivvy on 27th July. I headed out from home after work for an easy ride up through Hayfield and onto the slopes above Kinder Reservoir to a spot in Broad Clough I'd earmarked a while back. It looked really scenic but the reality was loads of midges and very lumpy ground! It's amazing how loud a stream can be too.
I got to try out my new Cumulus 250 quilt which proved to be really comfy and plenty warm. More comfortable than a sleeping bag for a fidgety sleeper like me too.
Up at 430 to get home and into work at 700, for a caffeine fuelled yawn of a day.
7 out of 7.

FlatlandAl wrote:

IMG_2771.JPG

7/7
A quick excursion round the wilds of thetford forest to try out the myog Costco under quilt (Which needs a dam site more down in it to do the job). Would like to have headed further afield but potential house moves eating up lots of free time.

I've used one of those quilts when bivvying the last couple of months, found it plenty warm as long as I have a base layer on. Think I'll sew some kind of foot box into it but apart from that it's great for summer use

Blair512 wrote:

FlatlandAl wrote:

IMG_2771.JPG

7/7
A quick excursion round the wilds of thetford forest to try out the myog Costco under quilt (Which needs a dam site more down in it to do the job). Would like to have headed further afield but potential house moves eating up lots of free time.

I've used one of those quilts when bivvying the last couple of months, found it plenty warm as long as I have a base layer on. Think I'll sew some kind of foot box into it but apart from that it's great for summer use

I am under no illusions about being a big girl - I sleep fairly cold.
When I made the under quilt I took about 1/4 of the width off and ripped the vertical seems out which does help it loft better. I want to see if I can pick up some cheap down - tk maxx pillows always worth a look - to over stuff it a bit.

7 out of 7 months of Bivi a month's in 2017

15th with 6 wild camps with SummitToppler over in Iceland.

Looking pretty clean shaven there John for being out in the wilds of Iceland :)