Bivvy a Month 2024

[frogatthefarriers]

I'd left my bum bag at home with my wallet and heart meds

Of course you did!!

I've still got my glasses though - that's a win..

[gecko76]

So this was a repeat. Approach from a different direction, they said.

It wasn't locked in January.
From the other side, just to make sure.

That sorted, on and up and nobody home so made comfortable.

My mum passed away on Tuesday night and the last few months have been hard but she went peacefully and the candle was for her which I kept burning for as long as I could.

[MuddyPete]

... the candle was for her which I kept burning for as long as I could.

Lovely thought .
Look after yourself

[Blackhound]

I'm out, my 34 month run over. Somehow not suitably motivated this week.

I may try again next year although thinking of doing some more audax rides and I have struggled to find time to do both.

[Blackhound]

Sorry to hear Gecko, take care.

[dorsetshirelad]

Cullen Skint
It looks tasty and sustaining on a cold night frogatthefarriers. You've inspired me to give it a go.

[NeilA]

BAM 30 Nov... 11 of 11, 35 of 35
Tarpology Basha style
Last minute jobbie. Planned to go on top of the hills and test the tarp to its max.
While heading up the hills I ran out of time to camp that day, if sticking to the plan, so dived in a small quarry on the side of the hills.
Glad I did cos putting up something for the first time reveals failings in kit available and ones own appreciation and skill level!
The Basha is bullet proof but heavy too so was difficult to tension. Satisfied I had got some form of shelter i lay on top of my sleep bag eating a bar of liqourice (i ate my specially stored bar of choccie for BAM during a prior evening of weakness) and enjoying whisky.
Sleep didnt come easily but enjoyed the feeling of a robust roof above me.
Then the rain came heavily and stayed through to morn.
My set up did not survive in a quiet area let alone the windy tops above.
The poles had slipped or dug in the ground and some pegs pulled. But i had remained dry within its confines.
Basha is slightly larger than my Alpkit 3.5 Tarp, so plan to use it for the Winter Event. Well pleased with it and excellent value for the money.
I know what I want to achieve with Basha and fortunately earlier in the same day as my camp all the components to secure a taut set up were ordered from Stuart.
Must have a theory/practical Basha session in the garden before December BAM. And get some proper miles in the tank in the meantime.

[fatbikephil]

Sorry to hear about your Mum Gecko, a fitting tribute.

Well I survived my November Bivvy although it was looking a bit marginal at one point. I'd meant to head out on Friday night but the weather looked better for Sat / Sun(!), plus I got distracted by a motorbike....

It was dry as I left the house with stars showing, but by the time I'd entered Glendevon woods there was a hint of rain in the air. Same spot as Feb, March and July. I was a mite concerned that the stiff south westerly might make it a bit drafty but when I got there it seemed OK so got pitched up. Haute cuisine followed (B-in-B pasta and smoked sausage) and a few beers. By this time it was blowing a gale although it wasn't too bad in my spot, just noisy! I figured whisky would help me sleep, which it did.

Until 2.30am when I woke up to the sound of torrential rain and even more wind. I had a quick look around under the tarp and all seemed well, apart from a few drops of rain on the bivvy bag. I checked the weather forecast to get an idea of how long this would last. According to the beeb it was to be light winds and light rain until 6 I contemplated abandoning wood, but I wanted to do a decent ride in the area the next day so buried my head under the pillow and tried to sleep. Which I did, once the rain eased off after about an hour. I eventually surfaced at 9.30 so actually a pretty good kip all in all. A quick check suggested all was dry, bag-wise so I made tea, ate sausage and cheese then departed.



A perfect gap for the wind to blow in....

I headed to Auchterarder via various easy trails for a Co-op meal deal (I am now a member, wonder if they will sponsor me?) then it was off onto new ground.



Riding the good stuff.

After a lengthy climb on a good track, I rode through this lot and contemplated my next moves.



This was where I wanted to get to but how? I managed to get into the forest and found an old track down to a nice little pond. Windblow blocked one end but I picked my way round to another forest track, up which I ground for a view of lots of low cloud. A bit of nose following then got me onto a new track through a load of carbon credit scam forestry that went in a couple of years ago then more tracks and trails back to where I'd been earlier. Home via a usual route.

I was glad to get that one in, at the last minute. That's about the only crap weather I've had on a bivvy all year so I can't complain. So much for a sub-zero bivvy, it was 13 degrees today!

[frogatthefarriers]

Cullen Skint
It looks tasty and sustaining on a cold night frogatthefarriers. You've inspired me to give it a go.

Thanks. It’s certainly sustaining. I made the mistake of leaving the potato water, so with fishy milk and water it was a bit watery. And there was a lot of it - filled an Alpkit 1.2L pot. By the time it was gone I was as full as a tick.

Washing the milky cooking pot was a challenge. I must have used more water washing up, than cooking

[Bearlegged]

Last week saw me head off to the woods for my monthly bivvy. A mild front had seen off the recent snows, and all that was left felt very autumnal rather than wintery.

A very restful and restorative night out, even if sleep was the usual series of slightly unfulfilling naps.
Nice to tick this one off, as it meant 72 months - 6 bloomin' years - in a row. Need to get the December bivvy sorted now to tick off the calendar year too.

Pics: https://www.instagram.com/p/DDEjIWnt5Pt/?img_index=1

2024 BAM 11/12
2024 total bivvies 11
Current streak (months) 72

[RIP]

Nearly at the quarter century there 'Legs. Then in the blink of an eye you'll be getting your telegram from King Stuart for the Big One .

[Verena]

See SWWB.

The more often I look at this photo, taken in the morning at some point, the more I think, that looks pretty wet, considering we're in a fairly enclosed shelter

See how many bivvy bags you can spot... plus there's the one I'm in... pretty cosy eh? Like sardines in a tin....

IMG_20241207_065253 by Verena Zimmer, on Flickr

[RIP]

Also see SWWB .

12/12, 12/12, 109/109

Hadn't really got high hopes for this year initially but looking back it's actually been a lot of fun with some fairly bonkers outings so that just goes to show something or other.

Winter Event around Nant-y-Moch with an amazing underground waterwheel visit (nice one Stuart) and bivvy at the icy Borth visitor centre; Llangollen area kipping on Pontcysyllte aqueduct, and free canapes and fine wine at Lu's mate's bistro then kipping in their store shed; 100th BaM in the Peaks with Kev Blackhound and Bear including Sex Pistols Expose gigpacking in Stoke, kipping in a graveyard then a soggy playground; WRT with lots of nice people; fantastic North Wales Slate Tour with Lu, sleeping in an incredible 13thC chapel then in plain sight on Criccieth seafront; random railway station wanderings; head-spinning Black Country Brumpacking with Pickers with trams, trains, buses and barges; a spooky graveyard with Verena; a local monster barn in the snow with MuddyPete; and finally this ridiculously barmy SWWB. I salute and sympathise with anyone who's put up with my company .

No high hopes for next year but no doubt I'll be proved wrong yet again...

[fatbikephil]

Well done Reg, Verena and Sean - first completions

[Verena]

Well I dropped off months ago, but oddly this weekend has definitely resparked my BAMojo

[Bearlegged]

I'm sat with my back against a tree, its trunk sheltering me from the brisk breeze blowing through this wee glade. I can hear spots of rain falling here and there, pitter pattering on the ground, but in the lea of this wise old beech I stay dry.

The journey here was quiet and gentle. Not too much evidence of recent storms right up until the last few meters where I found my path blocked by fallen branches. A little bit of path clearing, and I've enough of a gap to straggle through.

I make my bed first. I've brought extra shelter this time, the Deschutes providing extra protection against the wind and the light rain. Once pitched, I turn my attentions to an evening meal. It would probably be fair to accuse me of having pudding first, my customary can of stout being a caramel fudge variety from Kees Brouwerij in the Netherlands, which I sup while my stew rehydrates.

A fairly typical night follows. A couple of hours of deep slumber, followed by several more of light dozing. The wind gets up a bit during the night, and boughs and branches creak above me.

As the sky lightens, I strike camp, stuff everything into its respective bags, and head back down the hill.
That's 6 whole calendar years of bivvy-a-month. Maybe not the ideal night to get out, but glad I did.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDmz752NHz4/

2024 BAM 12/12
2024 total bivvies 12
Current streak (months) 73

[Verena]

6 whole years, that's impressive, congratulations

[fatbikephil]

Done, on the Scottish Winter Bivvy
12/12!

[Tractionman]

That's a poetic piece @Bearlegged -- poignant.

Cheers,

Keith

[JimmyG]

Done, on the Scottish Winter Bivvy
12/12!

Ditto! That's 84 consecutive months. Now looking forward to Year 8!

[gecko76]

Done, on the Scottish Winter Bivvy
12/12!

Ditto!

Me too

[RIP]

Top work 'Legs, here's to the next six

Looking forward to tales of derring-do and, er, drams from the SWB...

[Blackhound]

Well done on six years Bearlegged. Enjoying the adventures.

[javatime]

BAM December done, 12/12 for me in 2024 and maybe another badge on the bag

Back to local on the Severn again, but squeezed tightly into early Christmas family weekends etc as we are heading off to Europe until the New Year tomorrow.
These trips have been really good during a difficult year, clear the head and return refreshed !
Had a convivial evening in the pub in Littleton with an ex work mate, surprised it was open with food too on a midweek evening despite there being just us two there later at 9.30pm.

Las Vegas comes to Olveston enroute - I expect there is a bit of pressure to "keep up with the Jones's"



Oldbury power station lurking, the Forest of Dean in clouds



Always impressed by the bridge, Severn Beach's answer to The Golden Gate.

[MuddyPete]

... the boozer is a Greene King one which I'm unable to patronise on religious grounds .

Perhaps this is more to sir's liking...

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/d ... -pub-chain