Bivvy a Month 2025

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Mr G
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2024 5:41 pm
Location: Isle of Man

Re: Bivvy a Month 2025

Post by Mr G »

Count me in. January bivi in a dark sky area on the Isle of Man ( which is pretty dark). Wimped out with tent this time
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fatbikephil
Posts: 7173
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
Location: Fife
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Re: Bivvy a Month 2025

Post by fatbikephil »

:-bd Numbers creeping up!
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NeilA
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2019 7:14 am
Location: Near Worcester

Re: Bivvy a Month 2025

Post by NeilA »

Winter Event 25 and BAM 1 Feb... 2 of 2, 38 of 38
Planned a solitary one, ended up a tremendous trio!!


Arrived late to the party, set off after midday.
Fortunately was able to catch Ben for a prearranged purchase of a nice down gillet. Thank you Ben, love it :-bd
Following my intended anti clock route of Stuart's OS points, I slowly clocked up miles as reluctant muscles warmed.
I enjoyed my first experience of using Komoot, viewing the route on the mobile, enveloped in its new case( a beautiful bodge by me!), firmly handlebar mounted.
After Aberangell, scenery changed to forest, with rising ascent.

At the 9 mile mark I virtually collided with several mountain bikers who appeared out of the corner of my eye, from my left. A cacophony of shouting and a very loud bell greeted my presence. In shock I responded, instantly recognising a couple of BAM legends, none other than Reg (RIP) and Lu (Frog at the Farriers).
Now I am seconded as crew member :o .

..............................................The crew: Neil, Reg, Lu.....................................................
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Ironically there had been prior discussion with Reg about joining the guys for this event!!

................................................One for the Cow...............................................................
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With plenty of banter we head on a magical mystical tour, courtesy of Reg, who seems able to navigate while rarely consulting a map!

................................Our kit at a potential Bivvy spot up in the forest.........................................
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Through the forest and a forever uphill slog we inched towards Corris, with a brief interlude hunting for a mine entrance, hidden somewhere in thick foliage. A future visit for Reg beckons!

...............................................Reg in a quiet moment! ........................................................
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Then it was downhill, and at the edge of Corris, another distraction, viewing a slate mine of some distinction, and local infrastructure geared towards slate transportation. Very interesting too.

..................................................Slate mine entrance..........................................................
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....................................................The Seat of Legends........................................................
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Now in Corris, as light faded, we viewed a cracking potential camp spot, a junior football pitch.
Much as was written in the scriptures we entered the portals of the Slaters Arms for beer and a meal.
Now I faced my contemporaries for lots of conversation, food and a plan for an early escape to a magical pub far away in the dark. My fear of how much the team can drink crept in!!

Two pints fuelled us easily uphill to suss Reg's proposed first choice camp spot. I am bound to 'official secrets' regarding the building!!!
At that stage no luck with access, but the pub impatiently awaited our arrival.
So we sat by the open fire in a ‘bound to secrecy pub’, more beer flowing. I was smitten, Reg had sung its praises, which indeed all came true, a veritable alternative place for alternative peeps, hosted by an affable and talkative landlord. We played out a live interactive crime scene, gleaning evidence from our victim (who lost the padlock keys!!) eventually leading to said person finding them attached to the padlock securing our bikes!! Fortunately four phone calls to our previous pub saved a monumental effort in retracing our steps.
We even reached a whisky period much later on.
Now time was short so we left with half notions where sleep would fall.

Over to my colleague’s account of how things panned out.
I will say, I wasn't happy sleeping within the building with my bike outside, so I set up my bivvy bag etc to sleep on a nice patch of grass.
Fortunately Lu scoured the building and discovered another door was openable from inside.
He called me to join them.
All bikes were now in the building.

Gratefully I set up in a bedroom which looked like the officers quarter area!
Thankfully a cold cold night passed us by and sleep came easy in our abject luxury.

..........................................A Reg 5* experience...................................................
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Next morn, an earlyish and quick make up led us to cycle not too far to a bike park and cafe (see Reg’s account of his famed contacts!).
A cracking resource, for those who like going downwards.
We jested about our presence in amongst virtual aliens. It seemed they were threatened by our demeanour and obvious hard core set ups :YMAPPLAUSE: .
Another early escape to a safe haven for Boners, the White Lion hotel in Mach for a super brekky.

...............................................Lu about to tuck in.............................................
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From here it was all lovely (he said), brushing over the many slogs and looooong uphills, but all in mostly good weather, and far further than I envisaged, both on and off road. Our pace dropped somewhat, but the resolve to continue never waned, faced with considerable ascent!!
We did experience a 3 person gate open/close procedure which would do justice on a You Tube video, featuring three hapless bikers!
The last leg was downhill as befits any Winter Event.
We were near as damn it last time wise, so were lavished plenty of attention from Stuart and Dee. Dee presented me with the largest chunk of gluten free chocolate cake ever. Thank you it was so gorgeous although I was tripping on the drive home!!
Thank you Stuart and Dee for organising this great event :-bd
And thank you Reg and Lu for an unforgettable trip :X
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