June 6/6
Having watched GBV's (girlbikevan) video I thought I'd embrace the "It's a holiday not a race" spirit and LSMS (Take Slightly More Stuff) this month. I have the new SMD Deschutes to try out and I knew the perfect spot. This is on the farm where I rent a lock-up so I text the landowner to check it was ok (didin't pay anything so within the rules) and also to make sure they weren't going to be out rabbit shooting as getting shot at might take the edge off.
Extra kit/stuff I took which I normally don't have included;
Stove, ti pot, collapsible mug, ti bottle opener, bottle of ale
(first time I've taken beer on a bivi although I have stopped at a pub on the way before) porridge for breakfast, chocolate coated pretzels (these are amazing and I had to leave half the pack at home as it's impossible to stop once you've eaten one) sleeping bag instead of quilt, change of clothes to sleep in and the mini-tripod/phone holder/bluetooth shutter switch - picture taken with this new setup is on the photo thread and I am really pleased with the results, I'll be using it again.
I set out post dinner which was Mexican (the wife left me ready-meals to put in the oven as she was going to the Isle of Wight Festival) and a quick add up of the calories on the packets says 1500kcal! That kind of calorie intake of Mexican food followed by riding could be considered race training but I think it was just me being greedy
It was a leisurely ride (15 miles) to the farm, stopped by my lock-up to fill up a collapsible water carrier and use the facilities and then up the valley to my spot. It was dry but getting cooler. I chose a location that was slightly sheltered but not too much as I wanted see how the Deschutes coped in the wind. I could always move if necessary. Once set up and with my kit sorted (which included the repaired mat which had let me down, literally, on the HT550) I opened my beer and started on the pretzels, all very civilized
At about 10:30 I text the wife to say it was getting dark and I was going to turn in. There was also a slight drizzle. After about 10 minutes in my bag the drizzle stopped, the clouds cleared and it got light again, full moon
I slept well in the new shelter, I clipped the net of my bivi bag up to one of the loops which holds the doors back and this kept the net off my face. I didn't bother setting an alarm (it's not a race) but was awake at 07:00 as it was light. With one of the doors open I cooked my breakfast from by bag without setting light to anything
I had an ASDA porridge pot. When I packed this the night before I was concerned that the foil lid would get damaged so I had a rummage in the recycling bin in the kitchen for something to cover it. I found the lid of a Seriously Spreadable cheese pot which it turns out is such an exact fit that it clips onto the top of the porridge pot. I will be using this again and it is now stashed with the bivi kit
As I ate breakfast it started to rain so I delayed packing up to see if any would come in to the tarp but I remained dry.
Packing up was easy and I didn't get wet at all either. I had my new mini groundsheet/mat to kneel on* and that and the extra space made packing away a doddle. I even had space to put my waterproof on once everything else was packed up. Took the Deschutes down and headed down the valley for home. I went a different way down to the road from the way up the night before and I didn't really know where the track went. It turns out it wasn't the one I thought it was but it was going downhill and toward the road. I came to a gate which I had to lift the bike over so I may have strayed into a neighbors farm but no one noticed. In addition I came across a sheep laid on it's back so good job I had gone the wrong way. It was in a shallow wheel rut on a slope and I guess it had slipped over** and of course they cant get back up. I stopped and rolled it back onto it's feet and it ran off without even a thank you*** The rest of the journey home was less eventful apart from it was chucking it down. Luckily the wife went to the festival again as within an hour of getting hoe I had every door in the house decorated with drying/airing kit
That's 6 out of 6 for me and it couldn't have been more different from last months near hypothermic shivering on a cold bothy floor
*On the Saturday I had the sewing machine and fabric out for a new project and the wife asked if I knew where the sitting mats were so she could take it to the festival. I made these some years back and it's just a square of cordura which is hemmed all round. I said I could go one better and cut a square of lightweight groundsheet material which didn't even need hemming. It was 600x600mm so that should weight 33g
I was so impressed I cut one for myself. It folds down to nothing and will be coming on all future trips.
** I nearly slid off the track on the bike myself. Perhaps if the sheep didn't sub standard all over it they wouldn't fall over?
*** The wife says sheep cant talk and that's why it didn't say thanks but a baa would have done.