Ok ok, I'll take some ice cubes..

G&Ts just aren't the same without them.

Landslide wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:55 pm

Ok ok, I'll take some ice cubes..

G&Ts just aren't the same without them.

Steven Wright one-liner: "I like to tease my houseplants. I water them with ice-cubes......"

February BAM done last night.

A bit too warm.

It rained a lot.....

Ew, it did... I know this and I was indoors. Where did you go?

In the woods between 2 singing streams...

No people for miles

Went for a bike ride. Didn't wear any leg, knee or arm warmers.


Felt nice to be out on the bike, although the rear mech cable is knackered and it wouldn't change gear properly. Spent most of both rides doing bunny hops, or kicking the mech to get to to change down.


Slept in the garden.


Was borderline too warm again, not sure what's going on. Let too much air out of the pillow, so had a pretty restless night.


Thankfully the roads were nice an quiet on Sunday morning.


I nearly continued for another ten miles or so, but after three hours of fasted riding, I was ready for breakfast.


Nice to see my painted stones are now being moved around the village footpaths.


2021 BaM: 2/2
Streak: 14
Strava:
https://www.strava.com/activities/4819484252
https://www.strava.com/activities/4822887810

21st February, and finally it had stopped being either baltic or raining - finally a mild, dry day with a hint of spring in the air - perfect for my February BAM.
I was heading out just after nine - last minute and just as I was getting changed I noticed the sound of it raining quite hard outside, so I quickly chucked on some waterproof trousers.
If I'd stopped to think for another couple of minutes, I probably wouldn't have gone...
IMG_20210221_214323 by Verena Zimmer, on Flickr
After three very soggy miles I arrived at my chosen spot, private woodland with owner's permission, where I had planned on going for my January BAM.
I had various plans for where to put up my hammock, either near the badger set in the hope I might catch a glimpse, or on the eastern edge so I'd get a nice view of the sunrise. Being as soggy I was, I didn't care about badgers or non existent sunrises and headed for the nearest reasonably sheltered spot I could find.
After what felt like an unusual amount of faffing, I was all set up, even more soggy and briefly doubting my sanity, but as soon as I had ducked under and inside the tarp, hopped up onto the hammock and opened my can of IPA, I was happy as Larry. Love a bit of rainy forest sounds. IMG_20210221_221703 by Verena Zimmer, on Flickr
The usual waking up a few times feeling a bit cold, but otherwise oh so comfy in the hammock, and the added lines on the tarp after last time made a big difference.
Heard some owls in the night, and one other bird I didn't recognize,
Then quite the dawn chorus, spring is definitely on the way.
Quick brew and porridge and then home. IMG_20210222_065834 by Verena Zimmer, on Flickr
IMG_20210222_070746 by Verena Zimmer, on Flickr
On the way back at around seven, I met a man walking his three spaniels towards me. He and two of them passed me fine, but the third was frightened, and first ran away ahead of me and away from his owner, then refused to even pass me when I stopped, absolutely terrified poor thing. Must have been my bright fluorescents - either that or my morning breath
2/12

Thoughts for February:
*Always check how full your gas canister is before you start
*I need to remember to let a little air out of my new pillow
*Siren Death By Caribbean Chocolate Cake is rather good
*Nut butter makes porridge quite good when you don't add too much water in the first place



2021 BAM 2/12
2021 total bivvies 2
Current streak (months) 27

Landslide wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:32 pm Siren Death By Caribbean Chocolate Cake is rather good

Well you've answered my earlier question there thank you: "beer flavoured cake or cake flavoured beer"... just need the beer flavoured cake bit of the arrangement now. There's even a white choc version I see.

Blimey, that's not a cheap beer is it. 9.1% though I suppose

Call me old fashioned but when did craft beer start being produced in cans?

At least 7 years now. Much better than glass bottles for yer outdoor beer enthusiast.

PaulB2 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:06 pm Call me old fashioned but when did craft beer start being produced in cans?

Yes I'm still finding that odd. Not having drunk beer for a few years.

Verena wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:31 pm

PaulB2 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:06 pm Call me old fashioned but when did craft beer start being produced in cans?

Yes I'm still finding that odd. Not having drunk beer for a few years.

Blame those colonials I reckon, US habit .

Landslide wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:37 pm At least 7 years now. Much better than glass bottles for yer outdoor beer enthusiast.

If they solved the issue of everything tasting tinny then it makes a lot of sense.

RIP wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:39 pm

Verena wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:31 pm

PaulB2 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:06 pm Call me old fashioned but when did craft beer start being produced in cans?

Yes I'm still finding that odd. Not having drunk beer for a few years.

Blame those colonials I reckon, US habit .

I mostly stuck to bottled beer in the US, I drank a lot of Sam Adams Summer Ale over the years.

Wham BAM thank you mam! I’ve finally managed 12 in a row.

Nipped out last night for a spin round the moonlit hills followed by a very good night’s sleep, despite the clear skies, pulsating moon and chilly temps. The forecast was so settled I opted to do without a tarp and awoke late to a beautiful frosty morning.

It was so amazingly beautiful that my early morning bimble was broken by frequent stops to pick my jaw off the floor and wonder at it all.

That’s 12 in a row and 2/12 for 2021.

Gorgeous!!!

I'm just starting to think about a St Davids day themed garden bivvy on Monday... complete with daffodils, leaks, Welsh cakes and Glamorgan sausages....

...mug of Penderyn...

Charliecres wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:06 pm Wham BAM thank you mam! I’ve finally managed 12 in a row.

Wow, great pix ... well done you.

I'll be sleeping in the garden again tomorrow night to keep my uninterrupted string of one BAM in a row so far running . Forecast is for a comfortable night in my hammock with intermittent beer and a chance of a steak sandwich.

Somebody give that man a badge!

The weather is so amazing I had to go out again. Took this while I ate a truffled cheddar sandwich sat on the roof of a WW2 pill box above Netley House near Shere. There’s a memorial on the slope below to one of the sons of the then owner, who was killed in WW1. In the fields opposite, behind Shere, is the spot where they built an MDF cottage for Cameron Diaz in the Holiday.

ScotRoutes wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 2:44 pm Somebody give that man a badge!

There's a beer and steak sammich badge?

Landslide wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 6:35 pm

ScotRoutes wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 2:44 pm Somebody give that man a badge!

There's a beer and steak sammich badge?

Perhaps there should be. I'd be ordering one a week ... probably have to start a quilt.

@charliecres I know EXACTLY where you munched that truffled cheddar sarnie ... lovely spot and I've sat there a few times many years ago to suck back a gel or gag my way through an energy bar. Nice one fella.

Snuck out late last night to a local spot, managed to get tarp set up and ready for bed all by moonlight. Could almost read the label on my beer bottle. Side note: every day is a school day - bottles can be opened with an SPD cleat if required, easier if the shoe is not being worn at the time.

Didn’t sleep that well due to said moonlight but was treated to an extended dawn chorus and watched the valley slowly fill with light burning off the frost.

2/2 for 2021.