I don’t have a garden. I also don’t have any intention of giving up the BAM thing until such times as health issues dictate or it becomes a chore. On that note, almost immediately after my retirement in 2017, a heart-related health issue forced me to abandon the endurance event cycling plans I'd made. I don’t mind admitting that, as a consequence, I grew pretty depressed for a while. I’m lucky enough, however, that my condition isn’t serious enough to prevent me cycling regularly but it has forced me to reduce the intensity of those rides. As luck would have it, I chanced upon this site and learned that here was an alternative kind of cycling activity that would tie in nicely with my love of the hills/mountains and wild camping but with no real emphasis on speed. Since then I’ve done three consecutive years’ worth of BAMs. Over that period, when at times my mojo level has dipped for various reasons, I’ve found BAM has provided an excellent incentive to load up and get out there despite everything. I should add that striving to keep up the BAM series (the getting out there amongst nature, the solitude, etc.) has done my mental well-being a power of good.
So… to the Covid-19 lockdown situation we find ourselves in (again). The current Scottish rules state - ‘You can travel for local outdoor sport or exercise such as meeting another person, walking, cycling, golf or running that starts and finishes at the same place (which can be up to 5 miles from the boundary of your local authority area), as long as you abide by the rules on meeting other households.’ That’s absolutely not a problem for me and, in fact, when I’ve been riding I’ve been alone and staying far closer to home than the above wording allows. Notably, there’s no express reference to overnight camping in there (because nobody’s mad enough to do that at this time of year, right?) and therefore, while I’m adhering to the above, once a month I will be breaking up a two-day exercise ‘block’ with a solo overnight camp in between.
Lest anyone think I’m a Covid-denier or just flagrantly disregarding the rules, I can assure them that couldn’t be further from the truth. Apart from my stepson and his live-in girlfriend who came to ours on Christmas Day and the long-suffering Mrs G, I have not spoken to any friends or family face to face since the 18th December. Being retired, I’ve been able to stay at home most of the time, only venturing out for a bike ride or a walk around my local area. Much more regrettably, I have not been able to see my two twenty-something kids (who live in South Wales and whom I love dearly) since last January due to the various travel restrictions. That has been hard to bear since normally I would see them at least 5 or 6 times a year, either here or down in Wales.
Now that’s out of the way… Phew! I hear you say… on Friday evening at around 7.30 p.m I rode just short of 5 miles into Dalmeny Estate on the western outskirts of Edinburgh. My objective was the remains of the former wartime coastal defence positions where I’d spent a night in January of last year. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t see a soul on my ride in. On arrival I found that the floor of the building I’d used last time was wet due to a leaking roof so I moved to a nearby one that was pretty much bone dry. It also turned out to be better placed to block the biting westerly wind. It was a cold, crisp night (reaching -2, according to the weather folk) but quite pleasant once I’d got the warm gear on and got settled in. By the way, I‘m currently enduring the Dry January thing so no real beer for me this time. Instead, I settled for a couple of BrewDog Punk AF cans. Nothing like the real deal but not too bad as these things go.
Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr
Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr
Untitled by Jimmy G, on FlickrIn the morning, after I’d had ‘breakfast in bed’, I reluctantly prised myself from the warmth of my sleeping bag, packed up then stashed my bike before exploring the surrounding woodland, searching for other potential future bivvy sites. A successful mission, I might add.
Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr
Dry January by Jimmy G, on FlickrI then had a spin around some of the estate’s beaches before re-joining the trails leading homewards, made easier since the many patches of mud I’d squelched through the night before had frozen overnight.
Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr
Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr
Untitled by Jimmy G, on FlickrIt’s clear to see from earlier comments on this forum how emotive the whole issue of bivvying outdoors and the perception that others might be willfully flouting the Covid rules, has become. I fully understand why feelings can run high here and, for that reason, whilst I will be continuing my BAM 2021 challenge I won’t be posting any further reports on here until the dust settles, so to speak, and the rules are less restrictive. I'm comfortable with the stance I've taken and rest assured that I’ll be riding solo, staying within my local authority area and will be doing so in a manner that presents no risk to mine or anyone else’s health.
Apologies again for the ramble but, self-indulgent or not, I feel better for getting it out.
I must stress the intention of my post was absolutely not to start a debate on the whole subject. Quite the contrary since it’s pretty clear to me how people’s opinions vary on this emotive matter and I'm seeking neither approval nor condemnation. I don’t recall pretending that the nature of my intended activity will adhere 100% to the current laws. I guess that makes us both lawbreakers then.
Hope he makes it
