You know you're not like normal people when you think to yourself 'better get my bivi in whilst the cold weather is still here'
It looks like it's going to be warm and wet again down here next week and a busy weekend schedule means a school-night bivi. I put my thermometer outside on the recycling bin and it was -3 at 8pm at home.... that should do then
Headed for a woods just outside Newport I've used before but that was on the opposite side so over half a mile from my target spot. I'd noticed on Google earth that an area appeared to have a patch of fir trees and it is also furthest away from the car park so too far for the early morning dog walkers. I'd done a sort-of recce on Monday as I rode home past the area and could see the tops of the pines sticking up behind the broad-leaf at the edge so decided it would be fine.
The ride there was uneventful, easy spinning as I'd wrapped up warm and didn't want to get sweaty but on the singlespeed it's tricky not to get to hot on any climbs so had to open some zips at some points. I cut through the industrial estate in Newport as one of the units used to have a giant display on the front with the temperature and I wondered what it was like in town, but it seems to be gone now
I'd guess it was just above freezing in the built-up areas. Out along the cycle path to Cowes that runs parallel to the river and noticeably colder here. I had considered a bivi along this section but I think that would be very cold with the icy wind blowing off the river... I'll save that for summer.
Turned off the cycle path at Vestas' state of the art development and research center (wind turbines) which is right next door to the old cement works which were first used in the 1840s, also at the cutting edge at the time. As I rode up the road towards the main road I noticed there were a few camper vans parked up, as the road is quite wide but also a dead end I guess it's an out of the way spot to park up. I could see the glow of lights peeping out around the edges of the blinds. They were right next to the large pond for extra chilly damp air.
Soon arrived at the woods, it was only 11 miles from home, but nowhere is very far on The Island. Turned off the path and worked my way into the trees, there were lots of downed trees and limbs all over the place and the trees were much denser than I had anticipated. After much deliberation I decided on two that were just far enough apart for the hammock and didn't have any obvious widow-makers in the vicinity. I'd brought both my underquilts, the Cocoon rated a 0 deg and the adapted Mountain Warehouse down blanket which I've used comfortably down to 10 deg. The internet suggests that stacked these would be fine down to -14. The Mountain Warehouse blanket/quilts are on sale again a £49 so a bargain if anyone is looking for an underquilt and doesn't mind a bit of diy. I've also used it as a topquilt in the hammock and the bivi bag (it has a zipped footbox) and it's also a good budget option for this. It's 300g of 750 FP down and stitched through so a summer option.
There was just enough room between the trees to get the tarp up. One of the issues with choosing a spot was finding a location where there would be enough side clearance for the tarp. In the end only 2 of the guys required pegs with the other 2 tied off to nearby trees. I was probably only 70m from the road as the pines didn't stretch very far in but they wouldn't see my dim headlight as the drove past and once asleep I'd not notice them. The thermometer said -2 which as I was under tree cover was a unexpected. I'd brought a hot chocolate with me to warm up before turning in.
That's a Lifeventure thermal mug in an old bottle that's cut down. It's such a good fit in the bottle I had to drill a hole in the bottom the let the air out otherwise it wouldn't push down to the bottom. Fits in the bottle cage perfectly and much cheaper than the dedicated bike thermos. I paid under £10 for the mug in a sale.
The new tarp blends in well with the surroundings, especially in the dark
Found the discipline to change out of the riding kit into the sleeping clothes (well I left my bibs on but with the straps loose) of thermals plus my lightweight down jacket, mainly as I could have the hood up to keep my head warm. As I was taking my jersey off a flash caught my eye. Quickly turned off my headlamp in case I wasn't alone. Too cold to sit with a jersey half off I kept undressing in the dark and realised the flashing was the static discharge between my jersey and base-layer
I've often heard it but don't usually get undressed in the dark, it's a shower of tiny sparks between the two fabrics as they separate.
Laying in the hammock I could hear something rustling about in the leaves nearby, this was mainly distracting as I wondered if whatever it was would try and gnaw it's way into my rucksack for my food. I could also hear the odd car in the background, something from VAG as I recognised the engine sound (TFSI) and DSG gearbox sound
Audi A3 or maybe VW Golf? Traveling way too fast for un-gritted backroads when it's below freezing.
I woke a couple of times in the night with a slight chill. I was using my Pipedream 600 bag unzipped as a topquilt but as it doesn't have the clasp around your neck like a dedicated top quilt it would slip down slightly and leave my shoulders exposed, good job I had the jacket on. I'll have to come up with a plan for that. It was definitely cold as the air was cold to breath but didn't get up to check the temperature as the thermometer was hung on the suspension. If I took a deep breath I could feel the chill in my lungs, pulled my buff up over my face and went back to sleep.
All too soon my alarm was going off and I was up at 06:20. Having to leave the warmth of the down cocoon.
Ralph could have a few more minutes whist I got sorted.
Check of the temp showed it was a fresh -4 degrees which was also the overnight low. This is a new LKT (lowest known temp) for me, like a FKT but much less effort
My previous was -3 by the Brecon Canal on the 2022 SWWB.
I hadn't bothered with the stove as I'd be in work soon enough for coffee and breakfast. First it was back on with the cold riding kit, taking the nice warm layers off is always a wrench but the new ones warm up soon enough. Packing all the quilts and sleeping bag back into the stuff sacks generated plenty of warmth. I wasn't rushing but equally I wasn't sat about but somehow it took nearly 50 minutes to get changed and get all packed up ready to go. I'm quite methodical about packing when it's still dark to make sure I don't loose anything. Bush-wacked my way back to the path. When I'd rode through on Monday this was a sea of mud but now it was all frozen, less messy but no easier to ride on as it was like trying to ride over ice covered rubble
The hammock is more weight and volume than the bivi bag, the front roll is just the sleeping bag and quilts and the accessory pouch is the hammock and the tarp/pegs.
I have been thinking about an upgrade to the MYOG hammock to one with a bug net ready for summer but they are quite a bit heavier, my MYOG is about 260g including the whoopie slings and a Dutchware Chameleon is over 500g including the bug net and over 400g on its own. I could make a bug net for mine but sewing mozzie netting is my least favourite fabric.
I retraced my route back to town, past the camper vans with steamed up windows and frost covered roofs. Riding along the cycle path it was clear I'd have been much colder down by the river.
The ducks don't seem to care how cold the water is. Soon in the office and drinking the first of several coffees
Looks like I'm in for another year
1/12 for 2024, 47 in a row (46 Ralph) so next month is 4 years worth.
Liking the...blanket? scarf? A good night to be out because it's about to get colder!
- guessing something along these lines 
IMG_20240115_132442 by Verena Zimmer, on Flickr
Screenshot_2024-01-16-04-42-38-559 by Verena Zimmer, on Flickr
) towards home.
