Bivvy a Month 2024

[sean_iow]

May bivi done on Wednesday night. My write up is not in my usual stye and perhaps a little long for here so I'll put that on its own and just put the photos here.













5/12 and 51 in a row (50 for Ralph)

[MuddyPete]

5/12 and 51 in a row (50 for Ralph)

Ralph has some catching-up to do. Perhaps leave him here with his friends for a night to even the score .

But would he be there in the morning?

[Loki]

Looks a fun route, which bird hide did you over night in? There is a great one over at Steart Marsh that is nice for an overnighter if you push out past Bridgwater.

BAM April - last gasp

Took the Severn Beach line to Weston super Mare - deserted and not looking that Super on a grey day



Quick bite at the cafe in Uphill, then NCN33 towards Brent Knoll and the straight roads graph paper navigation following the rhynes on the Levels towards Westhay
Found the big tyres a bit draggy but wanted to shake down the Scandal for more off road trips this summer.

Got to Sweets just as they were closing. It is a quirky place - Science Museum and Cafe but cycle friendly and there is even a 531 Galaxy Mixte frame dumped in the car park for the taking. Topped up with water there and finally got off road



Then the rain really started -I would have headed off to The Sheppy later but decided to stay put for an early night

Broken sleep - ducks quacking, geese hooting and bitterns booming but wonderful sunrise



Early start and took some photos of a Grand Designs type house on the way back - stilts seem like a good idea as the sea levels rise and panels cut on the angle made for a stunning design using vernacular materials familiar to the eye.


A few more bridleways heading back and MTB tyres useful on the later gloop on Aller Moor Drove. Found a stick to prop up the bike too.



Pleased to find the Post Office in Mark open from 7.00 am for push button coffee and a pastry, later proper coffee in Uphill then the 10.10 from WSM direct and home by 11.30 for a shower.

Convenient overnight adventure to a far different place from urban Bristol with GWR and a bit of leg work, £6.70 off peak single (with a railcard)

[RIP]

Ralph has some catching-up to do. Perhaps leave him here with his friends for a night to even the score

I've always had Ralph down as a bit of a ladies man. And all those knitties look female to me so he may not in fact be back in the morning.

That cloud shot is well scary - Close Encounters Of The Bikepacking Kind?

[gecko76]

Envious of the hammock. Any tips for bivvying when the ground is mostly water?

[sean_iow]

Envious of the hammock. Any tips for bivvying when the ground is mostly water?

Only solution* I could think of for here was a hammock

* See what I did there

[gecko76]

Precisely the problem.

[Bearlegged]

Definite feelings of reluctance to leave the house, but once I was out into a warm, sunny evening, all was well. Soft pedalling through the woods alongside a burbling brook and admiring the spring hedgerows, I made good time to my chosen spot.

A few midges out, but some Smidge and a lil' bat friend swooping about meant I didn't get eaten. Tarp up, bed made, beer and pork pie consumed. A calming place, all leafy green (at least while the sun still peeked through the canopy), and the gentle white noise of the neighbouring stream lulled.me.into a decent night's sleep.

It's iteresting how the dawn chorus comes in different acts. Nuthatch and Wren for starters then joined by Blackbirds, Tits and Finches.
Time for the first brew and breakfast, bathed in a golden haze.

Once packed, I cruised uphill on a quiet country lane. Glorious sunshine, lambs, flowers, and a breakfast date with Tomo, local moors warden, MRT member, and fount of knowledge for all things local and outdoorsy. We dined to the company of Skylarks, a bold Meadow Pit, a passing paraglider, and an Osprey.

Pics:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7ZzYb3MAoM/

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7Z4WkeuGfJ/

2024 BAM 5/12
2024 total bivvies 5
Current streak (months) 66

[fatbikephil]

Bonus BAM!
A mate who I'd not seen for a while was throwing a do at his Highland Estate (500 acres) so I figured on pedaling (note spelling Reg!) up Friday eve and Saturday morning. The forecasted damp day on Friday wasn't and I confidently predicted the deluge to start when I left but in actual fact, the sun came out. Briefly. There then followed an amazing bike ride whereby I managed to miss some very large clouds. The route was nice but not adventurous - all on road and many A roads at that. But they were largely devoid of traffic and it made for extremely pleasant riding through fine Perthshire scenery.

Aberfeldy Co-op provided food and a beer for later and then I pushed on to reach my digs before dark O'clock. To the west and north the sky was black but it was slowly moving away from me (tailwind!) and apart from some drizzle, I missed the lot - the roads were awash!



Small but perfectly formed and a godsend at the end of a longish ride. I got there just as it got dark and had a pleasant hour or so drinking, eating and reading before turning in. It was still quite grey the next day as I hoofed it up the climb out of Trinafore and over to the A9. Then up the cycle route to Kingussie.


The old road sections were getting a bit rough but it's all been re-surfaced - this bit was 7.5m wide, all for bikes

The weather brightened as the morning progressed, I had a fine breakfast at the cafe in Dalwhinnie and caught some hero gravel on the Speyside way after Kingussie. I was a bit early for the do so sat in the sun at the Bridge Inn having a couple of pints. Got to my friends place at 2 and much social pleasantness followed.

Mega negative karma today though as I got a lift home with a mate!

[vegancheese]

May BAM. WRT with the Polishermanses

Not my tent actually, but the best pic.

Don't ask me where we went

A random place in Wales, with the Polishermanses

[dorsetshirelad]

[attachment=0]May Bivi.jpg[/attachment
May Bivi

The seaweed was dry, so just time to fit in May’s bivi before the end of the month. I rode down to the coast with an easy ride along the prom to Sandbanks and the chain ferry to Studland. I was heading to St Aldhelms head on the Jurassic Coast. The headland is the site of an WW2 experimental radar station, a place I’ve bivouacked previously as it tends to be fairly quiet. There were some hill to get over first which involved a couple of pushes. Having worked up a thirst I called in at the Square and Compass and had a pint of Moonlight, rather apt for the occasion. And took out a bottle of vintage cider as an aperitif for later.
Arriving about half five I set about prepping my meal. I cooked some rice and kept it warm in a pot cosy while chopping courgette, pepper and onion. These were gently sautéed while I set up the Trangia with its makeshift oven and popped in a Salt marsh minted lamb steak to roast. The meal was delicious and the cider was a great accompaniment.
Stringing my tarp between the walls of part of the old radar station I settled down to a good, if somewhat short nights sleep. After a tasty cooked breakfast of reheated rice, bacon and tomatoes I set off down to Swanage along the Priest Trail, calling in to see the dinosaur footprints before coffee and a quick look at the steam trains. Then back over the hills and along the prom to home. A nice 90k round trip.

[Blackhound]

May bam complete. Originally it was meant to be at the WRT at the start of the month. I caught the train to Alsager with the intention of riding to BB towers via some British Cycle Quest clues. From the off my tummy was a little off and near Oswestry I booked into an eco lodge and spent the evening and early morning a bit less comfortable than I would like to be. I decided not to carry on and end up spending time on the woods doing what bear's do. So that was a failure, other than a couple of BCQ's.

Herself had booked a walking holiday near Glentress with a friend so having a free week I decided to head to Galloway for a ride round. I had not been sonce my orienteering days finished over 30 years ago but always loved the area. There was also the option to pick up 9 bcq's clues.

The journey up to Carlisle was a mess. I struggled to get my bike on a couple of WCML trains from Crewe so decided to go via Leeds, Settle and Carlisle. Only the train was late into Leeds and I missed my connection so ended going up to Newcastle and changing trains there. I was squashed into the bike space with my bike sitting on the floor up to York before I could get a seat and arrived in Carlisle late and tired so just got a hotel and pushed onto Dumfries on an early train the next morning. While haveing brreakfast I noted that a UCI gravel race was taking place the following day in Gatehouse of Fleet which was on my first days route. My route, which ended up at 300 miles, was a mixture of BCQ's and a tour I saw written up in the Cycling UK magazine a few years ago which looked really nice. In addition I was going to head to see the 2022 'tree of the year' near Kippford.

My original intention was to wild camp a few nights, use a nice campsite near Culzean castle on night 3 and White Laggan bothy on day 4. Arriving in Creetown around 5pm I was feeling tired and decided to find a campsite and bumped into another fella who was riding Fishguard - Cairnryan - (ferry to) Larne - Rosslare and ferry back to Fishguard. We had a nice evening chatting. The next day I was away early enough on NCN7 to Newton Stewart for second breakfast and onto Wigtown which looked reall nice. I continued down the coastline to Whithorn that had very little open on a Saturday. I grabbed a few bits from a shop and followed signs to a picnic site in a churchyard. After lunch I continued around the peninsular and then into a headwind. I was struggling along. I saw a campsite and was tempted to stop but realised it was only 1330 so decided to push on around the coast for a couple of hours. In the end there was nothing until I was down the next peninsular to the Mull of Galloway. The first site did not tents but I found another 4 miles further on. My original intention was to do a further 25-30 miles round trip to the most southern point of Scotland but I was feeling tired. The next day was going to be into a wind so decided to give the Mull a miss until another time (It is also a BCQ clue so I will need to return). The coast was tough into the wind with a few hills thrown in, I was originally going to go further, and higher inland, but decided I didn't have the legs.

I came off the main A road at Turnberry and found a back way into the grounds of Culzean castle and a big climb up to the campsite. It was only mid afternoon but I needed the break and it was nice to have a shower and a nice meal at Culzean and a fabulous sunset looking towards Arran.

Three days in and I was finding it hard, it was only about 60 miles to White Laggan. I went to Electric Brae and then to Maybole for a nice egg and beans on toast. AFter that, all I seemed to do was climb for ages with some quick descents. I visited Loch Doon castle used a forest drive (closed to vehicles) and the Bell memorial before finally, eventually getting something like a 10 mile descent to Glentrool visitor centre. It was only about 10 miles to the bothy via a memorial to Robert the Bruce and on my high level map to be just a ride along a valley into wilderness. Again, I ended up with a big climb and pushing my bike up most of it. I arrived at WL bothy and it was empty. ABout 15 minutes after my arrival a young man on the Southern Upland Way arrived, he had seen me ahead of him and was catching me on the climbs while I pushed but I go awa on the flat and descents. We chatted away the evening but he went to his tent for the night so I had the place to myself. The next day I left the bothy and although tempted to head back to Dumfries stuck with my original plan and went via Keir where Kirkpatrick Macmillan made the first pedal bicycle. Nice quiet lanes took me back to Dumfries and a train back to Carlisle for the night.

The weather was wonderful but heading to the station on the Wednesday morning the rain started and was with me all day as I headed home.

Mixed feelings at the end. I am pleased I saw a lovely part of the country and broadly stuck to my plan other than the last bit down to the Mull of Galloway. But i was finding it hard, my final stats were 300 miles in 30 hours riding time but little of it felt easy so my enjoyment factor was lower than it could have been. I will be back though, the area is too lovely go go another 35 years without visiting.

5/12 and 29 consecutive months.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7Wdn0yIZ_t/?img_index=4
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7bRHoes9f_/?img_index=1

[GoneCaving]

May's BaM for me was ticked off at the start of May at the WRT. I had ambitious plans for a long ride with a friend of mine, and had spent time working out a suitable route and an assortment of alternatives to make it longer or shorter as required. But circumstances got in the way, and my mate couldn't travel for family reasons. So, time to figure out a plan B. Option 1, ride the route regardless. Option 2, join the LHC for the second year in a row. Having spent most of the winter riding solo, I decided it was time for some company, and dropped Karl an email.

On the day, it was nice to get back to BB Towers, and recognise a few faces from last year, nicer still to see that I wasn't the only one coming back for another LHC ride! The first day was a very pleasant 30km, over to Carno via the wind farm, some nice back roads heading NE, and then the obligatory hike-a-bike (shoulda worn waterproof socks on day 1!). The next issue was that route on the OS map was no longer present on the ground, a supposed bridleway disappearing off into the middle of a forest, no track to be seen. We pushed our way around the side, and then found the track, and on to a pub stop in Llangadfan. Lots of others seemed to have had similar plans, and no chance for food any time soon, so liquid refreshment (elderflower ale shandies all around) and crisps. We'd been advised against the original bivvy spot, so ended up stopped in Pen y Ffordd - Dyfnant Forest for the night.



Day 2, back on the bikes, and passed our intended bivvy spot for the night before. It looked grand. We continued on over to Lake Vyrnwy via one particularly steep forest road for second breakfasts in the sunshine. Then a push up past Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, and on up over the hill before regaining the road and on to Penybontfawr. We opted not to stop at the pub and continued to Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and a change to get supplies for the evening. The chance to stop for grub and bottles of beer in Abertridwr wasn't missed (top marks John for flagging the WRT with them, we got such a warm welcome). Given the option, the group voted unanimously for a river crossing, so on to Port Llogel and then onto Glyndŵr's Way. I think Mack has already posted a pic of the ladies in the group showing us how it should be done. We then hit another dead-end after crossing Nant Cringae, another plantation of trees where the map showed a bridleway. So we backtracked, picked up the road and closed the loop to end up at the bivvy spot that had been planned for the previous night! And a very fine bivvy spot it was too.



Final day, breakfasts at the cafe in Llangadfan, and then a bit of a push up the side of Pen Coed and back down again. Followed by a pleasant enough road to Talerddig, over the hill to Bont Dolgadfan, and back to BB Towers for cake!

5/12 for the year. It'll get a bit more interesting next month.

[frogatthefarriers]

5/12 for the year. It'll get a bit more interesting next month.

I Dunno! To me, it seems interesting enough.

[javatime]

Just squeezed in May BAM locally, pictures to follow

[JudithG]

The more interesting bike packing trip was at the start of May, but was a paid for overnighter, so you get the dull urban last-minute bivvy write up here instead! Cycled in my non-lycra to a friend's house about 15 mins ride away whilst they were away and (with permission) bivvied in their garden. Set off their house alarm late at night on arrival, nice morning sun on the trees, luxury of a real toilet nearby. Put earplugs in and slept like a log. Such better quality of sleep when I'm not worrying about my pitch!

May24bivvy by Judith Gordon, on Flickr

Bigger plans for next month

[javatime]

Local again, squeezed in around a busy time at home. Costa del Severn looking good at sunset

A chance to check out the MYOG Apex 100 quilt - now toasty with a better mat, and could spend a bit of time tweaking the Gatewood with longer side tie outs.
First dog walker arrived at 5.30 !

[gecko76]

May by the skin of my teeth. Work being crazy, the weather being wet and wetter and weekends taken up with family type stuff, it had to be last night and not far from home so, having identified a spot inside the fence but outside the walls of the local castle, I approached quietly around 11 and immediately set off the security light. Counted to 150 while listening for any activity and when it went dark moved into position, unrolled the bivi bag, inflated the mat and settled in, at which point the light went off again. Maybe a bird? Figured if it went off again a silly conversation would probably ensue, so when it did rolled everything up and made a sharp exit, heading down through the park to a nice dell in the woods, only there was a fire and voices so avoided that and in the end just headed for a less trodden patch of woodland and crashed in the first flat spot. In my bag again at 5 to midnight and asleep soon after.

Woke at dawn around 4, and again when the sun started showing through the trees.

Home to feed the cats a bit earlier than they're used to.

The re-wrapping of the bottom bracket area appears to have worked, except there's a slightly worrying gentle knocking sound when pedalling uphill. Will try and do as many miles as possible to try and work out what's causing it or at least see it doesn't get worse before Ride To The Sun in three weeks.

[summittoppler]

May BAM done....just!

Well that was last minute! I had plenty of opportunities throughout the month but my mojo wasn't there

So I thought a good old Summittoppler camp was needed.....


A very tough hike a bike gave me the rewards I was hoping for, O and I found my mojo up there too

I was on the Salsa Bucksaw as I knew they'd be some off piste descending and kit in a 22 litre backpack.



Some might say I was pitched in a dramatic location...






Morning!








One of several pieces of wreckage from a plane crash in 1940

[fatbikephil]

Well done all, nice to see some good trips this month, keep 'em coming!

[JimmyG]

Once again it’s taken me a good while to write up May’s bivvy story. Life and not a little lethargy have got in the way! On my recent trip (starting on Sunday 25th May) I spent a total of four nights out. In the interests of transparency, though, I must confess that the third of those nights was actually spent in an ‘eco pod’ in Findhorn. My body and my clothing in particular were much in need of a good wash by that point so I’m not claiming it as a bivvy.

A fair few months ago I’d entered the Roam Scotland Rally to give me something to aim for and motivate me to rack up rather more miles than I managed last year. However, no sooner had I begun my attempt to increase my weekly mileage than I crashed and was forced off the bike for a month.

Without getting too deep into an explanation, the Roam Scotland Rally (RSR) is an annual event and consists of seven days riding, much of it off-road. The organiser is considerate enough to offer two routes - the Rugged route (longer and entailing more climbing); and the Rolling route (usually shorter with less climbing and perhaps more tarmac, too), with the option of mixing and matching to suit one’s fitness or mood on the day!

This year’s route headed north from Perth to Pitlochry on Day 1; Pitlochry to Aviemore/Loch Morlich on Day 2: Loch Morlich to Findhorn on Day 3; Findhorn to Tomintoul on Day 4; Tomintoul to Aboyne on Day 5; Aboyne to Glen Prosen on Day 6; Glen Prosen to finally finish back in Perth on Day 7.

Much as I’d prefer to have completed the whole route, given that Mrs G’s birthday was on Saturday May 25th, the right thing to do was to get home a day or two before that. To that end, I rode Days One, Two and Three then half of Day Four before I had to bid farewell to the route, heading southwest on the Speyside Way towards Grantown on Spey then beyond to Aviemore where I’d catch the train home.

Rather than bore folk with vivid descriptions of the routes and bivvy sites, I’ll take the easy option and do a heavy photo dump (Sorry!), hoping they'll set the scene instead. Suffice it to say, there was a lot of climbing and the scenery was often stunning. Whilst much of the riding was over familiar territory, I was introduced to some memorable new trails well worthy of a return visit at some point.

Day One: Perth to Pitlochry. Started dull with mist at some points but ended up warm and sunny. Camped by a pond near Loch Faskally.

Day 1: Tay Forest Park to the west of Dunkeld by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 1: Slap up dinner in Pitlochry by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 1: A pond close to Loch Faskally by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day Two: Pitlochry to Aviemore. Started dull but become very warm and sunny as the day went by. Camped in the woods near Loch Morlich, at a spot I’ve used a couple of times previously.

Day 2: Gaick Pass by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 2: Gaick Pass bog trotting to Loch An Duin by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 2: Loch An Duin by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 2: Stream crossing just after Loch An Duin by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 2: Descending to Loch An-t-Seilich by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 2: Looking south at Loch An-t-Seilich by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 2: Between Glen Tromie and Glen Feshie by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 2: Big climb between Glen Tromie and Glen Feshie by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 2: Well-earned descent into Glen Feshie by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 2: Near Loch Morlich by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day Three: Loch Morlich to Findhorn. Started sunny and warm, ended up dull but warm. Spent the night in a posh pod.

Day 3: Looking back to Ryvoan Bothy by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 3: Dava Way towards Findhorn by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 3: Dava Way in damp mode by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 3: Findhorn Pod by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day Four: Findhorn to Aviemore. I’d originally intended camping some distance short of Aviemore and riding into town in the morning but wind and torrential rain meant it was warmer just to keep riding!

Day 4: Bridge over the River Spey to Aberlour by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 4: Tamdhu former railway station on the Speyside Way by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 4: Blacksboat former railway station on the Speyside Way by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 4: Approaching Grantown on Spey in heavy rain by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day 4: Drookit dinosaurs at Coylumbridge by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Spent the night in a fire corridor to the rear of a row of shops next to the railway station. More comfortable than it sounds and very handy for the train next morning!

Day 4: A bed for the night by Jimmy G, on Flickr

One unexpected outcome from the multiple days of riding, etc. was that the post-crash arm and hand nerve pain and numbness I’d been plagued by for around two months, finally subsided after a couple of days and gave me no more trouble. Result!

In summary, that’s 5 from 5 in ’24 and 77 consecutive BAMS.

Edit: Looking back at these pics, it looks like I was out there on my own! It might not look it but trust me, there were 80 or 90-odd others!

[fatbikephil]

Looks a good trip Jimmy. I'd wondered about that link between Glen Tromie and Glen Feshie as Colin mentioned it a few years ago - looks like it's all motorway standard!

[JimmyG]

It was indeed Phil. There are a couple of steep ramps on that link but yes, it’s pretty much motorway-like now. They even had a grader and roller out at the top of the pass doing some tidying up after forestry work when we went through.

[BigRingGrinder]

Edit: Looking back at these pics, it looks like I was out there on my own! It might not look it but trust me, there were 80 or 90-odd others!

Yes I was one of those other 80 or 90-odd others.

Great photos

[Verena]

As is probably obvious by now, I'm out :(

May was quite the month family stuff wise...

In hindsight, of course, if only I hadn't left it so late in the month, bla bla bla...

Fatigue got the better of me on any free evenings with dog sitter available as the month went on, and then my last final tiny window snapped shut when I had to make a quick short notice trip to Germany to say my good byes to my dad :(

Hoping that things will settle down enough soon so that I can get out somewhen in June.