And then there was one.

[Ray Young]

Five of us had shown an interest in doing the Scottish winter bivy but for reasons beyond their control it ended up with just me showing up at the bothy. I rode the 32 miles to Peebles via The Pentland Hills and The Meldon Hills. I had a head wind and rain most of the way with the worst of it crossing Monks bicycle, the wind trying to blow me off the path and the rain stinging my face. I was going to take The Old Post Road through the Meldons to Peebles but I only did a short section due to being fed up of battling the head wind and the track turning into muddy, sticky hell. I dropped down to the Peebles road at Eddlestone which was much more sheltered from the wind so made good time. I got to Peebles at 16.15, it had taken me much longer than expected so i decided to take the road to Traquair rather than going through Cardrona Forest. My solar storm light was showing I had only a little charge left despite it being fully charged that morning so that also helped make the decision to cut short the route. From Traquair it is only 3/4 of a mile up a hill to the bothy which I ended up pushing mostly due to being close to bonking.
On arrival the wind had dropped and the rain had stopped which made me feel better. Knowing I had dropped off coal, kindling, rum and christmas pud the day before made me feel even better and I was carrying a chicken tikka massala curry with rice and nan bread, what more could a man want. After a quick phone call to the wife I went to retrieve my hidden goodies and as I did so I was sure I spotted not one but three bike lights coming up the track. Alasadair has made it I thought and his two mates have come along after all. Turned out I was wrong, what seemed like bike lights a 1/4 of a mile away were in fact car lights about a mile away, oh well. Armed with fire lighters, dry kindling and some dry branches left in the bothy I soon had a fire going that was big enough to take coal, shortly after that large logs that had been left next to the fire pit were added and I had a roaring blaze going. The consumption of Morgans spiced rum began whilst I heated my curry. I warmed the nan bread on the hot stones of the fire pit, lovely. After that came christmas pud and custard, I was stuffed but there was plenty of rum left. I tended the fire, drank rum and listened to music on the mp3 player until about 9.30. After letting the fire die down and then extinguishing it fully with water I finally got into my bag at 10.30 and slept till 9 am.
Needing a pee I opened the bothy door to be confronted by falling snow and two startled deer who disappeared quickly into the woods. After packing the bike I left the remains of the christmas pud for the birds and rode to Peebles for breakfast then home along the road. I had a mixture of sun,rain, sleet and snow on the way back but at least I had a tail wind. Oh, I still had 1/3 of a bottle of rum left too, guess I will be finishing that off tonight .

Bothy and bike in the morning.
bivy 005 by youngray50, on Flickr

Arty pic caused by condensation on the lens.
bivy 001 by youngray50, on Flickr

[jamiep]

Sounds lovely. I am still laid up but my bike is still packed - planning on doing the route next weekend on so once I am mended

[johnnystorm]

Well done for seeing it through!

[RobMac]

Needing a pee I opened the bothy door to be confronted by falling snow and startled two old dears who disappeared quickly into the woods.

Respect BTW

[Ray Young]

Needing a pee I opened the bothy door to be confronted by falling snow and startled two old dears who disappeared quickly into the woods.

, nice miss quote .

[firedfromthecircus]

Good job Ray.

[pushbikemike]

Nice one Ray. Liked the sound of your Christmas dinner.

[Farawayvisions]

Five of us had shown an interest in doing the Scottish winter bivy but for reasons beyond their control it ended up with just me showing up at the bothy.

The reasons being wind and rain Ray. Fair play brave man.