Verena wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 7:54 pmBeautiful

Absolutely. You is a very lucky bugger Mr Frog

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 10:34 pm *sigh* blazing sun all week torrential rain all weekend. At least I'm out and pitched up in the dry...

Not quite as lucky as Frog, bad luck

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 11:16 pm

Verena wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 7:54 pmBeautiful

Absolutely. You is a very lucky bugger Mr Frog

‘S so true! I am. But it’s not always like this. Remember the last time we were up here?

Ah, yes indeed . We had pea soup for lunch. Or did we ride in it?

That ended up being a good one! This weekend was my only chance for March, for various reasons, and as expected the forecast looked like the nice weather was going to last right up until I knocked off on the Friday. A further complication was a colleagues retirement do which I really wanted to be at on the Friday. Saturday looked to be horrible so a wet bivvy was in the offing.

Then Friday evening started looking better. I would use the auto to get to the leaving do, lay off the ale, get back sharpish and head out. Which I did, departing the house at 8 and pedaling for all of 13k to Devilla forest and a spot I've used before (as usual...) only to find it a mess of fallen and felled trees! The monster Douglas fir I've kipped (and sat) under a few times before was now alone and surrounded by debris. It was also quite breezy, thanks to the felled trees, so I headed into an adjacent block of younger trees and found a fine spot next to a fallen fir.

Rain was due overnight but it remained dry as I lay back sipping an ale or three listening to lots of cracks and creaks from various partially fallen trees around me. The rain came eventually but it had actually stopped by the time I surfaced. I do alike a first day of Spring bivvy as the dawn chorus always seems to be particularly enthusiastic.



By the time I departed, the sun was starting to break through the mist and murk, plus it was warm! I'd only had my 150 quilt and bundled up inside it, only to wake feeling too warm. Spring indeed.



The remains of a nice piece of woodland. I appreciate it was planted for timber but it seems a shame to drop a load of very fine dougie firs. I hope they re-plant with the same and not more bloody sitka!

Anyway, I weaved my way round various trails to Dollar, grabbed a pie, double biscuit and tea form Stevens and sat out in the now warm sunshine. More fine trails followed, still fairly dry despite the rain last night. There was some mist about so no views but by the time I got home I was roasting!

Phil wrote: lay off the ale

Most restrained, Sir!

March BAM done last week, in the winter sunshine at Grywne Fawr

Same format as January BAM - same unseasonal sunshine in an otherwise grey week but the benefit of knowledge on the fallen trees in the forest, an earlier start for The Black Mountains Classic Loop on Day 2, and a couple extra hours daylight (plus taking a pruning saw to cut neat little logs, for the neat, little bothy tove - 9 inches maximum)

A bit concerned to hear voices in the bothy when we arrived as it only sleeps 3 upstairs, but a couple of lads just up for the day and stopping out the wind for a brew.

Very cold wind on top of Crug Mawr, but luckily behind us for the grind up McNamaras Road although full face again for the push up Y Das. Then flat on the plateau and the "descent from heaven" again back past the bothy, down to the car park, early supper in The Crown and home.


Morning sunshine above the bothy


Descent from heaven (first time)


Tail wind up McNamaras Road

Top score that one, Java

A technical question regarding my March BAM?

Have just been invited to join Pam this Saturday, who is biking from Malvern to camp in the garden of our friend Shakti, who lives in a cottage at Bringsty Common some 7 miles from me.
In my world I have two friends local to me in 'the sticks', both miles away but I view them as my neighbours

If I bikepack to join them and camp in Shakti's garden, does this qualify as a legit BAM?

Yup, rule 2 - 'Your own back garden doesn't count, that of your neighbour (or anyone else's, see Regs shed bivvy from a few years ago) does', so you are all good Neil

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Tue Mar 25, 2025 7:34 pm Yup, rule 2 - 'Your own back garden doesn't count, that of your neighbour (or anyone else's, see Regs shed bivvy from a few years ago) does', so you are all good Neil

Thank you Phil, excellent news

March Bivvy
Ancient Quarry with futuristic overtones

Another Isle of Purbeck outing. My route takes me along The Priest’s Way, a historic track once used by clergymen traveling between Swanage and Worth Matravers. It’s a straightforward ride, mostly gravel and compacted earth, winding through farmland , with occasional glimpses of the sea to the south. I’m heading to a spot I’ve visited many times, but never for a bivvy.

Reaching Winspit, I scout for a secluded spot to set up camp. The disused quarry, once a source of Purbeck stone, is now a dramatic landscape of weathered rock faces and open caverns, perched above the sea cliffs, a haven for climbers and film makers. I believe they’ve filmed some scenes form Star Wars there in the past.( not future).I find a flat, sheltered area away from the main footpaths and set up my tarp. With my sleeping arrangements sorted, I prepare dinner—a Thai curry, made from ingredients brought along for the trip. Preparing the sweet potato and butternut is an enjoyable interlude as daylight fades.

I light my wood stove as it gets dark. The flames cast flickering shadows on the rocks, and the night air takes on a cool edge. Overhead, the stars emerge, bright and clear in the absence of artificial light. A particularly striking sight appears—a Falcon 9 rocket, visible as it jettisons fuel while passing high above, leaving a brief, glowing trail in its wake. It’s a reminder of, no matter how remote, you can’t escape Elon!

I sleep reasonably well, disturbed only by the occasional rustling of the wind through the quarry. Waking to the sound of seabirds and the distant murmur of waves against the cliffs. Breakfast consists of sausage and egg wraps, and loads of tea.

The return journey follows a similar route, though the landscape feels different in the morning light. Along the way, I chat with a few walkers and fellow cyclists, exchanging nods and brief conversations about the weather and the beauty of the area. The combination of off-road cycling, wild camping, and simple cooking has made for an enjoyable and rewarding escape—just enough adventure without straying too far from home.

A celestial visitor

https://youtube.com/shorts/31oDS48-D2E?feature=share

When said a Falcon 9 Rocket, did you really mean an actual rocket??
Another fine night by the looks DL!

An road up, the last weekend in March and the end of the first quarter is nigh so get oot there!

Know Windspit well, spent new year's eve 1998/9 in a cave there (I was young)...it is popular with people out to party/have fires and the like. Love it there though. I'm awaiting Dorsetshire lad arranging a full hog roast from a single pannier bag!

faustus wrote: ↑Fri Mar 28, 2025 10:28 am Know Windspit well, spent new year's eve 1998/9 in a cave there (I was young)...it is popular with people out to party/have fires and the like. Love it there though. I'm awaiting Dorsetshire lad arranging a full hog roast from a single pannier bag!

Yes, much quieter in March! Can’t quite bring myself to sleep in a caves though, especially now t part of it is closed to climbers because it’s unstable!

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Thu Mar 27, 2025 6:54 pm When said a Falcon 9 Rocket, did you really mean an actual rocket??
Another fine night by the looks DL!

An road up, the last weekend in March and the end of the first quarter is nigh so get oot there!

Well, apparently so. But I’m just repeating what I was told.

(Alien was second stage of Falcon9 booster, venting in preparation for deorbit to land in point zero (mid Indian Ocean)

dorsetshirelad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 28, 2025 7:37 pm
Well, apparently so. But I’m just repeating what I was told.

(Alien was second stage of Falcon9 booster, venting in preparation for deorbit to land in point zero (mid Indian Ocean)

Blimey, there is a lot goes on we aren't told about

Less mind blowing may be the news that I blvvied out this week, fuelled by an Impy Stout and a selection of cheese and sausage.
It was a late departure, with little to report on the way out, but once settled I was treated to glorious clear skies, with a myriad of stars peeking down through the still bare branches of the trees around me.
I trusted in the various weather forecasts and left my tarp at home. Around 5.30am, I peered out of my bivvy bag and was treated to a vivid orange hue creeping up over the horizon, accompanied by the first wave of the dawn chorus. An hour or so of snoozing later, the sky had brightened further, and a new cast of birds were happily shouting at the sun.

Most of the birds stayed hidden, but Merlin told me I was in the company of thrushes, coal tits, blackbirds, wrens and a tawny owl. Having packed up and started back down the hill, I also spotted a couple of curlew burbling about a freshly ploughed field.


2025 BAM 3/12
2025 total bivvies 3
Current streak (months) 76

March BAM was ticked off Saturday - Sunday in East Lothian. I'm now away up north for a week but write-up to follow in a day or two.

March 31st BAM 3 of 3, 39 of 39

After blowing my knee up from the Winter Event (only manifested itself afterwards), I'd not cycled for 56 days, save for a 2 mile tester to assess progress.
So last night was a careful short distance road ride.
Pretty much a 'get in, get the job done' and hope for progression towards something more meaningful in April.
A dry night seemed likely, hence my Alpkit Hunka XL became home.
Once tucked in I enjoyed the stars, supped whisky and munched on some salted caramel crispies (wtf its gluten free, egg free, milk free, vegan but is mainly sugar!).
A fox barked repeatedly in the distance.
Sleep came easily and disappeared early.
Wondering when dawn would arrive I was privy to a parliament of owls making a right old racket nearby.
Frost had settled and various strategies kicked in to ward off the cold, since my trusty down jacket escaped last night's kit gathering.
Dawn chorus heralded a blemish free pastel blue sky overlooking a tree lined silhouette, tinged with a topping of orange. That vision disappeared before my camera was fired up.
Time moved on, I surfaced, and there is a farmer spraying crops in the adjacent field. Time for a quick make up.
I am grateful my knee survived, even though the saddle height had dropped on the way home (the cause of knee angst). Time to fit an allen bolt seatpost clamp. And all my bikes need a review of the saddle heights.

I've was out Saturday night and have been trying to post a short message about it but it keeps glitching causing me to start again. I'll be back.

I got my march Bivvy done on the first day of spring it has been a hectic 5 weeks so i had to do a local one again. A visit to my local for a quick one followed by a slower one and then off to a lovely spot on the hills as i climbed the track i could smell smoke and as i suspected there was a tent in my chosen spot the occupants had gone to bed leaving the fire burning. This seemed an ideal opportunity to see how bright my lights would go and to test out some of my builders vocabulary. So a new spot was required and found the other side of the ridge i slept well until the dawn chorus woke me up an absolutely glorious sound well it was until a couple of pheasants turned up and ruined things. The sunset i was looking forward to but would have been unable to see from the side of the hills i was on didnt happen a quick brew and then a nice ride home and back to the fray.
PXL_20250321_055108071 by Kevin Hawker, on Flickr

3/12 for this year and 75 consecutive months