Bivvy a Month 2024

[RIP]

hoping the forecast would deteriorate

Forecast 50-60mph winds on Friday, with 80mph gusts. Tempted to pop out for a BaM and savour it but I've already reserved Saturday night. Maybe I'll get to struggle through the aftermath of downed trees etc for a bit of fun.

[frogatthefarriers]

August BaM? Dunnit. Dolgellau.

I should have done it earlier in the month, but I got covid again, (how can that be - I’ve had 2 actual Covids then 5 jabs) then Lady Frog got it. I couldn’t do next week cos I’ll be in court - jury service - so it had to be today, Friday.

So, train to Machynlleth, pedal NSN 8 to Dolgellau to bivvy, meet friends to ride the Mawddach trail to Barmouth (for chips and ice cream) and back and then cadge a lift home in mates van. But. My grandson decided to join us, so there’d not be enough room in the van for all of us so it was train home for me. From Fairbourne. Took another ride up the trail, then over 3 hours and 2 changes to get home.

The details, then… Remember this from a winter event Reg/Chris/Andy?


Well now it’s locked.



But all is not lost. This one isn’t…


…so may be available at another time…

Onward. I stopped near here…


… for a rest and snack but when I fished my Mars bar from my pack, my bike lock fell out and I forgot it when I rode on. It’s not all bad - I’ve still got the keys

After a burger, then a pint of Plum Porter in Dolgellau…


…it was uphill in the rain to the bivvy at the Torrent Walk.

The bivvy…


The Torrent Walk is such a beautiful place you should go there if you’re in the area.




You’re not supposed to ride through, and I didn’t. You’re not supposed to camp here either, but, you know?…

Breakfast at the Popty Mawr…


That’s a two Gaviscon plateful, that is. So then meet friends, ride to Barmouth 'n' back, say g'bye! Then pedal back to Farbourne to catch the train home.

[RIP]

bike lock Er, glasses?

Those chips look proper and brown.

Looks like a nice spot at the Torrent, with added sky water

[frogatthefarriers]

bike lock Er, glasses?

You know me too well. The glasses are still at the cafe. 'S a good job I buy 'em 3 pairs at a time… The bike lock? Before leaving to catch the train I turned the house over looking for the keys. Found 'em exactly where Mrs Frog said they’d be. I’ve still got 'em in me bag….
You never know, they may come in handy someday.

[MuddyPete]

bike lock Er, glasses?

You know me too well. The glasses are still at the cafe. 'S a good job I buy 'em 3 pairs at a time… The bike lock? Before leaving to catch the train I turned the house over looking for the keys. Found 'em exactly where Mrs Frog said they’d be. I’ve still got 'em in me bag….
You never know, they may come in handy someday.

Perhaps do 6 months of BaMs in one direction, then the next 6 months of BaMs doing the same routes in the reverse direction, so you can collect everything you dropped on the first outings .

[frogatthefarriers]

bike lock Er, glasses?

You know me too well. The glasses are still at the cafe. 'S a good job I buy 'em 3 pairs at a time… The bike lock? Before leaving to catch the train I turned the house over looking for the keys. Found 'em exactly where Mrs Frog said they’d be. I’ve still got 'em in me bag….
You never know, they may come in handy someday.

Perhaps do 6 months of BaMs in one direction, then the next 6 months of BaMs doing the same routes in the reverse direction, so you can collect everything you dropped on the first outings .

Sounds like a plan!

[vegancheese]

Behold! Gratuitous nekkedness! August BAM.
102_0168
Up at Redbrook Res just off the A62 on the West Yorkshire/Greater Manchester border. Perfect conditions for a dip (sheepdip in length).
IMG20240816202736
Nice grassy bit looking over the res.
IMG20240816211522
Up before the arrival of the 'Blue-Tits' (hordes of local swimming ladies)

[RIP]

Behold! Gratuitous nekkedness! August BaM

Brr!

Up before the arrival of the 'Blue-Tits' (hordes of local swimming ladies)

What do they call themselves in the Summer when the water's warmer?

[MuddyPete]

Up before the arrival of the 'Blue-Tits' (hordes of local swimming ladies)

What do they call themselves in the Summer when the water's warmer?

Red breasts?

[RIP]

Not bad that, in the time allowed .

I expect the Great Tits and Coal Tits go elsewhere.

Right that's enough mammary-based wordplay tomfoolery for one day...

[dorsetshirelad]

For August’s culinary bivvy trip, I cycled out to Penbury Hill in Cranbourne Chase. Inspired by Simon a Bloke in the Woods, I tried my hand a cooking a Cornish Pasty.
The riding was straightforward, on forest roads and gravel tracks. Until my sense of adventure got the better of me and I descended a very wet and muddy by-way, used by off-roaders. Negotiating fallen trees and excavations, I somehow managed to lockout my rear derailleur. Not wishing to exacerbate the damage, I had to tension it with some bungee cord attached to my rear pannier. This gave me a few lower gears, enabling me to continue cycling the last few miles.
A couple of buddies were joining on the bivi, arriving a bit later on foot. They were walking up from the other side of the hill. Having driven to Penridge in the valley.
Once I had found a suitable bivvy spot, I got on with the preparation for my meal. This was my first attempt at making a pasty, so it was a little daunting. I like to try it at home first to iron out the wrinkles, but the incoming stormy weather put paid to that.
A few problems ensued, too much filling, and not enough pastry. Other glitches I could edit out. Overall, it was a success, and a meal I will repeat. And an absorbing way to pass a few hours while I waited for my mates.
They arrived as I was finishing the last few crumbs. Once set up and fed we enjoyed watching the near full moonrise, and a couple of glasses of red before retiring to our various sleep options. I had my hammock, Bob his bivvy bag, and John under his plough point tarp.
Packing up as the sun rose, we breakfasted and headed off. John had opted to walk the 15 miles back to Wimborne with his pack. Impressive for an 81-year-old I thought. Bob descended to his car with the empties, and I was home in time for lunch with the gears holding out. Which I fixed with a careful bit of manipulation.

Bike-packing Pasty

https://youtu.be/F0cjOVlvoDE

[RIP]

Impressive bungee repurposing. And even more impressive pastie construction. I think we need a few more details. Did you cook the pastry and contents from raw on site? How did you get your stove (oven??) up to the requisite 180c for half an hour?!

[dorsetshirelad]

Impressive bungee repurposing. And even more impressive pastie construction. I think we need a few more details. Did you cook the pastry and contents from raw on site? How did you get your stove (oven??) up to the requisite 180c for half an hour?!

Will have to confess to using,’ ready roll shortcrust pasty’, unlike Simon. But the swede , potato and beef all prepared and cooked from scratch on site. Oh and I did put a small onion in too. The oven is very much trial and error, it’s just cold , hot or very hot. Lots of errors in the making but also loads of fun too. One I will repeat.

[RIP]

Great stuff. Sorry to push it a bit more, so it actually is an oven?! Oh, can just about make it out in the photo. Wood fired is it? Any close ups?

[RIP]

In the spirit of playing The Noble Game Of BaM, I realised that many games utilise dice/die, so why not bring one of those into the mix to introduce an element of randomness?

Was chatting to MuddyPete about doing a short local train journey and finding a spot near a station, but he pipped me to it earlier this month. But for my "random BaM" I chucked the die, intending to travel the dots number of stations, say northwards, get off, and see what's what. Here we go....



OK, a three. So that's... Bletchley, Milton Keynes (lucky escape there or I'd've been kipping in some bushes in an industrial estate. Then again, that sounds good, maybe next time!)... and.. Wolverton.

What's on the map. Hmm, this spot looks intriguing - a bridleway finishing in the middle of nowhere next to a wood. Bridleway bound to turn out 'Welsh' and the wood will be a private pheasant roost, but (micro) adventure beckons.... the things we do for our art eh.. I don't know..



Drop down onto the canal towpath and head across the Ouse aqueduct, which is rather higher than it looks with a narrow towpath next to the yawning abyss



Off the towpath to the gate to the first bridleway. Doesn't look overly well-used does it! Blackberries were nice and sweet though.



Hmm. So that's the way you want to play it eh.... over we go... hey-UP....



Nice little bridge leading from nowhere to nowhere else...



Continue following the now non-existent bridleway along the field edge. The map claims it crosses the stream near here but I can't see another bridge. Ah. It's carefully disguised, so a bit of judicious gardening is required. There's even a proper good quality bridleway gate on the other side, but the "bridge" is a single plank of rotten wood which even a Shetland pony would have a job crossing.





More field edges, another almost brand new gate, and, oh look, some luxury accommodation in case the wood is a no-go.



I continued to the end of the bridleway which finished at a hedge. Just as I was about to take a photo, a tractor noise got louder in the next field and he approached a gate nearby. Arg! We beat a hasty retreat down the field edge, nipped into the barn and hid in a corner. Fingers crossed. Waited for ten minutes and nothing happened so I brewed up my emergency Potnoodle (shoved into the bag just before I left the house forgetting to have my tea beforehand, sigh). Just about to have a beer and I hear the tractor coming down the blasted field edge! I've got about two minutes, so I drag some iron sheets and things into my corner and hide everything and myself behind them. The tractor stops outside!! I've got my story ready (possibly apart from the why I'm hiding behind some iron sheets part!) but luckily he's just turning the field corner and away he goes, grass cutting the edge. I watch him until the far side of the field, then set up my sleeping gear and have a beer. Ten minutes later he's done a circuit of the field and coming past again! Still my luck held. Finally he departed after cutting the field next door, and peace descended.

Enjoyed my beer whilst watching two field mice playing in the middle of the barn, then crashed out for a kip. No rain was forecast at all. I wake up to hear the pitter-patter of tiny mouse feet, but in fact it turns out to be a few drops of rain and I'm under the half of the barn with no roof. I extract myself, and simply drag the groundsheet, mat and bag to the other half, and continue my snooze.



A fairly peaceful night, up at 6 for porridge and Ovaltine and back to the station.

A local bivvy for local people.


8/8, 8/12, 105/105


The only thing that spoiled it slightly is I no longer seem to be getting on with my S2S Aeros inflatable pillow. No matter how much air I put in my head still rolls around like it's on a balloon, and I can't sleep properly.

I might have to bite the bullet, go against my weight-weenyness and buy a filled pillow. Anyone got one of these? Pretty good at 70g for a "Small". One review says "not very supportive". Could have a Medium at 78g and fold it in half for extra support maybe. £30 is quite a lot to try it and find out....

https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/do ... QAvD_BwE

Oh, the other thing that spoiled it was I was coming through the access tunnel into the station and some fool comes very fast round a blind bend on a bike and piles straight into me knocking me sideways and almost off. No damage to him but I get covered in blood from a gash on my nose. Looks like my glasses bashed into it so he must have elbowed those. Could have been worse I suppose.

Ow.

[MuddyPete]

I continued to the end of the bridleway which finished at a hedge. Just as I was about to take a photo, a tractor noise got louder in the next field and he approached a gate nearby. Arg! We beat a hasty retreat down the field edge, nipped into the barn and hid in a corner. Fingers crossed. Waited for ten minutes and nothing happened so I brewed up my emergency Potnoodle (shoved into the bag just before I left the house forgetting to have my tea beforehand, sigh). Just about to have a beer and I hear the tractor coming down the blasted field edge! I've got about two minutes, so I drag some iron sheets and things into my corner and hide everything and myself behind them. The tractor stops outside!! I've got my story ready but luckily he's just turning the field corner and away he goes, grass cutting the edge. I watch him until the far side of the field, then set up my sleeping gear and have a beer. Ten minutes later he's done a circuit of the field and coming past again! Still my luck held. Finally he departed after cutting the field next door, and peace descended.

I look forward to the day two of my realities collide, when you make a guest appearance on Clarkson's Farm .

A local bivvy for local people.

It's always good to go beyond your comfort zone (even if it's only by 15 minutes ).

[Tractionman]

That's a pity about the incident at the end but interesting that bridleway just ending, normally that's something that happens at a parish boundary where the right of way has been recorded in one parish but not the adjoining one but in this case the dotted line for the parish boundary is another field away... Curious

[RIP]

That's a pity about the incident at the end
Curious

Cheers TM. Love looking for oddities on maps. Curious-ity will never kill this cat (daddy-o) .

[Mrs Polisherman]

In the spirit of playing The Noble Game Of BaM, I realised that many games utilise dice/die, so why not bring one of those into the mix to introduce an element of randomness?

Love this idea RIP, think I'll use it sometime to generate some randomness into a future bivvy.

This month's, August, was a very dull affair. A return to July's spot at a local trig point, but on my analogue bike and with bivvy bag not tent this time. I wanted to see if I could replicate the excellent sleep I had last time.

I didn't. It was pretty windy (Friday 23rd) so I tucked myself in beside the rock housing the trig point but the wind still found me and rustled and rumpled my bag all night. On the plus side, it kept the midges away and there was no moisture to be found on or in my bivvy bag in the morning.

Returned home in time to jump in the car, drive into Manchester and pick my brother up from the airport at 8:20am. Win, win.

[fatbikephil]

August done and my entry into the "crapest shed bivvied in" award...



More later!

[Mrs Polisherman]

August done and my entry into the "crapest shed bivvied in" award...

Looks like a pretty fine shed to me. It's got walls and a roof and everything

[RIP]

August done and my entry into the "crapest shed bivvied in" award...

Looks like a pretty fine shed to me. It's got walls and a roof and everything

Beat me to it! Anything with a roof is practically a hotel .

Or....is there something very nasty indeed inside to offset the overhead luxury Phil? Haunted by the ghost of a railway ganger perhaps? Der-der DER....... we're on tenterhooks here matey....

[Blackhound]

Loving all the stories above, including the roll of a dice to decide the start point, and Fat Phil's shed does look nice from the outside

Well, this should have been a mid-month bivvy around the Cantii Way starting in Canterbury and heading up to Whitstable, around the Kent Coast to Dungeness for a bivvy and then back to Canterbury. BUT, I visited the Battle of Britain memorial near Folkestone and, I found out next morning, had left my phone there when taking a pic of another pair of cyclists on the same route. I only realised a couple of hours later in Hythe and initially pushed on to New Romney where I got a room in a pub to decided what to do. The next day I got back to BoB site at 9am where my phone had been kept safe. I donanted £10 into the donation point and headed back to the route arriving at my start point 5 hours after setting off. It was a cruel wind today and I ended up finding another hotel in Ashford, in retrospect another 10km would have got me into some nice woods but I was tired and emotional.

So, I had to plan another trip and on Friday I got a train to Fiskerton, near Southwell to ride up towards Sherwood Forest. My plan was to grab a load of Veloviewer squares on the edge of my big square between Lincoln and Retford and then camp in some woods near Retford. I enjoyed some nice lanes and tracks and stopped in East Drayton for a meal and a pint and then circuited to the woodds. At the entrance I saw mention of cctv cameras and decided to avoid. I had a plan B which was a location I used2 or 3 years ago near Clumber Park so headed that way keeping an eye open. I got to my location as it was getting dark and set up my tarp and made a hot chocolate and read my Kindle. As usual I didn't sleep, the A1 was not too far away but it was my usual unable to sleep. I did eventually derop off in the early hours briefly. I was up before the birds and setting off heading to Hardwick village which has picnic benches but also a toilet left open vernight. I had discovered it a couple of months ago when I passed it and saw the light on at 7am much to my surprise. I pulled up, the bog was indeed open, and then i made myself porridge and coffee adding some fresh blackberries to the former. A couple of fisherman, cyclists and runners all came past who were out early, one of the runners was grateful for the open toilet block!

I then headed over to NCN6 which is mostly gravel paths to Newstead and always fun riding. I stopped at a cafe and saw loads of breakfasts at cheap prices so I asked for a veggie version and got a couple of eggs, beans and mushrooms on toast and a mug of coffee for £4.10, I forgot to request hash browns though. After Newstead station I left NCN6 which goes to Nottingham and then Derby taking a more direct route through Eastwood (and Alpkit HQ) to Derby.

My VeloViewer square is up to 54x54 so job accomplished.

8/12 and 32 months consecutive months out.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_Xh-s1uIaT/?img_index=1

[RIP]

Lucky with the phone Kev, losing my phone is a bugbear of mine. It's covered in bright multi-coloured gaffer tape which helps, and has a couple of trackers but they rely on someone else's phone being able to see it! My credit card has a tracker that also relies on not losing my phone at the same time. At least Lu only loses his glasses and gloves .

Now that's a good value breakfast!

[summittoppler]

August done....just!
My 4th BAM of the year where I left it till the last night of the month. I need to get my act together!

As I wasn't really feeling it I just went up to 'my' spot in the hills.
Was great to sit there and chill out