Another trip out to Belstone

After the summer solstice bivi on the hill with The Lad, I returned for a quick solo trip one very hot summer's evening.

Leaving home at 1845, I was walking out of Belstone within the hour, pleased to find it a lot cooler there than it had been at home. Leaving the car, the temperature gauge was showing 30 C but at the top of Belstone Tor there was a very pleasant cooling breeze.

Despite this being a beautiful still evening there was only one other walker out, who soon turned back. I continued walking until about 2145, then I started looming for somewhere to set up camp.

Finding a comfortable spot took a while due to the boulders,, but one of the great things about bivi bags is, of course, that they need very little room. Setting up camp took at least twenty seconds after which it was time to get the stove on for tea.Tonight's meal was a Adventure Foods Cashew Nasi. So, pan on my cat food can food stove and we are good to go, head torch and bug head net on as the light fades and the bugs begin to bite.

During the night, the broth bit back as I awoke desperate for the loo. Again, bivi bags have a great advantage here as there are no zips to deal with. Despite the annoyance of waking in the middle of the night, being able to drink in the majesty of the night sky in its full glory, miles away from the city lights is one I will never tire of. A truly spectacular sight.

The morning view was not too bad either.

Time to air things 

Then time for a quick brew

Before packing up and heading home. 

Another great #microadventure.

Summer Solstice 2014

Saturday had dawned bright and sunny. The bags were packed and ready to go. One for Dad and one for Lad. It was time for a microadventure.

We waited until the end of the afternoon, then headed north to Dartmoor for The Lad's first experience of microadevnturing.  

After walking through the lovely village of Belstone, a gate marks the boundary of open access land

.

Standard equipment for any microadvanture is, of course, a luxury item. 

I opted for a pillow. 

The Lad opted for a lightsabre.

 The Force is strong in this one as he leads the way.

After some time The Lad decided he needed to be more nimble. 

I acquire his bag to carry as well as mine. 

All is well. I get to carry the extra weight, but I also get to have a go with the lightsabre. 

Great rocks block our path, but The Lad leads us successfully through the boulder field.

The sky shows a lot more blue than it did a year ago.

Eventually, well after normal bed time, The Lad finds his home for the night.

 And the sun starts to set

So, the longest day ends and the shortest night begins 

Next day, we are up just after 5am. It is time to read while sitting on a rock.

 Our bed for the night. PADI SCUBA divers are taught "take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles". We leave nothing but slightly trampled grass. 

 As the new day dawns, The Lad heads up the next hill

 A-haaaaaaaa!

 An interesting addition to a dry stone wall

 The road leads us back to Belstone

Fueled by M&M's, the breakfast of choice.

A fitting end to our little adventure.

Refreshed, thrilled and invigorated with the spirit of microadventure.

The next one is already being planned.

The route

The forecast is looking good

Tomorrow is the longest day of the year. The forecast is looking good, just a little bit different to last year's event.

So tomorrow we pack our bags, then late afternoon we head north to the moor.

Breakfast

Got up and did some star-jumps and press-ups to warm up, then it’s time for a brew. Never being quick to come to my senses in the morningm I don’t notice that the stove is on a tilt and as the pan started to warm up, I knock it over. “That was fortunate” I say rather loudly, but what else can I say? The chance of the brew out of the window as I only have a few mouthfuls of water left in my bottle. The last of the meths has gone. There is only one choice now. Time to head home.

I eat some snack and stuff my gear into my bag. Ten minutes later I am returning to the car.

An hour later, I arrive at Two Bridges where some Royal Marine NCOs had setup shop. They are expecting a group in from the end of an exercise within the next hour or so.

By 0600, I am on my way home, arriving just as the family are getting up.

It’s time for breakfast and the rest of the whole weekend is ahead of us.

Did I enjoy my first microadventure?

Most definitely. Can't wait for the next.

Attack of the bleating sheep

I am lying there half awake. It is starting to get light and I can hear the bleating of a sheep. It is getting louder and louder and seems to be betting closer. I am in that blissful state of being half-awake; not wanting to move. Peeking out the top of my bivibag, I can see that  rain had died off a bit, but that there is still a light mizzle. Still no urge to get up, but that sheep is getting really loud and louder. I check my watch. It’s just after 4:30am.

Wide awake now and the sheep’s bleating is seriously loud. What on earth is going on?

I roll over and sit up, almost head butting the sheep that was sniffing the green slug-like creation it found lying on the floor. The sheep scarpers off into the distance and is quiet now, but I am side awake and there is no chance of getting back to sleep. It’s time to get up.

The Summer Solstice sunset over Dartmoor

Back from work, changed, children fed and to bed. Me heading north. 

Detour on the way and I am parked by just before eight. It’s time to head for the hills. 

I followed the path round the back of the post office, alongside a field of very inquisitive cows, then through the gate to the open moor. The wind was noticeably picking up and the sunshine from earlier had gone. Wall-to-wall, or should I say horizon-to-horizon white cloud so it might get damp later.

Up alongside the steam, just before nine, I saw a couple of tents camped up in a beautiful flat spot, but no sign of the occupants. They must either be out or having an early night.

I pressed on a little further, before stopping, quite hungry by now.

Getting set up took second, then it’s time for food. Lancashire hotpot boil in the bag. Not having used the beer can stove before, I fumbled around for a bit – it burns hot and runs out of fuel very quickly, but its simple and easy to use. It’s just a shame that the ground was not level, so I used some tent pegs to stabilise the pan.

It was getting very late be the time, I had made a post dinner coffee and was tucking into my After Eight, well, chocolate bar. At 10:30, it was still very, very bright; bright enough to see without a torch. Then the first big fat raindrops fell.

This was the first of many, so it was time for bed. I stuffed all my gear inside my rucksack which became my pillow, and jumped into the bivi bag and I was set for the night. Unfortunately, so was the weather.

I am sure you are thinking? Did he get to see the sunset on this longest day? 

The answer to that question is a resounding no.