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.

A Dad and Lad Microadventure

Exactly 363 days ago today,  I spent the night on Dartmoor in my bivy bag. It was windy, overcast and rained a lot. The following morning, at first light, I was awoken by a sheep sniffing around me; doubtless trying to work out what I was.

A miserable night, but a great little adventure.

In two days time, I am bound for a night on the moor once again. The forecast currently looks good and my boy's coming with me for a Dad and Lad #microadventure.

Can't wait.

Rain stopped play

The Winter Solstice microadventure did not happen. Rain, rain and more rain.  There are many things I would like Santa to bring, but hypothermia is not one of them. 


'Til next time then

Winter Solstice 2013

Next weekend, we will be heading to Leeds for a few days leading up to the Crhsitmas holiday. To celebrate the shortest day of the year, I plan to sleep out on Ilkey Moor for the night of the winter solstice.

I will not be "bar tat",

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.