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

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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.

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.