I have a terrible memory so I'll attempt to capture memory-joggers of my mini adventures here; touring on and off the Tarmac on a big adventure bike and maybe even the occasional hike. I'll comment on specific gear/kit experiences that may be useful to others too.
Just trying to enjoy the great outdoors with limited resources.
My Chinese multi-fuel stove failed on the first night of a recent trip. The fuel bottle leaked when starting to pressurise, something I'd seen before and it seemed to be just a sticky o-ring. I'd diddled with it three times and got covered in petrol each time I tried it again. I was done with it.
I had already been re-evaluating what I need from a stove considering what I tend to cook. My mate had made a comment about reliability being key and that struck a chord. He'd been using a Trangia for a fair few years but when I'd borrowed one to try, years before, it seemed to use lots of fuel for a very slow cook, so I'd dismissed them as not what I'd wanted.
I managed to survive the weekend by eating only either stuff that didn't need to be cooked or that only needed hot water (begged or borrowed). By my thinking (and from how my mate had talked about his) a Trangia should now be reconsidered but if I'm going to splash out, maybe I should get the hard anodised version as it should last a bit longer being shaken around on the bike.
The HA version should be tough. The Trangia design is inherently stable (no wobbly pots sliding off or the whole thing tipping over). They also don't heat the surface they're sitting on to any significant degree so could be used on groundsheets or tables without fear of scorching. Kettle and pans nest and work together meaning it's compact and almost everything you need is together. They don't need any special lighting requirements, pre-heating etc, just a spark will do it. Fuel supposedly lasts longer (cheaper per meal/less to carry) and they simmer well. Of course non-stick means little or no oil required and easier cleaning too. What's not to like? Maybe they're not the fastest, but I'm not usually in a rush.
Just me and GB, spending four days riding in Wales.
The plan
No real plan. We had some GPS routes of some interesting roads we wanted to do, but that was it. No campsites booked either, not even looked at any.
Gear loading
A new set up for me, the possibility of off-roading meant I wanted to leave the topbox behind. Just two panniers and a small pack strapped to the rack.
GB's smaller bike with tall suspension and tall luggage made getting on and off really difficult for him. I could throw my leg over, no problem. These difference were highlighted later when we got muddy...
Arriving
We arrived at the campsite and pulled up at our chosen spot. We're chatting as I lean the bike over onto its sidestand only to topple over and fall to the ground. GB has to take a picture, in between wetting himself. Sidestand wasn't down :-P
New tent set-up
The Hi Gear Soloista, a cheap solo tent (referred to as the coffin) and a cheap tarp was my home for three nights. The idea was it would be quick to put up and down and take up less space on the bike. The tarp would provide a place to cook and shelter from the inevitable Welsh rain. I wanted it to be quick as we weren't planning on staying in the same place each night.
Coffin and tarp, with micro-fiber towel drying on one of the lines.
The set-up worked in as much as it kept me warm and dry but it was more of a faff than my regular tent. The tarp was secured with paracord guy-lines tied with taut-line hitches for easy tensioning. It was small and lightweight but the extra hassle in setting it up and the possibility of having to move it if the wind changed direction means I won't be using it again. I tried it but it's not for me; no real benefits for how I like to camp.
Shouldn't take photos while riding.
Stove expires
After a fair service life, my cheap Chinese multi-fuel stove gave up the ghost, on the first night. I learned a few things over the time and don't regret buying it. I could have still bought a gas canister to get me through the weekend, but I didn't. Not sure why.
Deep ruts & panniers don't mix
We headed off-road for part of the Strata Florida; through one of a thousand gates and down a fairly steep stony track. At the bottom there was a shallow water crossing, only about 6" deep but had a concrete slab bottom (notoriously slippery). We had to open another gate first and getting the GSA on and off the side-stand on odd slopes and cambers is a challenge in itself. GB went through and straight up the steep, muddy, eroding track on the other side. I had to cross, come back to get the gate and then start from a standstill. I was very impressed with how the GSA handled that hill.
Too many gates and GB couldn't get on or off very easily because of his tall luggage on an already tall bike, so it was up to me to get most of the gates. Too many gates. Being tall and narrow he did have the advantage of not snagging his luggage on tree roots and rocks, like I did, when the track side came up high. Twice I caught my panniers enough to stop me. Once on a tree stump and once on a rock, both times I was in a deep rut with high sided banks so it was impossible to manoeuvre around them or get the stand down. If I'd been narrower (without panniers) I don't think I would have had any issues. GB got through fine with his narrow set-up, as long as he didn't want to get on and off too often he was happy. Snagging my panniers was killing my momentum and I was getting stuck. I could smell my clutch and enough was enough. GB said he would've continued further if he had more fuel, but then he'd have to get his own damn gates. Did I mention there were a lot of gates?
I know the BMW R1200 GS Adventure can carry a fair amount of crap but sometimes when "travelling light" I could do with some extra storage; mainly for tools and bits I want with me no matter what luggage I choose to leave behind. A mini compressor, Stop & Go puncture kit and a few very basic tools live under the seat but I need space for the more comprehensive kit that usually ends up in my topbox. An upcoming trip with the possibility of some off-road riding (no topbox) meant I should pull my finger out.
I had long toyed with the idea of putting a plate behind the right-hand pannier rack to allow me to bolt stuff to it. I wasn't keen on the styling of most to the available toolboxes, especially given the prices. Most aren't waterproof in anyway either and tend to look like a cheap tin box. I couldn't bring myself to part with my hard-earned for such an item.
A medium sized tooltube (the ones everybody uses) was cheap enough, rugged and suitably sized to fit nicely in the space behind the rack with just enough clearance from the rear wheel and brake caliper when the suspension compresses. That was the theory anyway.
The plate was cut from a ~4mm thick aluminium base plate from an old power supply (hence the holes) and was cut and shaped with a very old electric jigsaw and hand files. Stainless steel M5 button-head Allen bolts hold the plate in place on the rack through holes drilled in the pannier mounting tabs. The tooltube is bolted on with M8 nuts and bolts and best of all; the theory is sound - no collisions! Tested out in Wales on part of the Strata Florida.
Look ma, no damage!
I did plug a small breather hole in the underside of the tool tube with a small plastic snap-in plug which I then fused on the inside with a soldering iron to help keep the water out.
I do quite like the new Touratech toolbox though, it's cheaper than most too.
The Watkin Path again and it was already raining as we pulled into the car park. We thought we'd give it a go as we were "reasonably" well prepared.
The climb started wet but we we're all enjoying the scenery. The waterfalls are amazing. It was hot so we weren't sealed up inside our waterproofs as we should've been. We didn't notice how wet we'd become until we took a break around halfway up. The clouds had really come in and both visibility and temperatures were dropping. It was here that two guys came down from the track up ahead, also looking very wet, and asked which way we were going. They said the summit cafe and train were closed due to the weather; my bribe just went out the window.
Ruth and I discussed whether to proceed anyway or turn around. My eldest daughter was already grumpy and we were all very wet. Both Ruth and the kids were getting cold, I was OK, but it was time to back.
At the bottom we fed and watered while we warmed up, in the Caffi Gwynant. I'll have to come back, third time lucky.
I had to contact Simon and bail on HISS. Didn't have enough holiday from work left or spondulies in the bank to do it on top of a family break we'd planned. Not fair on family if I buggered off for a week while they did nothing.
After my Snowdon fail Ruth suggested we do it as a family (Snowdon at least), the kids weren't too happy with the suggestion. I'm unsure if/how I can do any of the Peaks by bike this year now because scheduling may make it difficult.
I received an email from Simon Rice (aka SpanishBiker) wanting to confirm for HISS. Ruth thinks I should do HISS and do 3 Peaks another time or by car maybe. I'm not sure we can afford the time or expense.
The thought of HISS gives me "butterflies", that slight uneasy feeling in your stomach, but it's not an adventure without butterflies, right?
I need to confirm I can get the time off work and it doesn't clash with anything else. Ruth wants to get the time off too so she's around for the girls.
It's been raining all night and the wind kept waking me up. I thought the tent might break at one point. I stuck my head out and tried to capture the blowing rain. Didn't quite catch it.
I was hoping it would be gone by morning.
It's really not pleasant out there!
The already sodden ground was now a series of puddles. My tent was surrounded by them and I assume they're underneath too, though there's no sign. My tent is doing it's job of keeping me warm and dry.
The site showers were nice enough; hot, wet and free. Just how I like them. I just realised I have a slight headache (probably dehydrated from yesterday, I didn't drink much) and the tip of my right-hand index finger is numb. Hmm, maybe my bars need a tweak.
Many had had enough and were packing up.
I'm back in the tent. The rain is relentless! How am I supposed to cook anything? Not safe to do it inside.
OK, tea made. I put the stove in the lid of my pannier to protect the ground sheet and used the wind-shield to protect from the draft under the door. Still seemed to take forever. Not used these mess tins before.
The stove doesn't actually send much heat downwards but better safe...
The rain finally stopped but the wind is worse. It comes in waves, every few minutes there's another blast. It eases a bit so I make my escape again.
A lot of people had packed and left. Those tents that remain seem empty and many had collapsed. One had blown down and was half in the river that feeds the lake, only being held by a couple of pegs still hanging on in the saturated ground. I was lucky, I'd deliberately pitched behind a group of trees to break the wind. I couldn't have moved further across (out of the wind) because there were puddles already forming there.
Some tents were collapsing in the wind.
Duck weather.
Some showed no signs of life.
I wandered over to the windswept stand where I had bought the pizza from the night before. The owners (mum and dad to the young guy and his girlfriend) were friendly and we chatted about the weather and travelling, their son and girlfriend had spent a year in India. The conversation then turned to horses and motorbikes and their obvious interaction. She said that trail riding (on a big bike) sounded very similar to event riding on a horse, where you have to use momentum to help carry you over obstacles. We also talked about horses having a mind of their own, unlike bikes. I thought you pretty much point them in the right direction and just control their speed, but there's more to it than that; riders have to build a rapport with the horse. Some might say it's the same for bikes.
I bought a couple of flapjacks, one for breakfast, as I'd failed to sort anything for myself. In the rush down I'd forgotten to stop and get supplies. It wasn't helped by not having my top-box and having nowhere to put anything. Take top-box next time! The bad conditions meant I didn't go back out after pitching either. Tiredness doesn't help. Ordinarily I wouldn't have the extra luggage of walking boots, jacket, rucksack etc, but having the extra stuff made it harder to pack/unpack and meant less space on the bike and in the tent. I digress.
With the promise of the worst of the storm blowing through by mid-day, I planned to get ready, to see how far I could walk. Everyone I'd spoken to said conditions were too dangerous and it's probably too late to attempt Snowdon anyway, but I had to do something.
I walked down to the bridge and stood for a while, thinking. The lack of provisions was a concern, as well as the high winds. Hard to believe this bridge was used in Tomb Raider!
I returned to my tent to get my rucksack then headed back along the footpath. It was very wet and rocky at the bottom but became more muddy as it climbed.
The rain is back.
A group of teens with massive packs, along with one adult, were hiking along the same trail. I assumed they were doing DofE. I stopped at a scenic view to let them pass me and watched them descend the almost vertical trail ahead, it looked like; on their bums.
I walked to the same section (walking were you have to consider every step - it's narrow, wet and steep). It was a 4-5' drop with barely discernible footholds. If I slipped; I'm on my own. I only have my day-pack with already limited supplies. I was only about a third of the way down the path (if that) before even reaching the start of the Watkin Path. Even if it took me an hour to get on to Snowdon (quite likely), I'd still have 5-6hrs of walking and then have to come back this way, in the dark. I did have plenty of lights with me...
4-5' step drop. Steep, wet and out of time anyway. Worth the risk?
I returned to the scenic view over the lake, considering my options. Another group of teens slowly made their way up. The lead girl asked about the trail ahead, I explained and she went to assess it. They also had a supervising adult with them. I chatted with him while the group went ahead. They were from a Gloucestershire school doing DofE Gold. They had been wild camping the night before and had to pull out to a youth hostel because of the storm. Their supervisor whispered to me, with a smile, that they were on the wrong path. The group returned, deciding against the descent as I did. They were better equipped than I was. While the group took a selfie with the lake as a backdrop, their supervisor explained how he'd got involved; volunteering because there wasn't enough supervisors when his own daughter wanted to do it. Simple enough, but then there's CRB checks, first aid training, mini-bus driving... things he hadn't considered, but it was all good. They all looked like they were enjoying themselves.
By now I had decided to return to camp. I wasn't equipped for a long day on the mountain in bad weather. I had seen both groups pausing, what seemed like every few steps, to eat a handful of dried fruit and nuts and it made me think about my lack of provisions again.
Re-tracing steps.
I followed the group back down to a stile where we wished one another a good day and they turned to climb straight up a path I hadn't even seen (they had their maps in waterproof cases, mine was keeping dry in my rucksack).
Back at camp, it's a pretty desolate.
I'm considering my options; pack up or stay for the second night and get some more riding in instead.
To ride or not to ride?
Rain is holding off, but still have low cloud and strong winds.
I was tidying up some gear when the winds really kicked in again, the worst so far. I was holding on to the tent from the inside. I honestly thought I was going to lose it. That's it! I'm getting the hell out of Dodge! I packed as much as I could inside the tent as the wind battered everything. The noise of the wind through the trees roared like a jet engine.
Shit! Where's my wallet?!? Don't tell me I dropped it on the trail, not now, it could be anywhere! The next blast triggered the alarm on the bike! I didn't hear it fall over. I had moved it slightly to put the side-stand on firmer ground and luckily it was facing more into the wind making it harder to blow over. Panic over, I found my wallet in a different pocket, duh! I continue packing and the alarm goes off again. That's over 250kg being moved about out there.
Listen to that wind!
A lot of the site was like this.
Packing between wind blasts.
I manage to pack the tent and load the bike between blasts. With everything secure, I walk over to the site's payphone but it says "barred" on my number. One of the staff is passing, he's says it does that sometimes when the weather is bad, something to do with the lines. The office phone is still working and he fetches it for me to call home.
By this time it's late afternoon. I set satnav to fastest route and apart from the roads out of Wales (which were actually quite enjoyable) the ride home was pretty dull with more wind and rain. I did remember to use my earplugs this time and they worked a treat. I've never used them much before as I didn't like not being able to hear the bike, but once I got used to them I actually like it. I can still hear music and nav instructions. They even made the music sound better, somehow. I must look at piping music through plugs...
So what did I learn?
Don't rush the journey - don't plan too much and break up the route into smaller sections that can be swapped about a lot easier.
You will be tired - washing up and laundry aren't fun.
Take the top-box - keep it largely empty.
Putting the tent inside a pannier just isn't worth the hassle - use the space for food and clothes.
Take some thick bin bags - for emergency waterproofing. Thankfully I didn't have an issue but they're cheap and take up little space.
I've arrived at camp! I'm sitting in my tent at Llyn Gwynant campsite making notes because I won't remember it all. There's absolutely no mobile coverage here. I'm in a valley on the south side on Snowdon surrounded by signal blocking hills. So much for posting from the field.
The ground is so soft that the bike's sidestand still sank in even with the large foot pad. Site warden said they've had a lot of rain in the last few days.
Trip here
For most of the trip here the Zumo 590 was telling me to turn off on random branches and loops but to be fair I think this was my fault for maybe not being precise enough with Basecamp. It was also telling me to take the first exit of every single roundabout regardless of where the route was actually going. Both voice and text instructions were affected, but the map was fine. Lucky I was paying attention.
It has been neck-snappingly windy today but only a few heavy showers. I'd taken (planned) some roads, early on, that I'd enjoyed before (It's really windy out there!) but because I knew I had such a long way to go, and perhaps because the weather was a bit crap, they didn't seem quite the same.
I just put my Keis jacket back on (not powered!) and got in to my sleeping bag; it's about 8degC, not particularly cold, but it's wet and windy and I've just ridden 340 miles.
Tent was put up in a hurry.
Peak District
I'd ridden past Chatsworth House again, that's a nice little road. Then I took my life in my hands and rode my bike, fully loaded down Houndkirk Road (byway) off the A6187 near Foxhouse.
It got interesting over that hill.
It started out sandy/stony, nothing I haven't done before, then I got to some inclines with large wet cobblestone-like rocks across the width of the trail. I had committed and it wouldn't have been easy to stop or turn around anyway so I just kept going, trying to keep smooth, use my momentum and stay off the front brake. By looking ahead and choosing my line I managed to skirt around anything resembling a rock step. There were what appeared to be drainage pipes spanning the "road" covered with earth forming tall and narrow "speed bumps". They were fun. Any amount of speed would get you airborne. On a loaded big bike the road was scary and exhilarating, probably not so much if you were on a dirt bike.
Houndkirk Road coming to an end.
Windy!
The sun came out!
Winnats Pass was next, then through the Edale - Hope loop which I think was better in the first half (going clockwise).
Approach to Winnats Pass.
I stopped in the garage at the junction for the Ladybower road for fuel and a sandwich. I was intending to continue to Snake Pass but I was aware that it was getting late. At one point the satnav said the ETA was 20:30! I wasn't making good time. I'd overestimated how much is realistically possible. I didn't want to feel rushed the whole time or have to pitch the tent in the dark so I made the decision to abandon my planned route. I changed to an auto-calculated "curvy roads" route that seemed to do a good job; fast enough to flow but still interesting (the geography helps, I think). I really enjoyed the A54, turning off before the Cat 'n' Fiddle. The roundabout bug in the Zumo didn't show itself either.
Bad planning
I ache now and getting tired. I hadn't sorted any supplies on the way in and my usual backup plan of going back out after pitching didn't happen either. Without my top-box I didn't have anywhere convenient to put anything. Luckily for me the site had a stall selling freshly made pizzas. Sold! They made me a cuppa too, gratis. I got some milk for tea in the morning from the site warden. More bad planning; I don't have anything for breakfast and the nearest supermarkets are 12-15 miles away according to the young couple running the pizza stall. I can't be bothered. Peanut M&Ms it is then.
SatNav installation completed last night, then route tweaking. I was trying to bring it down from 11hrs by using more motorway and main trunk roads, didn't quite manage it.
I'm finding I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself; lots to do in little time. Not what I wanted. I wanted a more relaxed trip.
Last few bits to pack tonight, mostly my walking gear (in a dry bag on the rack), then final checks...
I've been playing with the Zumo 590 for a fair few hours now but I've still not ridden with it. I'm getting to grips with Garmin's Basecamp to the point that I've tweaked the planned route to change directions in a few places and take me down some trails.
Two things are making me nervous; trusting the weekend to a SatNav that is unproven (to me) but more than that is the concern of tackling the potentially steep rocky trails on a big bike, on my own, fully loaded. I've done a fair bit in mud and sand but in the flats of East Anglia. Rocks hurt and break things. And I can't carry my bike up or down big rock steps...
But that's adventure, right?
The hike up Snowdon doesn't seem to be much of a concern. We'll see.
Well, I didn't expect that! I had an email from customer service; they've got new stock in ahead of schedule and are delivering tomorrow! It gives me time to get it installed and to RTFM before the trip.
With two weeks to go until the first trip I decided to purchase the sat nav that I'd had my eyes on for a while. Up until now I'd only been using the Tom Tom app on my phone which is really good for A-to-B (and via a maximum of 5 way-points), but it had begun to feel a little limiting. You can't follow predetermined routes and it doesn't handle multi-day trips.
A friend had always raved about the Garmin Montana and although it was pretty impressive, it didn't really fit my needs. It was close, but not quite what I wanted. Then Garmin released the Zumo 390 and 590.
Zumo 590LM in portrait mode
The was looking like it was what I needed (the 390 didn't support the "curvy roads" routing - something the Tom Tom app did!). I didn't particularly want to spend a small fortune but I'm at a stage in life were I just want stuff to work and work well. I'm done buying tat. It'll also come in pretty handy for a planned family trip to the south of France and, of course, Iceland. See Touratech's 7 Things You Should Know About the New Zumo 590LM
So with the decision made I found a retailer, it was in stock so I paid for next day delivery to give me chance to install it and become familiar with it. Then I received an email telling me it was not in stock and not expected for another week. It won't be delivered until after I've left...
Don't panic!
Thinking I would just have to take all the paper maps and use the Tom Tom app, it occurred to me that I hadn't booked anything (deliberately), so I could still make it work by swapping holiday from Friday to Monday. Work was cool with it, so now the plan is to install the sat nav on the bike Friday evening and leave early Saturday instead. It obviously doesn't allow much time to get packed and get the route sorted. Best pack as much as I can beforehand.
I've planned over ten hours of riding on Basecamp taking me to Snowdon via the Peak District on some amazing looking roads and through places of interest. I just hope the route transfers correctly to the device when it does arrive.
Travelling by motorcycle can mean carrying a lot of stuff, often more than necessary, so I'm trying to fine-tune my gear to reduce it while at the back of my mind planning for a bike trip into the interior of Iceland.
I've already downsized that enormous 100mm self-inflating mattress for a Multimat Superlite Air, so that bulk that I took to Austria has gone. The Superlite is working out really well.
Multimat Superlite Air - highly recommended.
I'm kind of using the 3-Peaks trips to test new kit and discover what I can do without. First changes are to leave a few things behind:
No top-box
Too convenient not to take for most trips but they say you shouldn't use them when off-roading as they can impact your back when you go down. I've lost count how many times I've had to pick my bike up and think you'd have to be unlucky to have it hit you. That said, I don't use my top-box off-road as there would be a lot of leverage with a fair weight behind it if it were to hit something on the way down. I've also seen a top-box launch into the air when it ripped from its mounts while riding green lanes.
No chair
I own this low chair - pretty good.
I briefly considered this. ££!
Simple one this. Don't really need one. My hard panniers serve as both a seat and a table. I find I only use a chair if I'm in a group and we're sitting around the camp fire. I have a general purpose foam pad that I use when sitting on the floor or pannier for longer periods and sometimes when changing footwear and pulling on bike trousers when the ground is wet and muddy. It saves my knees around camp too. Travelling light; I don't need a separate chair.
Next, figure out what I can improve upon or what I might need that I don't already have:
Compressed tent
I took the poles out of the tent bag and put the tent into a compression sack to shorten it. It now fits in the pannier. Poles strap along the rack of the bike.
North Ridge Torre XL - perfect tent for my needs.
Folding trowel
Got this sorted. My parents had an unused folding trowel in their caravan that they bought on a whim. They donated it to the cause. Just the job for the job when wild camping.
Got it. Not yet used it.
Better pillow
I want a bigger pillow that packs smaller but is soft and light. A Sea To Summit Aeros pillow will do nicely.
On my Wish List
Folding spade
Riding solo on big bike across sand I could end up burying the back wheel; a spade could be useful. And I like the look of it. OK, I just want one.
I need one!
To be fair, I have ridden in some pretty deep sand and it's true; you do have to stay on the throttle. I've been lucky so far and not got stuck. Though I did once in boggy mud. I didn't have as much experience then and had buddies at hand to help me out. I would be able to ditch the rubber mallet from the luggage as this Gerber spade comes with a built-in whacker. I like multi-purpose kit.
Puncture repair kit
Stop & Go tyre plugger - don't leave home without it.
I really should have placed a higher priority on this before, but they're not cheap for something I've never needed; I've never carried a puncture repair kit and I've never had a puncture. I run Heidenau K60s, tubeless on the GS, and have never had a problem on or off road. Parents being parents bought me a kit when I told them of my Iceland plans. They still worry over me and I'm 41!
Comfortable gentleman's bits
I know. Not the usual subject of polite conversation but it is a very import subject. One has to be comfortable. There is nothing worse than having to (ahem) adjust one's self because of bunching, pinching or that feeling of being cut-in-half. I have a ten hour ride planned and travelling light means I'm taking just two pairs: wear one, wash one. I bought two pairs of 6" Under Armour BoxerJocks and they're supposed to dry quickly. They do pack small (you can almost hide them in your hand). Worn to work for a day, I can confirm they are the most comfortable underwear I've ever owned. About £10 each isn't bad either.
Under Armour BoxerJocks - perfect for riding.
Cameras, charging, SD cards and backups
Hmm, big subject. Maybe it should have its own post...
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