This month was a fairly bog standard bivvy after my labours at the Bear Bones 200 last weekend. I'd actually planned on going out next weekend but the forecast was looking good this weekend and I've done a few damp bivvies this year so a chance to grab a dry one had to be taken. Plus the thought of another night stuck in the house didn't appeal so it was a case of throw bags on bike, shove stuff in bags (inc. new quilt!) and off we go into a cool but clear evening. I'd no fixed route so just made a few random turns to take me to the hills. Various spots presented themselves to me (in my mind that is) but it was quite breezy so I figured on somewhere sheltered. This lead to the spot I've used twice before deep in the woods above Dunning. It looks like they are going to do a lot of felling up here this winter so it may well be the last time I get to use this perfect woodland spot. I arrived at 7.45 and pitched the tarp in the space under the trees I'd cleared last November. Once in (new quilt v cosy) I utilised my culinary skills to boil water and bung it in a couple of bags of suspicious powder with lumps in. I've not had much joy with 'extreme food' meals and really I was just using these up. In the event they re-constituted into a remarkably reasonable chilli and curry. Thereafter I relaxed with a couple of beers and my book.
My dead to the world sleep was interrupted with the heart-stopping sound of a dog barking close by. Given I was in the middle of nowhere and it was too early for even an early dog walker, this was of concern. Thoughts of some rabid mutt attacking my bivvy loomed in my mind. Hmmm, it sounded like a collie type bark rather than a hell hound hunting dog bark so maybe its a stray. Then it occurred to me - maybe its a fox. I've seen one a few times round here and I'll bet it was this very one. Of course the next thing to worry me was what the fox was barking at. Bears?
Comforted I zonked out once more to wake to a tweety bird in the tree above me chirping for all its worth. No owls tonight..... Subsequently I've learned that fox's barks are quite quiet and more of a cough. So really not sure what this was all about, possibly a poacher! Anyway further lazing around followed, including a large cup of splosh and the unwelcome sound of my exped pillow bursting when I lent on it (must lose weight). I got going eventually with a vague plan to bag some more hills.
A dry bivvy at long last...
This lead me into Corb Glen, up the big push to the pass below Green Law then a further push up to the Green Knowes windfarm. I'd walked up here on a foul day in 2019 so was keen to get the views I'd missed then. Beyond the wind turbines you can follow an Ochills standard grassy track to the trig point on Steeles Knowe.
Looking up Glen Devon and the Ochills looking a bit gloomy today. I was pleased to see that the 2021 bracken is now all dead!
I missed out the windfarm track descent to bag another hill (Ben Thrush), followed by a steep and little used track back to the ROW over to Glendevon village. Then it was up and through Glen Quey and various trails back home.I had plenty of slithers in the mud so I reckon its time for the 'duros again - so much for the dust dry trails of summer.
Two more to go; I'm on the home straight!
