October....
I've always had pretty good weather on my October BAM's and this one was no exception, despite a variable forecast. In the event the deluge predicted for Friday morning didn't materialise, although it got pretty breezy at one point. Of course it was the Autumn equinox and the clocks are about to change. I thought back to my Spring equinox bivvy, in perfect weather conditions and temps down to -6. Min temps tonight were to be 11 degrees...
I'd nothing drastic planned, thanks to a few aches and pains dating from my trials and tribulations in Wales a few weeks ago, just a run to my favourite local spot in the woods above Dunning Glen, as used a year ago and a few times before. First Friday bivvy for a while and what a great thing - finish up at work, throw some stuff at the bike and head out into the dark. Despite my prediction that this month would be a wash out, the weather was once again dry and fine with more of the same all evening and tomorrow morning. A few trails and back roads later I climbed up through the forest and reached the spot just after 8. Tarp up in jig time, make tea, drink beer, read book, listen to owls - bliss
It was still pretty breezy but apart from an occasional draft all was calm around me. That (and the beer) led to a solid 8 hours sleep before I woke to the dawn chorus of many tweety birds. (no barking deer this time!) Then I crashed back out for an hour or so - 9.30! After a leisurely breakfast I packed up and had a further wander around these woods.
There are lots of these nice low key tracks around these woods. I guess at some point they will fell the trees and the tracks will get upgraded but for now they make for some nice riding.
Further wanderings followed through Glen Devon woods and I got home just as the rain came on - another dry bivvy!
On with the Cruxes again, the mud is here for the duration!
