gymwitch

11 minutes ago, Six30 said:

cant wait ...

 

Whoooop

On 29/11/2021 at 00:20, Grace (BikeHedonia) said:

A new episode of my travails is live, including sleeping on a mountainside and looping out a wheelie on the enduro bike to the endless amusement of a family of Thai farmers.

I aim to entertain haha.

https://bikehedonia.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/tigers-in-the-night/

Sounds awesome

Ohhhkaay.

The plan this week is to get the stuff ive got together so far and make a list of stuff i need from your help and tips on here

Going to try and sort a microphone out for the gopro too. I need a new helmet aswel as both of mine let rain in at the top of the visor. Very helpful. 

Load bike up and practice !!! 

6 hours ago, Mawsley said:

Awwww 2 happy puppers

6 hours ago, Mawsley said:

Always have two on the go now for that reason. One cops it, we have a pup in within the week to dull the pain. Nothing makes you forget the grief more than a little shit whining through the night and pissing in your best shoes ( that she’s just eaten).

Woofs are the best and most painful thing in life.

Absolutely agree. The jrt Spud was the pup i got towards the end of the life of the jrt before him, Midge. Our husky boy was a rescue that we felt sorry for....the abuse he had endured was awful. I should be happy they got to good ages. Shiloh was 14 and Spud was almost 18!!  They are indeed the best and most painful thing. 

I will get another when im done riding the bike. Whenever that is. 

Was weird not putting 'the lads' on the xmas cards this year.

Anyway im focused on stuff now and its helped massively talking on here about them too so thanks everyone for that. Cant talk about it to anyone face to face as i see the pain in their eyes too so we just mumble on. 

2 hours ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

I really like those but theyre all mummy bags apart from one thats not warm enough for me.

Ditto. I feel like ive been buried alive in them. Ugghhh

2 hours ago, Grasshopper's Ride said:

Speaking of Kettles.....I just spoiled myself and got the Kelly Kettle Scout Ultimate Kit

It's a stick stove and boils water super fast......  ...and it has a whistle!

This is not a bike camping kit, but still very nice!!!

Lush 

2 hours ago, Skippy said:

Our dog died almost a year before we left the UK for Spain and it was the hardest time I’ve ever had and there have been a few I can tell you. The house was just different, it seemed empty and the life had been sucked out if it.

My wife really struggled with it for a couple of years as he died right in front of her and I was about three hours away. I felt guilty for not being there and I think she felt I’d let her down.

We both said we couldn’t go through that again and vowed not to have any more dogs but fast forward to Spain and here we are with two of the buggers………….wouldn’t be without a dog by choice.

So, it’s Bertie and Lou (cross breed and Labrador) now and Fraser the Springer Spaniel from when we were in the UK.

My husky died in my arms unexpectedly and it was a long drawn out struggling death. Im having flashbacks of it. The jrt went peacefully but like you say the soul is gone from a house that i despise anyway. Lost is not the word. I cant see me ever doing it again but ive never ever been without dogs and cats snd birds and rabbits, guinea pigs, fish on and on. 

Your dogs are beautiful. Dogs are ace

Just now, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

Ah so compact is good then. Do you have kitchen stuff like stove and kettle?

Yep got a burner thingie. 

8 minutes ago, Grasshopper's Ride said:

I keep having "dog moments", feel like I have forgotten something, or should check on her and say hi.....

Last night I thought I heard her drinking water in the kitchen, so weird.  The house sure does take on a different feeling. 

 

I love my GoPros and making videos.  I find it fun for myself, too look back at my adventures.  

Yes that feeling like you have forgotten something !!! 

26 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

Sounds great. Are you going on your tod? I ask because if you have two bikes then space isnt really such an issue.

Just moi

On 01/01/2022 at 19:55, Grasshopper's Ride said:

I also find myself in a similar position now, without a dog the world has opened up and it's a bit freaky....

Travelling is the plan....

Someone already mentioned the heavy weight low and the light high, but also remember to think about what you pack on the exhaust side.  I saw someone once pack their camp stove and fuel too close and well, you can imagine.

Excited for you and your new adventures. 

Its a strange feeling and i feel it most in the house. One of the main reasons i want to get away regularly. We will get there it just takes time doesn't it. 

Im excited and need to learn to use the gopro so i can take you all with me

1 minute ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

Im afraid the sleeping bag thing is a minefield because everyone’s sleeping comfort zone temperature can be different. I get cold so I have the warmest sub zero sleeping bag and a silk liner which I use most of the year, that would be a nightmare for most people! Im afraid its a suck it and see. 

I can say the expensive cotton sleeping bag I brought is a massive NOOO, unsurprisingly cotton sucks up condensation! 

I started off with two thinner sleeping bag and from the combination of layers available quickly discovered what warmth rating suited me then read lots of reviews. 

Do you have a water carry bag?

How many nights are you going for?

ps I finally bought a mummy sleeping bag against my better judgement.. its horrible, I had to sleep with it undone  

Only one night. Ive jiggled stuff so i can take off sunday morn and get back anytime monday. I want to do it regularly though. Also want to get some lake swimming in too. 

9 hours ago, Buckster said:

Don’t forget a camping stove big enough to cook hedgehogs.

Im vegan

23 hours ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

For me sleeping comfort is the most important part if I want enjoy not endure it and when packing space is at a premium its easy to sacrifice that for skinny mattresses or a horrible travel pillow. They work for some but not me.

Motorbiker was along the same lines and used a full size memory foam pillow which sounds crazy when space is at a premium but as he pointed out you can put it in the bottom of the bag and the weight crushes it down (I crush the air out of mine in one of those thin drysacs). Having a decent pillow and mattress is make or break when you want more than one night. I bought a shredded memory foam pillow, cut the case down to 3/4 size.

Mattress wise I tried LOADS and after looking up what worked best for avoiding back/neck/shoulder pain I bought the suggested cot AND mattress combo and I find them extremely comfortable. Im sure if you have a tent you already have gear youre going to use but Im mentioning them because they give exceptional comfort but pack up small. IMO for the comfort theyre worth the space, the mattress folds up much smaller than anything else Ive seen. Its comfortable enough that “5 more mins” is always on the cards  

Im sure someone wise will be along in a minute to mention keeping the weighty stuff low and evenly distributed on both sides of the bike blah blah blah  

Where are you planning to go?  

 

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07QS9JMGC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07N4KK854/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ps they didnt recommend any specific cot and mattress combo this is just what I landed on after reading a million reviews, sometimes Im a right nerd  

Ahhhh thanks !!! I dont have any sleeping stuff yet so this is spot on thanks. Im heading off to windermere somewhere around there as its only an hour away. Any sleeping bag recommendations? Not a mummy one though. Freak me out those things !!!

Got one

3 hours ago, Buckster said:

From caravan to tent in one simple move.

Do you wear anything under your chaps or is it balls out? 

2 hours ago, boboneleg said:

A lot depends on which bike you’re using. If you’re thinking of using your 400 then it could be difficult as sports bikes don’t really lend themselves to carrying a lot of luggage.

On the 750

Ride reports 

Im deffo doing it.  Cant wait. 

Cloudless sky !!! Not seen that in a long time. Great post

My plan is to shuffle work round so that i can get two days off together. Once ive accomplished that and now that im dogless (struggling with this big time) i can load up snd bog off for a couple of days weather permitting. Sooo my question is can anyone give me some advice about loading my bike and riding with weight on. 

Im initially just going to put some clobber on it and ride round here where im used to but if theres hints and tips im in need of help and some encouragement really ta very muchly

Ohhh i have lightweight gear for the job. Slummit tent (feck off buckster) sleeping bag. Cooking stuff. So any hints and tips ta

Wow place looks amazing. Pretty sure hubs will end up with a GS at some point.

14 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

A couple of years ago. Not the finest photo but one of my favourites, cos I was so happy, dorky looking but happy, like top tier happy, felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz running through the flower fields in the sunshine except on a motorbike, dont think Ill ever beat that. Just me and one other guy and not another soul about.

Thats a fab and happy picture !!!