May Microadventure - A journey round home

So, Inspired by Alistair Humphries challenge to a year of Microadventures and limited by time I decided to use May for a journey round home.

After spending time over my local OS map trying to find woods and hills the blindingly obvious struck me.  I live dead centre of a the 'Island' created by the Jubilee and Thames Rivers.  Why not walk that?  Its only about 15 miles, will take less than a day and has lots of opportunities for the obligatory overnight Bivvi.

Inspired by the simplicity and ease of access I did the all important thing and committed myself mentally to the task.  The usual domestic and work demands meant that I could fit the journey in to a late Wednesday evening through to Thursday lunchtime.

It was strange leaving the house after dinner at about 7PM at a time when it felt like I should be settling down for the semi finals of Britains Got Talent.  On reflection it struck me that this was the whole point of a Microadventure - do something different.  I had deliberately packed minimally.  So, compared with other trips I've done where my pack seemed unnecessarily heavy I was pleased to be walking with a spring in my step.  Again, that idea of carrying only what you need rather than what you want seemed to resonate and create a good feel for the journey.

The first hour saw me follow the Jubilee River East parallel with the M4.  Not pretty but already starting to create that all important sense of otherness that these trips can generate.  I soon drew level with the good old playing fields of Eton, crossed Datchet Golf course and joined the South bank of the Thames.  I've often biked this journey but being on foot meant I could actually walk the River bank properly.  That meant finding the field between the railway and the river and the boatyard I've never seen before, eerily quiet in the mid evening after work.  After two hours I was crossing the footbridge between Windsor and Eton.  The feeling of being on an adventure really struck home as the light began to fail, other people starting their pub and restaurant nights out and me on route to a hedge somewhere!

The walk along the Thames was deserted now as night began to fall slowly as did a fine drizzle!  Ten PM found me in a nice secluded spot where a quick hop over a fence found me a corner of a field where I could pitch my tarp and crawl in to my Bivvi bag secure in the knowledge I could not be seen but would see anyone approaching me.  Funny how despite being almost invisible in the dark and in one of the safest countries in the World we still have a small fear of being out of doors at night.

I survived the night and enjoyed waking at dawn to the sound of the Dawn Chorus and the sight of a fresh new bright day that you can only really appreciate when you are part of it.  A doze till about six thirty and then a quick pack up of my camp before heading to an open spot in the sun for breakfast.  Another great advantage of travelling light is the speed you can get yourself on the trail again.

My trip then took me on the final stage of the loop.  Under the M4, past Maidenhead bridge and re joining the Jubliee River.  In the process passing the usual commuter jams with a smugness that only Micoadventurers can have!

I final view of my surroundings before heading home reinforced the point made in Alistairs book that a trip like this really opens your eyes to what lies on your doorstep and often how close we all are to nature and to the beauty of our surroundings if we just take the time to appreciate it.


Roll on Junes adventure!

Kit list -
35l ruck sack and walking poles
Snugppak Jungle sleeping bag
Karrimor sleep mat
Alpkit Hunka bivvi bag
Thermal top, Down jacket, spare socks, lightweight walking trousers, wooly hat and gloves, Buff
Tarp
Waterproof jacket
Trangia burger, Trangia 'Triangle', metal mug, 200Ml Meths
Mug, Spork
Lighter
Anti septic gel, loo roll, trowel, tooth brush
Head Torch
Multi tool
2 l water
Instant porridge, Snickers bar and coffee bag

April Microadventure - Ennerdale

As I was away with the family In the Lake District it would have been rude not to have had my April Micro adventure in this gorgeous National Park!

I know I was spoiled for choice but I chose to overnight in the beautiful Emmerdale Valley. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, because you can only get to Ennerdale by vehicle from outside the National Park so it's a lot quieter than other parts. Secondly the Parks authority are rewilding Ennerdale and it is starting to feel a lot more like a wilderness than its proximity to civilisation would suggest.

As this was part of a family holiday I couldn't really take myself away for too long and so looked at the map to pick a route that would allow me to meet with them the following day, ideally near a pub!

I was blessed with beautiful weather for my trip and after being dropped off at the Western end of the valley mid afternoon I set off eastwards. I decided not to take the path next to the lake as that's quite well worn.  The walk through the mid afternoon sunshine in the woods was fantastic, brightened up by the remains of an Easter egg hunt that had taken place the previous Sunday.

I passed a few people, though not many, but once at the end of the lake I was pretty much alone. Ennerdale is magnificent from here on in with the mountains either side of you and the river Liza running wild down the middle of the valley in the woods. As I say the authority are letting the river find its own path now and as you begin to climb along the side of the valley you can look down on a meandering river with fallen trees etc. the whole thing really does start to look as if it is returning to its natural course.

My plan was to walk until early evening through then  find somewhere to camp in the woods. I love to sleep in a hammock and my aim was to pitch between a couple of trees and enjoy the night sky. However the last third of the woodland is given over to coniferous plantation. This effectively means lots of Christmas trees very tightly packed together! Try as I might as I neared the time to stop for the day I could see nowhere with a big enough gap to string a hammock. Worse still there was very little flat ground that I could put a bivvy bag down on.  Eventually I reached the end of the woodland and was treated to the sight of a late afternoon sunny view of the bowl at the end of the valley, really beautiful. However I still had not found somewhere to sleep.

I retraced my steps along the gravel path for about half an hour and was met with a firebreak heading off uphill. It was quite steep but I took my chances, walked up about 100 yards and found two trees separated by about the right width that I could string my hammock albeit over a 30° slope!  However, that's the beauty of hammocking, you're not ground dependent.  A few fallen trees provided me with sufficient dead wood to light my wood gas stove and after getting set up I cooked myself a delicious boil in the bag curry.

I am always amazed at how long it takes when you are out to build your house and cook your dinner. It was soon dark and I treated myself to an hour watching the stars in this beautiful night sky location before retiring to my hammock.

I am getting more comfortable with sleeping on my own out of doors and was glad to get a reasonably good nights sleep. However, I was up at first light and sorting myself ready to start the second day of my micro adventure.

Another great advantage of camping out in the lakes in the more remote areas is that the drinking water from the streams is pretty safe. Just to be on the safe side though I used my new Sawyer  water filter to replenish my stocks.

The weather continued to be absolutely perfect. Having got up early and being well down the valley I really did feel incredibly remote as nobody had got this far yet.  I took the steady climb from Ennerdale Valley through scarth gap pass and was treated to the wonderful view of Buttemere Valley in the sunshine!

I had given myself the morning to get over the pass into the valley and then north along the side of Buttemere to Loweswater and the Kirkstiles Inn.

Looking at the distance and the time available I might have been a bit optimistic. So, rather than a leisurely morning walk I ended up having to speed march to the pub in time for my meeting with the family and a well-deserved lunch. That in itself was a bit of fun!

I arrived dead on 1 o'clock as promised albeit a little bit sweatier than I had hoped.

Overall less than 24 hours out but I really felt as if I had been away on a proper adventure. The remoteness of the location, sleeping out on my own, and having to deal with one or two unforeseen circumstances made for a memorable experience.