Hi!
I have three tents in my kit cupboard.
One is a massive tipi tent (Robens Klondike). Packed down it's almost as big as my bike. It probably weighs as much too. It's the one that gets used for family camping out of the back of the car. I've made a ton of fun memories with the kids in that one.
The other is a small, lightweight 2 man tent (Terra Nova Pioneer 2). It's not really a 2 man, it's a one man plus riding kit sized tent. It packs small and has been on all manner of TET adventures with me. It's my go-to for multi day trips on the bike.
The third, well strictly speaking it's not actually a tent. It's a back to basics, packs tiny, night-in-the-wild device. It's my (Alpkit Hunka) Bivi Bag.
This is a short story about how the third one plus a dose of 'the universe will provide' created one of the best adventure rides the year so far.
Wil finds his happy place.
In England and Wales it's illegal to wild camp.
I know, loads of trails to ride legally, but (almost) not a single spot to pitch up and sleep the night without breaking the law.
Frustrating.
Scotland on the other hand, well that's wild camping paradise. Turn up, rest, sleep, leave the next morning. Be respectful, minimise your impact, smile and enjoy a wilder connection with the landscape.
A couple of weeks ago, right in the middle of that Springtime heatwave here in the UK, Wil and I packed our KTM 690 and 450 and headed north over the border for a one night bivi adventure.
Greg and Wil packed and ready for lightweight adventure!
We were testing and shooting the new Singletrack Jacket Sage paired with the soon-to-be-launched Mongolia Pant 2.0. Take this email as your first sneak peek at this updated version of our popular adventure pant (more info to come later in the summer).
Springtime traffic.
There's always a drone when Wil's around.
Wil layers up like a pro.
Blue skies and tin huts make perfect photo ops!
The north of England is sparsely populated, rugged and includes TET trails that require a fondness for river crossings. If you don't like getting your feet wet, these aren't the trails for you.
At this time of year most of the rivers were low so no dramas getting the bikes through, though our Aqua Pac Boot Liners did get put to the test. We even found one body of water that was too good not to have a refreshing dip!
With our English trail riding behind us, we ventured over the border into Scotland on narrow twisty roads to start our wild camp chapter.
If the idea of having an adventure is all about pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, then riding without any idea of where you will sleep at the end of the day is a great way to activate that adventure button.
The sun starts to hang low in the sky, the colours turn golden, your eyes start to search out every field, woodland, lay-by, hedge, sheltered nook and cranny that you ride past.
"Could we stop here?"
Too open.
"How about there?"
No room for the bikes.
"What about this one?"
There's cow poop so let's not get trampled in the night.
The lower the sun gets, the higher the anxiety levels rise. It's all part of the experience, stretching that out-of-comfort-zone feeling and into the adventure zone where we actually grow as people and adventure riders.
Wil and I had decided to venture up a winding valley at the base of the Cheviot Hills, riding on a hunch that if there was a river there must be a river bank that surely would accommodate two weary riders.
We had put ourselves at the mercy of the universe, surely she would look after us?
"Greg, I think I've found the spot, follow me."
Over the helmet intercom Wil guided us off a sweeping bend, past a small copse of woodland, through bright yellow gorse and onto what really was the perfect wild camp spot.
Flat, sheltered, on the bank of stony river.
Wil and his fancy inflatable mattress.
What a spot for a campfire. No grass to scorch either.
Toasty.
A bit Blair Witch but actually quite cosy!
Now, I will confess that I'm not the most experienced bivi camper as I normally opt for my not-quite-2-man tent, and this was Wil's first time, so stretching out in the dark with nothing but a sleeping bag and thin bivi to shelter us, we were both on high alert.
Did I sleep for eight hours?
No (but I did sleep far more than I had expected to).
Did wake to a face full of Milky Way?
Yes.
Was it memorable?
Absolutely.
What did I learn?
OK, I get it, I know that a wild bivi is not for everyone. It could have rained, there could have been a plague of midges, a farmer could have come and shouted at us, it could have been a nightmare and this story would have a very different ending.
I'm not about to donate my two man tent to charity.
But...
This micro adventure was an experiment in being vulnerable, planning the start, but leaving enough room for the universe to provide an ending.
Sometimes it's the not knowing what that ending looks like that provides the adventure.
And really, after all that, a few hours later we were back home enjoying a nice cup of tea.
One night out under the stars, but the best adventure ride of the year so far.
⭐️🌙
Greg Villalobos.
P.S. There's a film of this micro adventure in the works 😉. If you can't wait take a look at more pics from this trip here.
Light. Breathable. Waterproof.
Layer up with The Singletrack Jacket Sage.
This story was first published in our email Newsletter. Subscribe now for the most ADV email you will get all week!
