Wild Camp A Month 2018 Challenge

[reiverlad]

Unfortunately not John. The van hasn't turned a wheel since I arrived on 26th July !

I arrived on the Isle of Bute 26th July, and moved into a private let.

Within 10 days of my arrival I got an offer of a housing association flat which is right on the seafront with spectacular views.
I will also be able to get my van beside the flat & will also be able to safely get power to it during winter.

This double move was entirely unexpected but very welcome.

The motorhome was used to being loads of boxes etc from Lockerbie & still has loads of them still in there.

Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I should get my motorhome back to its proper use & i can then think about getting out & about again.

 

[campervanannie]

3rd September update

Alnwickist - 8/8
Herman - 8/8
Campervanannie - 8/8
Allen - Wints - 9/9
Eileen - Wints - 9/9
Suneye - 8/8
JohnClimber - 8/8
Brucews - 8/8


New member
MidAgeTraveller - 8/8 - (without photos)

Awaiting an August update
ScoTTyBEEE - 7/7 - (with photos)

Dropped out
Reiverlad - 7/7

And I’m grounded until Friday the 14th then I’ll be back out on the road.

 

[JohnClimber]

Our longest trip starts tomorrow

Bring on the ferries and the sea air :camper::dog::drive:

 

[Alnwickist]

Harthope Valley, Northumberland 09/09

Another quick night away 'cos busy at work.



More 'No overnight parking' signs littering the Northumberland National Park*.



So spent a lovely, blustery evening up the beautiful Harthope Valley**.



As it grew dark, moved down the valley to an empty hard standing car park [CR Haugh Head] to park overnight. Quite a nice spot as surrounded by trees which helped shelter my little van from the squalls.



Vomiting Parrot left at home this time. But I enjoyed hanging out with my neighbouring barn owl, goshawk, fox, pheasants, and various other local wildlife.

I love the Northumberland Cheviots so much, but is probably the last time I attempt to wildcamp anywhere around here - don't want to park up where not wanted. Will head back over the border for remaining months.

xA

*POIs OR Langleeford & LR Wooler should be deleted
**not a euphemism

 

[JohnClimber]

9/9 in a big way, Jura (loved for the wild feeling), Islay (loved for everything except the rain) and Arran (not our cup of tea)

Some of my favourite wild camping van pictures

Two words of warning, when going to Jura in your campervan/motorhome go at mid tide.
We damaged the underside of our van going at high time (nothing major but it made for a stressful fingers crossed crossing going back to Islay.
Also the Islay to Jura ferry takes 4 to 5 minutes and costs £48 return :mad2:

 

[JohnClimber]

I've also started a 2019 thread to see if anyone fancies it again next year

https://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forum...th-challenge-2019-sign-up-now.html#post966356

 

[campervanannie]

Tonight’s 9/9 wildcamp at Selsey very windy but a great view.

 

[JohnClimber]

19th September update

Alnwickist - 9/9
Herman - 8/8
Campervanannie - 9/9
Allen - Wints - 9/9
Eileen - Wints - 9/9
Suneye - 8/8
JohnClimber - 9/9
Brucews - 9/9

 

[Herman]

9/9, Elterwater in the lakes. After such an appalling week for the weather you wouldn't believe how nice it was.

 

[suneye]

9/9

Now our beautiful summer is fading we returned to the lovely south coast and managed to find a new place to overnight. Sunday night was really cold but the days were lovely and sunny. Managed to see sun set and moon rise at the same time from the beach which was a bonus. Photos of new place we tried. and of a morning walk

 

[JohnClimber]

Alnwickist - 9/9
Herman - 9/9
Campervanannie - 9/9
Allen - Wints - 9/9
Eileen - Wints - 9/9
Suneye - 9/9
JohnClimber - 9/9
Brucews - 9/9
All present and correct :dance:


Awaiting updates from
MidAgeTraveller
ScoTTyBEEE

 

[dawsden]

Monthly wildcamps

After the OK from an Admin I'd like to suggest a challenge for you (and me) wild campers in 2018 and hopefully beyond.

Some of you get out all the time and you are more than welcome to join in, this is also aimed at the occasional camper who needs a push/challenge to get out and about.

The guild lines (not rules) are as follows.

Head out for a wild camp at least once per calendar month.
A camp out on the 31st of the month into the 1st of the next month, is just 1 night and it's only counted as the previous months wild camp.

Pub car parks are allowed, but not if you have to pay for them, no problems buying their food and drink but if you pay for car parking of any sort that doesn't count.
Wild and remote areas are great but it you only have time for a quick one mid week between work days then these count just as much.

You shouldn't use the same spot as your "challenge" site in the same year, but if it get's you out don't stress about this one 12 times in the same spot is better than not getting out so shout about it.

Multiple nights out in the same month cannot be carried over to the next month or use to fill missed months.

How will this be policed? Your own enthusiasm and honesty should be enough.

Once you have wild camped simply post up one or two (but don't fill the thread) with a photo or two of your Motorhome or Campervan at it's Wild Camping spot with a short description (should you wish) and a number such as 1/1 for a wild camp done in January through to say 8/8 for 8 out of 8 in August.
If you miss one don't stress there is no shame to 7/8 if life gets in the way.

If you are out multi times in a month please be reserved and only post up your one per month on this thread.

.
.
.
Why?
I'm a cyclist bike packer and wild camper and have been for many years.
Every year a group of us (separately or in groups all over the UK) do a "Bivi A Month" challenge but Mrs Climber won't join me, but we love motor homing after hiring several vans over the last few years we've finally bought our own Campervan and she's agreed to "Wild Camp(ervan) a month in 2018" :banana:

So it's Wild Camp(ervan) A Month for us in 2018 and hopefully beyond....

Please sign up below if you fancy a challenge for next year :wave:

Definitely up for the challenge!

 

[ScoTTyBEEE]

Apologies for late posts. August and September were just one day after the other so I think I'm out of the running for a win :-(

August


September

 

[JohnClimber]

I know it's for campervans, but the idea came from another group of bike packers where I'm also a member and we do Bivi A Month over there.

Here's my post copied and pasted from that forum to show what else I get up to once a month, especially as I have a new pack raft and some of you like my photos.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Normally I get my BAM bagged early on, but with holidays and life I just about squeezed this months in last night.

In a break from the norm I had to take a ruck sack with me.
On the bike front was all my bivi gear, on the back of the bike was my pack raft, in the middle was water, tools and cooking.
On my back was my life jacket, oars and anything else I couldn't fit on the bike, but at least it was very light.

The plan was simple, park at a mates a few miles south of Coniston, right up the East side of the "water" and around to Coniston for something to eat, then head south over the West side for as far as I could get.

On the way north I scoped out my planned spot for the night on Peel Island (yes I know it's the one from Swallows and Amazon's and no I've never read it) and noticed that the wind was picking up a bit with white tops to some of the waves, could it be time for a plan B?

After a brief stop for a late lunch (or an early tea) I pushed on, thinking that If I was too scared to cross the lake by pack raft at least I'd have the daylight to retrace my route for the much shorter (and more sensible crossing)

Soon enough the rideable path ran out and it was pushing or paddling time. With 2 miles to go, into a strong(ish) head wind and a lake crossing to be done I thought I'd give it ago so set afloat at 4pm.

The wind had died a little, but was blustery from time to time
My god it was choppy away from the shoreline and quite scary for a novice at times, but I pushed on and braved the crossing. Only when I was closer to the east side did I relax a little, but every time I stopped to get out a camera the wind took me back to where I had come from so it was no time to get all arty.

So I pushed on again. 90 minutes after starting I landed in the quiet harbour on my own island for the night.

Bivi set up before dark, in a sheltered hollow away from the sight of passing boats

8 hours of kip only woken by a spot of rain on the tarp (and my 50 year old bladder )

I was up packing away at first light and said goodbye to my home for the night on a much calmer morning on the open water

I made it to the shore, put the raft on the bike and rode back to my car, to be home in time for a nice big Sunday lunch

Alpaca Caribou review - It's amazingly stable, pack down small, weighs very little and is easy to paddle.
If you like route planning and faffing with your gear this has to be on your must have list of kit

 

[brucews]

Wow John, I'm impressed and the Alpaca Caribou looks good too!! I did something similar when I was in the Falklands about 18 years ago but I used a canoe, which wasn't easy with a non folding bike and the strong wind and tide strengths in the area; I would quite fancy doing what you're doing, but at 65 now I would struggle without the 'home comforts' of our van.... Once again, super photos mate. :cheers:

 

[JohnClimber]

Wow John, I'm impressed and the Alpaca Caribou looks good too!! I did something similar when I was in the Falklands about 18 years ago but I used a canoe, which wasn't easy with a non folding bike and the strong wind and tide strengths in the area; I would quite fancy doing what you're doing, but at 65 now I would struggle without the 'home comforts' of our van.... Once again, super photos mate. :cheers:

65 is no age, I'm 51 this month..... take a look at my mini film and tell me that you couldn't do it now
2018 Coniston Water Bike, Pack raft & Wild camp on Vimeo

 

[brucews]

Ha, nice mini film John, very tempting and the cycle ride and canoe trip I could still manage, but overnight in the cold without my comfort blanket (wife), I couldn't do now, although the ration pack meals look better than when I used to have them...
I'll just watch you (youngster), from the side lines.
lol

 

[JohnClimber]

Start of October update

Alnwickist - 9/9
Herman - 9/9
Campervanannie - 9/9
Allen - Wints - 9/9
Eileen - Wints - 9/9
Suneye - 9/9
JohnClimber - 9/9
Brucews - 9/9
ScoTTyBEEE - 9/9

9 of us on 9

 

[Deleted member 75172]

8/8 finally

Managed September camp on the last day

Port Solent was the perfect place for a picnic gathering for about 20 and no need to drive home
Been flat out cleaning and decorating since.
This morning is time to pack up ready for 3 weeks in Wales so our next wild camp is tonight in a pub car park.
After that we will be searching the POIs for out of the way spots and visiting our son.

 

[JohnClimber]

Managed September camp on the last day
View attachment 67819
Port Solent was the perfect place for a picnic gathering for about 20 and no need to drive home
Been flat out cleaning and decorating since.
This morning is time to pack up ready for 3 weeks in Wales so our next wild camp is tonight in a pub car park.
After that we will be searching the POIs for out of the way spots and visiting our son.

Do you mean 8/9?
8/8 in the 9th month is very confusing for a simple person like me to understand...