2010-03-13/14 - Carry on Camping

good news on the weather front :-)

ready for action:

we have sunshine and blue skies on both days, no rain predicted and temperatures of around 10 degrees during the day and 4 during the night. Which will make it the nicest weekend of the year so far :)

Sounds like perfect weather for staying indoors and watching a load of grown men rolling about in the mud whilst chasing a bag of wind on Tv to me!

Sounds like perfect weather for staying indoors and watching a load of grown men rolling about in the mud whilst chasing a bag of wind on Tv to me!

i'm in

Rack fitted, panniers dusted down, packing half-done. Still raining here in Norwich, so I'm putting faith in that weather report and trying to ignore it.

@all:

yeah the weather's looking good according to the reports.... yipeee. Can't bloody wait!
I'm bringing some spices for barbequeing, and some good coffee and my pot for it, a mug, spork and a billy/plate. Should be enough. (edit, oh and whiskey! If you're lucky I'll sing Whiskey in the Jar for you all).

I was going to mount my panniers on the front (they're small ones that can do either) but turns out I have completely incompatible lowriders. Bollocks. So i'm using a barbag and two small panniers on the back, more stuff on top of the rack. Probably too much stuff.

@tricity: yeah I see what you mean about spending money, but I got my nice sleeping bag and I know it'll be useful for ages to come. I always complain about synthetic bags so it was a good excuse.

@joesmith & Gormley
Can you please bring something to attatch your part of the tentage to your bikes (i.e. string/straps/bungee)? I can get it to E&C OK but may need the straps I'm using to stay on the bike to hold other things on... some old toe straps might even do, bring what u got, we'll work it out. I'm happy to take the outer tent layer which is really the big part, the inner tent has packed up pretty small, so one of you can take that and the pegs, the other can take the poles, I reckon.

So i'm using a barbag and two small panniers on the back, more stuff on top of the rack. Probably too much stuff.

You can never have too much stuff! I'll have a handlebar harness, top tube pouch, full frame bag, and big saddlebag.
It's the day before we go and i've still not even made my handlebar harness to carry the tent...who would have thought i'd leave it until the last minute eh?

I'm enjoying seeing everyone's bike setups though...keep them coming!

You think? Please remind me of that when I'm struggling uphill sometime on saturday!

Heh, some of us are buying stuff for this trip, glad to see you're sewing stuff.

whats the dealio when we get down there ?
are we pubbing it ? / sitting round a camp fire with a guitar and a singalong ( ging gang goolie goolie goolie ging gang goo anyone ) ? eating carbon coated raw sausages cooked over a trangia cooker ? will we be able to cook over a fire or should we just head to the pub for supper ?
are there shops / a 24hr garage anywhere near for ginsters pasties ?

@ dicki - i vote pub!

@joesmith & Gormley
Can you please bring something to attatch your part of the tentage to your bikes (i.e. string/straps/bungee)? I can get it to E&C OK but may need the straps I'm using to stay on the bike to hold other things on... some old toe straps might even do, bring what u got, we'll work it out. I'm happy to take the outer tent layer which is really the big part, the inner tent has packed up pretty small, so one of you can take that and the pegs, the other can take the poles, I reckon.

i will have some gaffa tape and zip ties and a bungee. sounds like you would be carrying more than your fair share if we split the tent up like that... i am happy to take something else of yours to distribute the weight more evenly. we'll work it out. lets get to e&c a bit earlier than the rest to get it all sorted.

old innertubes work well for strapping stuff on in a pitch

@Skully

YouTube- The Doors - Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)

although the thought of sitting round a campfire farting from the beans we just ate does sound appealing
it won't exactly be a balmy summers evening

whats the dealio when we get down there ? ...blah ...are there shops / a 24hr garage anywhere near for ginsters pasties ?

BBQ! If some want to do other things, cool, but I would assume that this will be the thing, unless it pisses down.

i will have some gaffa tape and zip ties and a bungee...lets get to e&c a bit earlier than the rest to get it all sorted.

yep OK I'll get there with a good 15 minutes to spare before the Hackney contingent is expected.

old innertubes work well for strapping stuff on in a pitch

@Skully

YouTube- The Doors - Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)

Yes, thanks Tommy. And YEAH! to the doors. I fucking love them.

You think? Please remind me of that when I'm struggling uphill sometime on saturday!

I'll remind you of the fact that you have fucking GEARS as you pass my shrivelled up shell lying by the side of the road on Turners Hill with it's little thigh muscles exploded from trying to ride a fifty pound fixed up it.

Heh, some of us are buying stuff for this trip, glad to see you're sewing stuff.

I'd love to be buying stuff, but i'm broke...and i'm bloody sick of sewing this week too.
God i hate camping!

I'll bring the map to the pub but I think barbecuing sounds more fun. Every single pitch has a fire pit (though obviously I'm not expecting us to all use separate ones) and the shop sells charcoal, so it'd be a shame not to.

yep OK I'll get there with a good 15 minutes to spare before the Hackney contingent is expected

i know it is in the thread but can't find. 09:00 is the main meet at e&c isn't it? if so, 08:45 for us.

picture to illustrate fire pit:

BBQ! If some want to do other things, cool, but I would assume that this will be the thing, unless it pisses down.

+1

leave the pubs for London, guys.

BBQ & fire pit...up! otherwise, what the point of going on Camping?

Bright hippy times ahead!

aha, good point re: gears!

leave the pubs for London, guys.

BBQ & fire pit...up! otherwise, what the point of going on Camping?

Bright hippy times ahead!

true.

if it is dry i am all for a bit of cans round the campfire action.

if not. my pub vote stands.

I reckon a quick sprint to the pub before the evening gets going might be in order, if things go well and we're all pitched and ready early. No point leaving the site near BBQ time though.

i know it is in the thread but can't find. 09:00 is the main meet at e&c isn't it? if so, 08:45 for us.

~~Nope, I think the Hackney start is 8am, (so let's meet at 20 past eight at the latest), and they'll be rolling through about 8.30-8.40. ~~
EDIT duh got this wrong. my memory is fried... meet is due at NINE am at E&C pub, so let's meet with 10-15 mins or so to spare?

I think I might even wear Hi-Viz for the London part of the ride. Just to nodder it up.

I reckon a quick sprint to the pub before the evening gets going might be in order, if things go well and we're all pitched and ready early. No point leaving the site near BBQ time though.

Nope, I think the Hackney start is 8am, (so let's meet at 20 past eight at the latest), and they'll be rolling through about 8.30-8.40.

I think I might even wear Hi-Viz for the London part of the ride. Just to nodder it up.

ok cool. thanks for the correction. will aim for 08:15

hahah see my edit one minute ago^ durrrr I'm stupid

8.45 ish.