Ely-London overnight wild camping

[@SaddleSore]

God bless the king for giving you the chance to go cycling. Or some such nonsense!!

[@londoncenturies]

Cheers Paul! Good to meet you at the weekend. That was quick work posting your vid, I haven't even watched it yet let alone made mine. Happy riding!

[@williamwood6795]

Nice kit. And all that hammock packs into a seat bag? Nice.

[@londoncenturies]

Yes. It needs the biggest saddle bag I have but it’ll go in (no room for much else besides the smallest absolute necessities). It makes me look at the map and wonder about, say, various 3-day/2-night routes across the country. Thanks for watching!

[@andyjamestf]

Brilliant ride as always

[@londoncenturies]

Thanks, cheers for watching and happy riding!

[@davidburgess741]

I did an overnight camp with a hammock once. I brought an insect netting that assured a restful night sleep. You couldn't get away with wild camping around here. At a state campground I'd have probably stretched the hammock across the WC building entry way if it rained like that! I've seen some funny videos of hammock camping in rain that went very wrong. Well done! To me a Bob trailer is like a gateway drug for overpacking!

[@londoncenturies]

Yes to insect netting. Yes to the building in rain like that (if there had been one I'd have taken it). Yes to the gateway drug to overpacking, too! Thanks for watching.

[@unklesannjay]

Great ride bro 💪

[@londoncenturies]

Cheers!

[@josephlyne8290]

Great vid thanks

[@londoncenturies]

Thanks for watching, Joseph

[@kaffeemitcola6506]

Wherever you finish your ride in London, it does not matter. The only thing that counts is a healthy finish. Oh 😱that was promising a horrible night but everything turned out right. The rain and thunderstorm looked so massive and like a non stop ride over night. The last years I only slept in a hammock on my long tours and usually mix it with Pensionen, small guesthouses from time to time to stay fresh and clean enough. I always take a small tarp with me becaue wherever are two places to attach the hammock I can attach my tarp to make a simple roof and rain is welcome as a good night song. All that small enough for a sadlebag. That night looked cold and for people like me who need it cozy I have a sleepingbag that goes on the outside of the hammock and puffy and light down jacket and trousers. Always cozy to be fresh in the morning. 🙋‍♀Liebe Grüße und was können ein oder zwei Tage für ein Abenteuer sein 😄.

[@londoncenturies]

Yes, that sounds like a good idea, mixing the hammock with places to shower and sleep really well. The question then becomes - where to go next! Any plans for yourself?? Vielen Dank und wünsche Ihnen auch schöne Abenteuer...

[@kaffeemitcola6506]

@@londoncenturies Thats a question that really makes the cozy life more difficult 😄. An urgent question, at least 2 days after coming home from somewhere. The plans for myself (?), that is a difficult one becaue I have some problems with recovery and regeneration. I made some rides >150k this year and it was no promblem to do that but I was not feeling very good revovered the next day. That makes the decision very hard where to go by bike or make a mixed ride with bike and train. But there are some plans. Some years ago I was riding to the Schneekoppe (Snezka) on the border between Poland and Czeska Republika. And every time (4times in many years) I got there the mountain was encased with lovely clouds.This, have a view from that mountain is on my list as well as Stonehenge and the Austrian/Italian Alps... Endless list somehow🤩. Liebe Grüße🙋‍♀

[@phoffen3829]

Lightning and thunder are no go signs. People do get evaporated by bolts of lightning. Hole up somewhere, with warm clothes ASAP!

[@londoncenturies]

Well yes, normally I'd agree with you. But I had nowhere to go. Except that bus stop. That was sheltered. And the rain stopped! :)

[@phoffen3829]

@@londoncenturies i think we can just get overly optimistic when on long rides but have to have hard rules. Around here in Eastern/Central Canada, summer is a dangerous season!

[@Ballacks101]

I would miss that crumpled Campy cap if you changed it 😅

[@londoncenturies]

😄 I thought I’d lost it the other day and figured it was about time for a new one, but then it turned up again in my socks/caps/gloves box, as crumpled as ever, ready to ride another day…!

[@petegibson007]

I’m torn between tenting and hammock. Yes, you need grass for the tent but you need trees for the hammock (did you see anywhere suitable spots near Ely? Probably not?). I sleep better in the hammock and it’s quick and easy to setup but I’d take a tarp too for those rainy nights. I did both last year, no idea what I’ll do this year. Conundrums…

[@londoncenturies]

Me too! Suitable tent spots near Ely - nope. I think the hammock I've got is a bit heavy, I'm sure there are lighter/smaller out there (because I got it in Canada for canoeing years ago) so there's nothing in it against the tent, weight-wise. I think it comes down to where you'll be going. Any particular areas in mind Pete?

[@petegibson007]

@@londoncenturies looking to do a couple of local over-nighters (Suffolk/ Norfolk) this year and maybe Peddars Way or even Rebellion Way if I have enough holiday left. My bike mates have tents so last time we found a spot near Thetford Forest that conveniently worked for both tents and hammock.

[@londoncenturies]

@@petegibson007 Aha, I've been spotting Thetford Forest on the map for a while now but haven't got around yet to exploring there so thanks for the tip, I'm sure I'll get there at some point. It looks like a possible spot to break up a Cromer - London ride or something like that. Thanks for reminding me.

[@philtucker856]

Brilliant stuff. What rain 😢

[@londoncenturies]

Thanks Phil! Yes, armageddon-style!!!

[@richardhutchinson4740]

Hammocks need somewhere to hang. There are some great ultralight inflatable sleeping bags that combined with a bivvy bag will mean you'll be able to sleep anywhere.

[@londoncenturies]

Sounds really interesting - any recommendations?

[@richardhutchinson4740]

@LondonCenturies - the trekology UL 80 is good. And you can get an inflation bag as well. A UL tarp from DD hammocks and length of paracord and pegs means you can make a ploughpoint shelter under a single tree. Or you could get an ex mil goretex bivvybag. You should get a lightweight bag or quilt as well. All depends on how much you want to pack really. Some ex mil summerweight bags can compress down pretty small.

[@londoncenturies]

@@richardhutchinson4740 Thanks for the info Richard, I'm going to check this out. I have a lightweight quilt (but was on my winter one for that ride, it was still a bit chilly at night). I probably can't afford any more gear but like the idea of getting the volume down as much as anything else, just for squeezing it all into the saddlebag. Do you use this stuff for cycling or something else?

[@richardhutchinson4740]

@LondonCenturies general camping, walking and bushcraft. Planning on trying some longer biketrekking in the future.

[@londoncenturies]

@@richardhutchinson4740 👍

[@wjp555]

Yes we're happy with The Tower of London. Think you need a Quatrevelo.

[@londoncenturies]

:)

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

Is there any bears in the woods in Canada 😳🐻

[@londoncenturies]

Well yes there are and I've seen a few but my trips have only ever been on the east of the country and the bears there are NOT grizzlies, they're black bears, which look scary but don't eat you. Very different. Thankfully. :)

[@unklesannjay]

Just wondering - are you stinking rich or just a normal person?

[@londoncenturies]

Erm, pretty normal I'd say. What makes you ask? (And thanks for watching)