Swift Campout - Winter Solstice Bikepacking - Brandy Flat Hut, Namadgi NP

The Swift Campout is a thing, Bike camping over the Solstice weekend. So, on the longest night of the year, a group of riders from Canberra do just that. This year, when I heard it was happening I put it in my diary. Unsure whether I'd be available, I had it in the back of my mind. The week before Sarah told me she was busy, so I got my bike ready, and made it happen.
I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I must say, it was a great night. Over 40 riders turned up, everyone with Charcuterie contributions, one guitar, freezing temperatures and a good time. Pretty stoked I got to go.
After making this video I just realised there is a website for this event, and even a video comp that closed a few days ago. Maybe next year I'll have to enter it.
swiftcampout.com
Here is the route I took minus the start to keep a friend's home private.
ridewithgps.com/routes/47161985
/ timmeh500
/ advanture.st

[@paulbates4100]

That looked like a lot of fun and beautifully captured as usual. Another beaut Tim.

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate, Not all filming went to plan but that doesn't matter because I had a great time. such a fun weekend with good people. Can't wait to do it again. Cheers

[@peterfricker1817]

Thanks Tim et al, another great vid. Brandy Flat is a great spot, as is the Naas Valley, and Namadgi. Us Canbrrrr natives are blessed with what is in our backyard. As always, really enjoyed the vision and riding along with you. Love the frost shots, and the magpie song ;-D. Keep up the great work. Cheers, Pete 😉

[@advanturest]

Cheers Pete. Such a good area to ride. I am very Jealous of all you Canberians. This trip has reminded me of how much I enjoyed the first Namadgi trip I did. I think I have to revisit it. As for the Magpie song, I actually dubbed that over the top from some other footage I had. The birds were very vocal in the morning but a lot of the shots I got I didn't have a microphone on. I really wanted some bird sounds and that's all I could find. I do love the sound of magpies singing. Cheers for watching.

[@timothyrodda6056]

Keep the adventures coming Tim, you have opened my eyes to so many cool spots not only in my hometown Canberra but also just doing it all on a pushy, definitely getting me hyped to get my own set up and getting out there mate cheers 🍻

[@advanturest]

Definitely make it happen, slowing down and taking in the scenery on a bike is so refreshing. Also camping places that cars can't access is also amazing. Thanks for positive comment mate! Get out there.

[@ridebyron4247]

Some of the best stuff on here Tim. You’re an inspiration to be out there, despite to seemingly freezing temps! Keep up the great work!

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate. It was definitely cold but I love that. my water bottles were half frozen in the morning so the temp was getting down there. Only issue with winter is the short days. Can't wait to head out in the cold again.

[@littletownie4008]

Great video, Cheers.

[@advanturest]

Cheers Mate!

[@timothyreuther9175]

Love your work Tim! You’re motivational! Cheers, Tim (yes another Tim)

[@advanturest]

Cheers Tim. Cheers, Tim 🤣 Sorry had to. Thanks for the kind comment mate!

[@teawapunihadfield5775]

ive been waiting patiently for this episode

[@advanturest]

Haha cheers, Hope it was ok. I had video ideas but they all went out the window. Still a fun trip and the video turned out ok considering. Thanks for watching.

[@osmano2157]

Yet another belter mate, thank you for sharing.

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate! appreciate it!

[@livin4adventure_aus584]

epic adventure mate. that looked exhausting in the first few mins setting up the camera and getting the shots of both of you riding past how many kms to this hut did you ride looks like it was a fair ride from the start.

[@advanturest]

@@livin4adventure_aus584 Cheers mate. Unpacking a camera and tripod then packing away, all for about 2 seconds of footage is a punish. It may not be physically exhausting but it’s definitely mentally exhausting. I always want to get more static shots but finding the right spot can be tricky, it’s very hard when you have to keep moving otherwise the day disappears. This trip we did 40km in and out. Everyone did something different. I think a lot started about 30km out at the Tharwa bridge.

[@peterpan8907]

this looks like a bunch of really nice people!

[@advanturest]

Haven't met a bad bike packer yet! 🤣

[@rickute1458]

Nice little video, the beer holder on your bike is a great idea

[@advanturest]

It worked really well apart from getting the beers out. they were so tight. I think it needs some mods. This was a last minute idea after seeing a short piece of pipe at work and thinking "a beer can will fit in there" It was a little small but after cutting a slot, it now compresses down on the cans and holds them snug. Now just need to find a more visually appealing place to strap them.

[@jimchester9984]

Nic .. great trip great footage… thanks again…

[@advanturest]

Thanks for watching again. 😄

[@adrianosensi832]

Sweet video, looks like you had a great time, Canberra looks beautiful, kind of gutted I didn't visit when I was travelling through Oz... Mind you it's another awesome reason to make a trip down under....👍

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate. It's kind of funny, It my late teens and early 20's, My mates would always give it to our mates from Canberra. Like it had nothing to offer. These days I love it down there and would happily live there. I'm not sure I'd make a trip back to Aus just for Canberra, but if you're here, there's definitely some nice places to see Thanks for watching mate!.

[@KhurshidsChannel]

Amazing video. Thanks for sharing. subd &👍302

[@conradgibbevtorque7953]

So jealous of you guys, maybe next year 😀

[@advanturest]

You'll probably be off galavanting another continent again 🤣 I think all of us should be the ones that are jealous.

[@garycook8220]

Another great tradition- but it's the longest, not the shortest night

[@advanturest]

@@garycook8220 haha, you made me re watch all the talking parts to see where I stuffed up. Shortest night, shortest day, kind of close haha. Anyway, found it in the description, means I can fix it 👍😂

[@grahames9228]

Great trip.

[@advanturest]

👍

[@paultaylor3856]

Very cool video.

[@advanturest]

Thanks mate!

[@P.Ttrying]

Beer holder 🏆🏆🏆 Goodstuff ☮️🥶🥶🥶

[@advanturest]

Haha, I knew you would love the functional masterpiece 🤣

[@edzeppelin933]

Great stuff Tim. I'll have to come along to one of these at some point. Do most people there know each other?

[@advanturest]

@@edzeppelin933 a lot of people did know each other, but there were heaps that didn’t know anyone. I knew Marty who has been in a few of my videos. He’s from Canberra. And Tom who I rode in with was the stranger that picked me up in my Moss Vale video. Super easy to fit in, everyone very friendly. Filming myself in front of everyone was another story. Very intimidating haha. I was one of the first people there and my tent was very close to the hut. I should of set up way back so I could of done my filming away from everyone. Oh well. Next time I’ll know. Apparently the last few years the turnout has been a lot smaller, so it could be hit and miss. Glad I got there on this big turnout.

[@edzeppelin933]

@advanturest nice one! It was a huge turnout. Don't be intimidated by talking to camera, it never looks awkward from my point of view! Haha

[@advanturest]

@@edzeppelin933 haha, I swear it feels like everyone is starring and listening to every word you say. plus holding a camera up with a mic on it makes you look like a wanker🤣 . I genuinely do it because I like trying to tell a story with my videos, but I feel like people think you're doing it for attention or because you love yourself. Very hard to explain the feeling but it's much easier to film yourself when nobody is around.

[@markfyson5198]

very cool.

[@advanturest]

❄Cool it was haha. Cheers Mark!

[@DougieL]

Another fab video. Certainly looks like some great trails around there, for sure! What did you use for the beer holders please Tim?

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate. It's just some PVC pipe. It had no marking on it so I'm not sure what size exactly. Plus I've also already cut it so the dimentions have changed. I'll explain what I did. On the Friday when I was leaving work I saw short piece of PVC pipe. I instantly thought it looked the right size for a beer can so I took it home. I'd been trying to work out a way to safely carry more beers. The diameter of a can is 66mm and the pipe I found had an OD of about 70mm. Internal dimensions were a little too small to fit the can. I ended up cutting the pipe length ways so it could spring open. It is surprisingly hard to open, so once I got the cans in, it was really hard to get them out. but due to this, they just stayed in there without capping the ends. I then wrapped them in black tape just because I didn't like the white. these were then just strapped to my rack using grunt straps. Going forward I want to paint the pipe and try find a nicer war to strap them to the bike. It's a work in progress.

[@CruiserBrah]

Hehe, it was -4 or something in town, it would have been far colder out there.

[@advanturest]

Sounds about right. someone did mention -4 but I couldn't prove it so I didn't mention it. I planned to take a thermometer but forgot. No idea what it actually got to up there but my water bottles half froze so I know it was cold. 😆

[@CruiserBrah]

@@advanturest yah, a -4 frost in town here isn't anywhere near as heavy as that frost in your video. I have ridden through puddles out there that are still frozen at 3 in the afternoon. It gets chilly out there.