Breezy night at Tilberthwaite!

A lot of people think I’m anti-social..the truth is, I am a little..or am I just a loner. I am good with my own company and make no excuses for it…. I guess thats it.. Some people think I try to avoid them. I don’t. I have no quaims saying no or choosing to go alone. A lot of my bivvying involves last minute decisions as I am usually weather watching so a lot of the time – even if i wanted to – people can’t drop everything to get to where I am at 5pm! I just want to be in the mountains..

On this occasion (and a couple of times previous) I arranged to meet Ste (my bivvy buddy). It was going to be a quick hit for me as I was in work at 8,30am! Ugh!

I had done 50 miles on the bike 2 days prior and had very sore pins! I was whimpering when Ste turned up at Tilberthwaite and knowing they would be sore on the walk up – despite being a short one..

Ste was still in work attire and did his usual ritual of taking ages to get sorted – I now know how a bloke feels whilst waiting for his girlfriend to get ready to go out on a Saturday night!!!!!

At least an hour passed – or so it felt! and at last we were ready to set off.

We headed up the old mine track and I moaned continuously about how bloody tired my legs felt as Ste accused me of none stop whining! (to be fair, on this occasion, the Manc did have a point)!!! Its a lovely track. The depth of Tilberthwaite Gill is apparent on your left all the way up and the beck sounded relaxing. We took a look over the edge, its a long drop into the rushing water with loads of trees and ferns sheilding the hidden water below. Beautiful.

Ste soon needed to stop to gather his water-I was organised and had carried mine as it was only a short walk!!! 🙂

The cloud on Wetherlam was lovely!

Wetherlam looking moody.

I continued on while he faughed around and waited agian what seemed like an eternity for him! Ha Ha!!

We started to check out the best mini summit for our evening. The wind was pretty strong as it meant no midges but it would be a cool night. We headed off the track and came to the first summit. We both decided this would be a great spot and started to unpack…until we looked west and saw a better spot about half a mile off… We packed up and set off again.. ( I had been up here a couple of weeks prior and bivvied so had visited all these little summits!)

You will go in!!!!!!

Moving house!

Soon we had our perfect spot! Great views and whilst it was exposed it wasn’t so chilly that it would be a problem.

Perch!

Great views of Langdale!

We laid out our kit after we cleared all the sheep poo! That was my job…. And slug removal….. I always carry my ground sheet to protect the bivvy bag so a bit of crap is ok!!!

Yep, brew time and food! Time was cracking on due to how long it had taken Ste to get ready!! 🙂

Lookin less surly than normal!

Ste was using his new lightweight stove which was impressively light. It runs on meths and is called a Caldera Cone. It works with an MSR titanium kettle – impressive bit of kit. Takes longer to boil water than some stoves but good all the same. I still have faith in my Jetboil for now but am a little tempted by this thing!!

I was finished a little before Captain Caldera so I set about getting my wine poured.. Priorities!

Soon we were sitting looking at the view and atmospheric cloud setting the world to rights.

Windy!

It was good bivvying weather. Not too warm or too cold and no insects. We chatted about everything – as we normally do, its amazing how time passes when you’re not alone.. 11.35pm! And work in the morning. I was soon in my bag (after a quick move – we decided that Ste may end up at the bottom of the fell if he turned the wrong way in the night!) The beauty of bivvying is the ability to change location quickly.

Soon we were settled down. The odd star showed itself and the wind stayed pretty strong but it was nice..I of course seemed to be a wind break for Ste!! Though he will deny this 🙂

Sunrise!!!

Someone still snoozing!

Morning inversion.

Before long I was hitting snooze on the alarm…I hit it several times!! It was a lovely morning and Ste’s snoring hadn’t been too bad… Soon I was making porridge and coffee and trying to force myself out of my down cocoon…not easy! Ste was making something that resembled and smelt like cat food..mmmmm. it did taste ok but I think I prefer porridge at breakfast.

I was packed whilst he was still heating his ‘whiskas’… Captain Caldera was going to make me late if I didn’t make a move. Knowing how fast he can move I set off and let him catch me up.. I could soon hear him thundering down at ridiculous speed! Though he was a little damp after admitting a little fall on boggy ground 🙂

Soon we were back at the cars and it was ready for the off. Ste was due a day on the hill….so jealous! cracking night had though.

I guess I’m not always antisocial…..