Winter Bike-Packing with a Hot-Tent.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ธ.ค. 2019
- It’s late December, Christmas is over, the urge to head to the woods is strong, so I decide to pack up my bike and ride down part of the ancient ‘Icknield Way’ long distance trail. After several miles of gravel, thick mud and rutted, sandy tracks I arrive at a secluded woodland and set up camp. My shelter of choice this time being an ultralight hot tent and titanium wood stove. The camp chores of setting up, collecting and processing firewood and lighting the stove done, I settle down to enjoy some well earned dinner, a couple of quality craft beers (thank you Bob!!) and soak up the sounds of the woodland nightlife all cozy and comfy in my heated home from home.
Morning brings the delightful sounds of the dawn chorus, a stunning sunrise, coffee and a breakfast of bacon and bannock before packing everything away to ride the 25 miles home.
It was a very pleasant night out - just what was needed to blow the cobwebs away and burn off some of that turkey and chocolate!
Thanks for joining me and Happy New Year!
Links
OneTigris Black Orca ‘Smokey Hut’ tent
www.onetigris.com/smokey-hut-...
SeekOutside titanium ‘Cub’ stove
seekoutside.com/cub-titanium-...
Kamui folding camp chair
www.amazon.co.uk/KAMUI-Campin...
Thermarest Neoair Xtherm sleeping mat
www.thermarest.com/ie/sleepin...
Veloci Rapture and Reptile Dysfunction craft beers
www.staggeringlygood.com
Mountain House dehydrated meals
www.mountainhouse.com
Ortlieb Front bar bag
www.ortlieb.com/uk/ultimatesi...
Alpkit front handlebar dry bag
www.alpkit.com/products/airlo...
Alpkit rear saddle bag
www.alpkit.com/products/big-papa
Bannock Recipe
1 handful plain flour
1/2 handful dried milk powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 handful raisins or sultanas
Cold water or beer
Put all the dry ingredients in a ziplock bag.
Add water, a bit at a time, mixing in the bag.
Keep mixing until you have a dryish dough, the consistency of playdough.
Flatten to about 1cm
Cook over a low heat (or next to your fire) slowly, turning often until cooked.
Delicious served with honey!
Merchandise
Simon, a bloke in the woods - Patch and Sticker
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ablokein...
Contact me at:
simonablokeinthewoods@gmail.com
Or by mail at:
Simon, a bloke in the woods
PO Box 384
Diss
Norfolk
IP22 9DB
UK
Facebook Simon, a bloke in the woods
simon-a-blok...
Instagram simon_a_bloke_in_the_woods
simon_a_blo...
Music The Engagement by Silent Partner
Cowboy Lullaby by JHS Pedals
I keep watching your videos Simon. I'm a Pole from Canada and camping is my second home. Always a privilege watching the stove burning, food cooking and hot chocolate. This is the life. All the best mate!
Thanks mate! 😁🏕
People have disliked this video... how can you dislike this bloke?? he’s an absolute gentleman without any edge at all.
Love your videos mate
Haters and Trolls every where. Who knows maybe he had more thumbs up for this video than they all combined have for all of theirs.
I don't get it either. If ya don't like it watch something else, why be negative for no reason? If one wants to be a critic, fine, but be constructive about it. Maybe people don't understand the whole thumb up/down idea...or maybe I don't.
That's the first thing I thought. Mad.
Top bloke.
If I was his dog I'd get fed stake and go camping all the time 🙂🔥⛺
spot on mate
Don't worry too much about the thumbs down "haters" folks . TH-cam sees thumbs up and thumbs down in the same way . Just as an interaction . That's all . TH-cam doesn't count the "downers" as negative . 0 thumbs up and 50 thumbs down is 100 interactions just the same as 100 thumbs up etc . Or so I am lead to believe by other TH-camrs.
Knowing this and having said that . It does make you wonder what peoples lives must be like and how their mind works when they feel the need to go to the effort of "disliking" a video . Instead of moving along . I pity them really .
Fattrucker
Bro! One must go ultra-lightweight SO they can bring the beers. That's the whole point. Thumbs up.
Amen Stevie! 👍🍺
Well I think they need to come up with some kind of dehydrated beer 🍻.
@@simonablokeinthewoods if you can take away beer from your local pub you might consider a Growler, that would be perfect for a trip like this one or when you canoe.
@@DianeSturlinXX just add beer! 🤣
@@DianeSturlinXX Wouldn't that be whiskey?
I am super into camping, but a lot of the serious camping TH-camrs have this really Type A energy. I have only seen 3 of your videos so far, but your vibe is unique; truly wholesome + relaxing, & strangely intimate. I'm such a fan. Subbed after the second. :-)
I just put my finger on what it is; you have a similar energy to Steve Wallis, who is another favourite of mine. ^_^
Your videos are totally refreshing.. And calming.. I see it before going to bed.. Thanks. It's like therapy.
💙💙💙
I feel the same way, It's one of the only channels where I watch some of the older videos👍😍😍😎😎. In truth I know what you mean. I subscribed to a lot of channels but this is one of the only one's I actually anticipate.
High school teacher working at the moment and love watching your videos when I get home at night. Great down time, thanks for the uploads. 👍👍
I am a chef (or was for the last 20 years until a couple of weeks ago) I really like the effort you put into cooking in ultra lite camping conditions, that pork belly you cooked in the embers looked amazing.
Thank you Christopher! 👍
Wonderful inspiring video as always Simon. . Thank you so much. . and good on you for treating dear Maggie to a nice meal. That was very loving of you.
Awesome video Simon. Thank you so very much for showing us that living doesn't need to be "complicated." What I really appreciated is how you explained each piece of the equipment you packed, why it was necessary, and the rewards of planning ahead of time before taking an excursion.
With that in mind, in my humble opinion "the only people" who cannot appreciate this experience are the "living dead" because your video is a stark reminder of how we should uncomplicate and unclutter our minds, bodies, and souls. Once more, thank you so much for caring and sharing a portion of your adventures. A grateful viewer and fellow videographer.
Thank you Anthony! 👍
Simon reminds me its never too late.
For love?
All the best to and your family in the New Year from Canada. Many thanks for the quality videos. In a world that seems to be going mad you provide and few minutes of quiet sanity. I keep being amazed at the trail system in the UK. I have a brother living near London. Every year for his vacation he puts a sandwich in one pocket, a spare pair of pants and socks in the other and goes for a 14 day walk. Fabulous. Thank you
Thank you Patrick! I like the sound of your brother - top man! 😁👍
it's the packing up everything into a few small bags that I find most amazing.
Great vid as usual. When someone says they had cabin fever in 2019 .. little did we know! 😫😫 Thankfully I've not heard Boris mention any restrictions on bivvying in the woods! 😁
I thought there were restrictions against getting out into the wilds. Whatever...
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR VLOGS SIMON THAT HAS A VERY CALMING AND ANXIETY REDUCING EFFECT.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT BUT I JUST KNOW THAT WATCHING YOUR POSTS IS AN ANTIDOTE TO OUR HORRENDOUSLY MANIC AND STRESSFUL LIVES. GOD KNOWS IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE IN THE 20'S..........CHEERS MATE....
Thank you! 😁
woods especially now all this has kicked off. Felt awful last weekend and these videos really did get me back firing on all cylinders.
Understatement of the decade so far my friend
@@DicnballzBitch I'm off to live in the woods, thanks to Simon's informative and instructive videos i believe I can do it....Our civilization is dying and so is the earth...thanks too us......Reset is not the word...
At the 2:00 mark, when you’re pulling into the area where you will camp for the night, what a magnificent tree, a perfect spot, and ambiance. I appreciate showing how you pick out and arrive at the various camp spots. There’s got to be much time spent setting up this “small details” footage, but it adds so much richness to your videos. All of your videos are worthy of multiple views.
One of the best hot tent videos out there. No drama, no fuss, just spending a cold winter night warm in a tent.... eating like a king as it were.
Thank you Roger! 👍
This video has been filmed, narrated and edited very well. Very impressive!
Thank you Martin! 👍
Great video; you have opened my mind to light weight hot tent camping. I can hardly wait to put my own rig together. Thank you!
Hot tenting is such a tremendous improvement over a cold tent. Ever since I was a little kid we camped on the Coast in the Pacific Northwest USA. We used an old fashioned campfire for everything. Cook, clean and be warm. Eventually we added a good tarp as the dining fly it upped the Comfort a great deal.
It was generally cold and wet The Damp got into everything. I wish that I had known a little bit about the idea of hot tent camping because it sure would have been a much better experience..
Love your videos and your mild mannered demeanor. A proper gentlemen thru & thru. You must have a warehouse for all your gear. I’m so impressed with all your gear and organization of it all. God bless you and always safe travels. 🙏🏼⛺️😎
Thank you Roland! 👍😁 Yes, storage is becoming an issue!! 😂
"In a moment of madness I bought..." ...yup, that's why my flat is stuffed full of (ironically, minimalist) stuff too :)
I'm 46 and have never heard of Bannock. After watching your video, and seeing how you make it, I have now tried it myself and I'm addicted to it... 😂 Thanks for sharing this wonderful bread recipe...
Great video. I lived in germany for several years and I surely miss all the bike trails Europe has to offer. Really enjoyed your bike kit.
I really enjoy watching your videos as simple as you're camping is it's proof we don't have to have 500 lb of stuff to enjoy it a little bit of quietness in the woods. Thank you for sharing
Thanks Becky! 👍🏕
Great titanium wood stove Simon. I like :)
WOW, hot tenting and cycle camping, what a combo! Who'd have thunk it... Great video :-)
Can I say Simon, you get better and better and betterer. Master Craftsman and very inspirational. I'm a pedestrian camper that carries more than I can even lift anymore. You're the man, as they say....
Thank you Trudi! 😁
What's astonishing to me is that you make all this effort for just an overnight camping trip. If I set all that up as meticulously as you do, I'm staying for a week in those beautiful woods! Lol! Good job -- love your videos!
Finally a stove that folds into a manageble size. Thank You Simon for the demo. Happy New Year to You and Yours
I gasped when you said you had bought a stove, but oh my, the difference in weight & it folds down too! So handy. Happy New Year Simon, to you & your loved ones.
Wonderful video, this guy is the person you want with you on a bike camping trip!
Thanks for sharing, it was a bit of an eye opener. What a great setup, didn't realise you could get a stove that small and lightweight, also the tent goes well with it seems good value.
That freeze-dried Fajita meal looks like it would be good as filling in a tortilla. Tortillas are great camping food, very compact.
Beautiful old Kona! Love it! The rest also, but the bike got me hooked right from the first scene!
Great video Simon. You are an inspiration. Best wishes to you :)
Yet another exceptional video Simon, thank you so much for your time. In the past you've inspired me to own a Polish Lavvu, I bet that Cub would be a perfect fit for that little canvas tent. I guess it's time for me to have a moment of madness! Love that! Happy New year to you. Thanks again.
It would be just the job for the lavvu. 👍🔥
I am in great admiration of your packing skills! Awesome video, Thanks for taking the time to do these, they really are inspirational!
Wow, I learned something new. A wood stove in a tent! Who knew, awesome
I went camping once on my own and smoked a joint, I was soooo paranoid and couldn't stop thinking about the blair witch project. I heard some foxes fighting and it sounded like a human baby cry, oh my god!! I shit my pants, I was thinking my entrails would be scattered among the trees like Christmas decorations. also I ate all my food and the fire went out. Around 8.45pm I rang my wife to get her to put the patio lights on - so I wouldn't get scared walking back up from the garden to the back door. I did see a skanky fox with mainge troþing through the garden sniffing the bins earlier on, I think one of the neighbors kids hit it with a .22 air rifle as his eye was a bit closed an weepy. Good to be out on nature. Nice video matey. 😊
I love your all videos your posting o realy love it I believe your the best in UK and all over Europe GOD bless you where ever you're. Jerry from Glendale CALIFORNIA
I commented and liked only half way through...... that was a brilliant video. Thank you for 30 minutes of total chill.
Simon is the best ever bloke in the woods.
I think Simon is a kindred spirit to the late Woods Walker.
I always love the music you use on the beginning and end of your videos .
Love your stove and the hot tent setup. Great video!!
Loved this video. A lot. Has kept my spirits up and given me a glimmer of hope that maybe there are some adventures still to be had as winter looms here in Canada. All the best, Simon!
What I'd give to spend a winter in Canada!! Get out there my man 🤙
@@Randyyy2468 It sounds much more fun than it is! After about the 5th straight month of -20C and wind you start to wonder if the sun will ever come back.
Loved your video, especially your fold up stove and tent.
I agreee. Very interesting!
Thank you for Your videos. They are great. We are waiting for more. All the best and unforgettable trips. Greetings from Poland. All the best 👍 ...good job
That portable wood stove is genius mate. Love the videos. Subscribed.
"Ounces become pounds, and pounds become pain." But . . . "pack lite, freeze at night!" Tis an old story, and twill ere be repeated.
I love that quote. I am carrying so much extra pain, except it's not in my backpack! Man, I'm going to die young unless I change my ways
Johann W. Coltrane Aye matey....
@Jack Obrein Quick! Lets tell the army! lol
Man I was thinking how the heck has he got all that gear on his bike. Brilliant.
Thank you for the silicone mat idea!
Fantastic video! Thank you 😊
Living the dream Simon, love the content, man after my own heart
These short trips, to get out of the house and clear the head, are perfect for sorting out just the the stuff we want to camp with. We try out new stuff, remember old reliable stuff and enjoy beer and hot chocolate in the process. It’s tried and true learning that men do. Good on you, Simon; I wish you had more camping time. When your camping gear starts running you out of house and home, just give some to a buddy, easy peasy. That’s what guys do. Heh, heh... Thanks for sharing your camp. Happy New Year to you and your’s. Texas
Absolutely awesome cycling setup fir camping. I love that tiny titanium stove.
I’m new to biking and camping and so my quarantine has been filled with trying to Learn from TH-cam videos. This w was hands down my favorite video to date, rivaled only by watching some dude make and sew a bike bag by hand in silence. You come across as a genuinely kind, regular man in his element, but obviously a ton of work and thought go into producing this, from the angles to just showing us what needs to be shown without a lot of overly evangelical chirping or explaining or cutting corners. I feel like I know have a whole new handle on what the Whole cycle of rolling it account setting it up doing what you have to do all the way through the night into the morning would actually feel like in real time. I just thought I have a much better grasp with that route experiences. I can’t thank you enough. Very well done brother. Bravo. I haven’t looked yet but I’m hoping that you have a gear list somewhere and just things that you’re using from your camp pot to yard and the utility knife sure you must have it somewhere. Thank you again and happy new year to you as well.
HAPPY NEW YEAR SIMON , WISH COULD GO AWAY IN THE MOUNTAINS , LOVE LUCY
Loving the new stove, that so smart. And the chimney- very clever
Very nice Simon. Hug from Brazil by flavio
Very nicely done, Brother. Mountain bikes are great camping assets. - Mike in Coronado
That sawing, chopping and scraping was almost musical.
Looking at this video once again because of my interest in tarps as a tent and the attractive theme presentation photo, I realized and can appreciate, the diversity and the novel way in which you approached filming the opening scenes of this video. And I love your videos. Trusting your knee is better!
Thanks Carolle, yes, all cleared up now. 👍😁
Thank you for the great video!! You just made up my mind for me, yep I'm getting a hot tent to bike pack with next winter!!!
Great to see you back out with the hot tent mate. The Cub is ideal for use with both this tent and your Lavvu for sure. Small but still can fit the larger size logs in there and totally light weight! Love it.
Great to see the run down of bags and fixtures on your bike too, it’s given me ideas haha.
The bannock bread looked lush with the bacon and honey. Thanks and happy new year to you Simon. Ant 👍
Cheers mate! Happy peddling! 😁👍
These are a few of my favorite things bikes, camping, and bacon wow the silicon baking sheet is perfect for a project I am working on. Thanks very much cheers
th-cam.com/video/y_XPV7r7mrs/w-d-xo.html Just be careful breathing the fumes from the silicone.
Hi Simon. Happy New Year to you. I was interested to see your new stove and was intrigued to see the stovepipe. Instead of sections it is one piece rolled one way for packing and rolled the other for use. Ingenious. Thanks for this as I go back to watching your new Cub.
Some load on that bike Simon .love the stove the whole set up ...just wonderful ....peace and quiet of the wood ...👍
You are really really talented. You can cycle, canoe, camp, and everything. Envious fan from India!
4:27 It's amazing how easy it is to see a fresh cut like that, even from a distance. If trying to remain undetected, it's best to not leave signs someone is near and the cut will remain fresh for weeks. I've been a tarp guy, but I have to say, I like this hot tent. ;)
Good advise! 👍
A KONA!! Beautiful to see another old Joe Murray creation still going strong. I still ride my Lava Dome from the same year as your bike - is yours late 90’s? And is that the Caldera? What awesome machines still going strong 👍😎
Absolutely fantastic.so informative and entertaining in its unique way.Thank you!
Hope maggi your dog 🐕 OK as well.beautiful newfoundland. Yeah.😊❤take care out there.
I liked the no-trace shot after breaking camp. Glad you enjoyed your outing. Happy New Year from Illinois. 🥳
What a jem of an episode!
Your videos are the best out there! The presenting, camera work are spot on.... It's a pleasure to watch! Once things return to normal can you do some more overnighters & ration pack reviews.
Absolutely!! 😁👍🏕
You have done incredibly well to travel so light!
Absolute brilliant video, everything explained perfectly, many many thanks for making & sharing this !
Here's a chap who's really worked his kit out! I'm going to follow some of those links for a lightweight motorbike set up for the TET. Thanks very much and keep up the good work.
I've been looking for a stove just like that I'm going to be ordering one this week can't wait to try it myself
A very enjoyable video, thank you Simon for taking the time and effort to produce this footage
Great video love it. I find the bike greatly increases your range and allows for more gear. That Chimney....What a brilliant ida! Respect.
Brilliant timing mate I am just about to pick my hot tent for
Winter camping,,,
Looking forward to seeing this
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I also have one, they are extremely lightweight and a good material but mine ripped when was windy ☹️
@@hippyswift the tent ripped
@@englishwoodsman yeah, I had it up a few days and slackened off a bit, the center pole then slipped through the top-side :(
Myn Ripped in the similar situation and I was put off by trying to sort it out and didn't use it again and I use it as a footprint sheet 😖 I simply wouldn't recommend this product but I would say be at your own peril 😏 my own thought that I should have bought a canvas polish lavu but it is a heavyweight and you need to have the balls of a bison to carry it
Nice video , like the lightweight stove. Wondered about the the heat resistant cover for the flue hole in the tent, did you just make it with velcro strips round the edges to make it stay in place?. Just interested as I have a smokey hut as well, cheers👍
Hi Simon, that stove is MAD, stunning little thing, and that stovepipe is pure genius, something from “the crash at Roswell where the metal returns to its original state, amazing, nice vid as usual, BTW happy belated New Year to you and yours, take care😃👍
Thanks Cliff and happy new year to you!! 👍
What a great stove! Look forward to seeing it out again!
Great video Simon 👍. Like the new wood stove 😉. Nice to hear you had a good Christmas 🎄, & a Happy New Year to you and your family, from B.C. 🇨🇦
This makes me want to live as a Bike Nomad. The Mini is stove is absolutely Genius!
Winnerwell medium, ;) if you camp contact me it would be fun to see a video
you might like eggs, ham (or cooked diced bacon) and cheese, salt(no salt if usi g bacon) pep,in a plastic bottles so come morning breakfast is ready to hit the pan
Less room taken up by a stove means more room for beer, win!
Loving your channel Simon ✌️
Brilliant video thanks for uploading. I need to get out on my bike a bit more camping. I love the way that you showed us how all your stuff packed away, some good ideas. Thank you
From the very beginning, "Mountain House" dehydrated meals were made much as they are today. The LRP menu was somewhat limited and the packaging was far more robust, but the product was excellent and greatly appreciated by all. They were developed (here in Oregon) as LRP rations for the US military and went into production in 1969. However, even as late as 1972 we (those they were intended for) were still packing old stock C-Rations from WW2 and the Korean conflict with much greater frequency than the "far more palatable" LRP rations.
Fellow Oregonian, from Springfield!
Just to mention you should carry on your bike a full small bike repair kit, getting a flat on an outing is a pain.
never had the LRRPS rations myself but I never had a problem with C-rats
We were still eating C Rations in the early 1980's.
It is freeze dried, not dehydrated
I'm watching this without my headphones so my wife can hear it, she's laughing her head of at what us boys get up to.
Nice video, as always. Great to see you out testing your new gear under real world conditions. Wishing you all the best for the year ahead. Cheers from sunny Malaysia 😎
Hi Simon ,Happy new year I really wish you the best mate . Your camping trip this time is missing your 🐕 and I hope next time you will bring it with you , actually it will be more joyful. Thanks for the new uploads 🙏👍👍👍
In the intro I didnt recognize you until you put on your beanie, then you transformed into "Simon, a bloke in the woods" ta da!
Don't let him off the hook! As a balding man, I have been desperate to avoid hiding the ravages of age and genetics! I am trying to convince Simon to accept his alopecia as a normal course of events. To date, I have been bitterly disappointed , but I took heart in seeing the five seconds of exposure we saw. 😜😂😂😂😂
That is SO TRUE! Even signature costume details contribute to a channel! Suddenly, a familiar brow and face appear...and all is well with the world.
@Hermit620 😂😂😂 and thats all yer getting too!
@@simonablokeinthewoods be free!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂
Haha good one Stuart B ;)
Ahh yes, those moments of madness! i know those very well 🤣🙌 because i neeeeeed 6 tents and 4 sleeping bags. Great video Simon. Atb Mike
I have 7 tents and 5 sleeping bags :0
@@angelakm6753 ace! you can never have too many.
Hahaha - I’m not alone!! 😂👍
@@TheCheshireWanderer Don't start me on stoves - I have at least 8!
@@angelakm6753 wood stoves? I absolutely love my woodgas stove.
Enjoyed as always!! Nice portable wood stove and not overly expensive I suppose. Smart to ride in to a camping spot. Gotta make some of that Bannock with raisins, nuts and cinnamon, Yum.
I really enjoyed this. Thank you for making the film.
The scrambled eggs Mountain House is amazing with hot sauce! Started 2nd channel due to old one will get shut down from hunting photo I shared. Gotta be more careful than ever on tube..
Must be the season for bad knees, although I suspect mine is more age related rather than work, as yours is. Looking forward to your adventures in the coming year.
you all prolly dont give a damn but does anybody know of a method to log back into an instagram account?
I was stupid lost my account password. I would love any assistance you can give me!
@Lukas Ahmed instablaster =)
@Leighton Paxton Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Leighton Paxton it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy!
Thanks so much you saved my ass :D
@Lukas Ahmed happy to help =)
It looked like a fun trip, Simon. I really like that little stove the more I see it. Glad to hear Maggie and everyone are well and had good holidays. Here is hoping the coming year and new decade are more than kind to you. 🥂
Excellent! another classic, thanks Simon.