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Travel StoriesMucking Around In Muker
Inconvenience Is Better Than Disaster
Ride Date - 20 April 2018
By Ren Withnell
Weekend Trip 20-22 April
I went to Muker last year with the "Chunky Tread" folks (Chunking Campastrophy 2017). Quickly re-reading that post a familiar thread emerged that I've been harping on about for waaaaaaay too long now. Being cold in my sleeping bag.
Well today - today is a new day and today things are going to be different. Today I am taking my shiny new sleeping bag. Today I'm packing a Carinthia Defender 4 sleeping bag. It has cost me £125, it is rated to minus 15 degrees "comfort" and is allegedly used by various armies which means it must be very good. Obviously. Hmmmmm. We'll see.
Is this the key to camping comfort?
Sharon booked the day off work ages ago so she can ride up with me. Unfortunately today is the funeral of her ex husband's mother - Diane or "Nan" to Sharon's kids. Diane always had time for Sharon, she was friendly and kind to her. I guess Sharon will be sad she's gone, she wants to be there to pay her respects and to say goodbye.
Sharon's kids are young adults now, they don't need her to hold their hands or wipe their noses. Despite this they too will miss their Nan and Sharon wants to be there to offer a little moral support. Sad times.
The plan is for Sharon to attend the funeral and not rush away afterwards. We aim to meet at Lancaster services around 1500. But this is Sharon - the queen of disaster.
She manages to leave her place around 1420, not bad all things considered. I depart at the same time once I receive the message she's on her way. My journey to Lancaster services is peaceful and pleasant with mild temperatures, hazy sun and flowing traffic. Today is a good day to ride. For some...
I check my phone on arrival. Sharon is apparently in Lymm because the motorway is closed and she's diverted herself to a place she knows very well indeed - "Lost". She's been here many many times before. Previously when she's visited "Lost" it has lead to "Panic", "The end of the world" and finally to "Disaster".
Sharons does not understand why she keeps on ending up in "Lost"
We have been working very hard to train Sharon to stop going to "Disaster" when she reaches "Lost". The first thing is to definitely not go through "Panic" but to keep calm and keep going until she can find a safe place to stop. Once she is stopped in "Safe" she is to calm down, collect herself then consult with Mrs SatNav.
In a remarkable twist of events the diversion has not led to "Panic" then "Disaster" requiring a "Rescue Event". It has instead taken us both to "Annoying Inconvenience" which while not perfect is way way better than "Disaster". She arrives at Lancaster services an hour after expected and somewhat flustered yet most importantly safe.
In spite of the inconvenience and frustration I believe the fact Sharon has pulled herself out of the poop by her bootstraps without assistance will help cement the lessons. Keep calm, stay safe, pull over when it's safe, take a breath then form a plan.
The rest of the ride to Muker goes without incident. After a winter riding the grimy grey urban roads of Manchester and Merseyside I have forgotten just how beautiful our countryside is. Green hills, baby lambs gambling in the fields, stone cottages, babbling brooks and narrow lanes. I feel like I can breath.
Awww little fluffy kebabs.
The evening is spent with our friends both old and new. There are those we meet quite often, those we meet just a few times a year and those we've never met before. It matters not, we talk and tease in the pub for a while before gathering around a brazier back at the site. The skies are clear, the stars are out and the temperatures are dropping. I hope this sleeping bag is as good as it claims.
I spend the first 3 hours in the tent doing battle with my air pillow. It's just not right inside the bag so I deflate it a little. Hmmmm. I snooze briefly then blow it up again. Hmmmm. To the side? Less air? It's almost 0300 before I decide this sleeping bag is not like my old one where the pillow can be inside the bag, I put it outside.
Yes...and no. The bag is definitely warmer than the last one but I'm still not toasty warm like I would be at home. It is more comfortable than my last one but it's still not like home. Everything is better and yet it it is far from perfect. It's me. It's definitely me.
We'd love to review your wonderful sleeping bags or camping gear here on Bikes And Travels. Contact ren@techsolus.co.uk
Inconvenience Is Better Than Disaster
What should be a simple leisurely ride to The Yorkshire Dales is confused by unavoidable events. Don't worry though, Ren is going to have a good night's sleep. Maybe.
A Big Walk
Motorcycle adventures don't *always* involve a motorcycle. This time the Chunkies are taking a walk through The Yorkshire Dales.
A Little Rain
After another great weekend in Muker the rain has come but fear not, it's time for Sharon and Ren to head home.
Reader's Comments
Ian Soady said :-
Gambling lambs?
23/04/2018 14:32:09 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
OK wise ass...gamboling...
Having typed this my autocorrect has put a red line under it...let's see what Google says...
Yup - gamboling. Obviously not in Opera's English (United Kingdom) dictionary. Pfffffft
23/04/2018 14:55:54 UTC
Keith m said :-
And directly underneath this article is an advert form Amazon telling me I can have the Carintha Defence 4 sleeping bag for £145.58.
23/04/2018 18:08:15 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Shocking Keith! Why you'd think people where trying to get money out of you. I guess the key is to shop around :-)
24/04/2018 05:09:45 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
Apologies, it's a Yank cartoon so spelt incorrectly.......
Your dictionary is quite right it should be gambolling.
24/04/2018 09:05:57 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I should have just stuck with gambling...
24/04/2018 12:13:18 UTC
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Travel StoriesMucking Around In Muker