accomodation; ever been desperate?

inaperfectworld · June 2007

last year doing coasts to castles in the 1st week of september using b&b i had a delayed start (train)and wanted a bed in newbiggin/ashington. there are few places to stay here and as they were full i was getting desperate by 7.30 pm. the last hotel within practical reach about 5 miles away had just one bed available. i also tried to book a night in melrose from kelso touirist office but stayed in kelso as there was no accomodation at all in melrose ,so i was glad not to turn up there on spec. i also decide to extend to a loop on edinburgh/aberdeen route but could book no accomodation in falkland 1/2way round so i gave up on that.i wonder then ,on tour do you book ahead, which spoils the spontaneity of touring by bike? or is it worth taking a cheap minimalist tent just in case you are stuffed for the night. outdoor gear do a 1.5kg i man tent for œ25, which looks a bargain. after all it's only for insurance which you hope never to have to use

psmiffy · June 2007

Nuh do it the other way round - always camp - only us B & B if weather is ballistic and beyond

Unknown · June 2007

I usually sleep rough, and stay at a campsite for hot shower and wash clothes.
Infrequent user of B&b/hotel,only use for a bit of luxury.
Unless I am in a country where the hostels are really really cheap.

so for me a credit card is for insurance which I hope never have to use.

horses for courses.
george

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Eurostar · June 2007

By 'rough' do you mean wild camping with all the gear, or down-and-out style, e.g. on a park bench under a newspaper?

Tourist Tony · June 2007

Well, I have used a survival bag several times. Mat and sleeping bag inside it; a bit sweaty, but find a nice hedge and it's fine.

If I had a stalker, I would hug it and kiss it and call it George...or Dick

Bloke on a bikecp · June 2007

Wild camping for me. That's what getting away is. Every three or four days I'll cycle past a pub advertising rooms and I'll treat myself.

--
Basil W Brush

tabs · June 2007

This year I pre-booked all accomodation on my well organised route, which worked out fine. I spent between œ25 - œ30 per night.
Last year, I went 'on spec', and luckily all went well, and found accomodation easily.
I did have your concerns though, and was prepared to go to Morrisons or Tesco etc, and buy a beach shelter for œ9.99 and a sleeping bag for œ7.99 and rough it for a night!

vernonlevy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by psmiffy

Nuh do it the other way round - always camp - only us B & B if weather is ballistic and beyond
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's the way to do it!

Apart from two planned stopovers under a roof, I've only resorted to B&B once in eight weeks' worth of UK cycle camping. It's a lot cheaper than B&B.

Unknown · June 2007

I book B&B in advance. After an enjoyable day's cycling I enjoy bath, a good meal and a beer.

_____________________________________________________________________
Be nice to grumpy old men (or else)

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Eurostar

By 'rough' do you mean wild camping with all the gear, or down-and-out style, e.g. on a park bench under a newspaper?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
empty houses

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/imjibi/Ir ... 5638354594

camping on a farm
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/imjibi/Ir ... 6286065362

spanish garage
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/imjibi/Eu ... 0008934210

camping
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/imjibi/Eu ... 1144513554

in sheds
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/imjibi/So ... 4023051986
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/imjibi/So ... 5670545426

bus shelters
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/imjibi/So ... 8742788114

behind service stations
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/imjibi/So ... 6336085010

I have even slept on benches , in a sleeping bag but no photo sorry

or just make a basha
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/imjibi/So ... 1184537618

george

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Bloke on a bikecp · June 2007

And church porches.
Don't do this on a Saturday night. [:I][:I]

--
Basil W Brush

sensei · June 2007

When I was a youngster I used to doss in rural bus shelters. I was woken a few times by the early commuters.
The problem for me of prebooking is that much of the spontaneity goes out of the day.
Camping is best, even with just a bivi bag.

marinated · June 2007

I've been thinking about this recently. When working out costs, it's nice not to spend œ30 a night for B & B.

I decided to buy a lightweight sleeping bag (as yet unsure which brand), a "foil" liner and a snugpak bivi bag, all of which would be about the same cost as 4 nights B & B.

.

Bigtallfatbloke · June 2007

I slept in one of those orange survival bags once...it was raining but I still got soaked from the inside. Ok for an emergency but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it.

What about UK farmers fields?..That's my plan. Has anybody ever had any hassle with these...got moved on or attacked by a combine harvester etc?

Eurostar · June 2007

Survival bags are so horrendous (because you get soaked) wouldn't it be better if one's emergency kit included a proper breathable bivi bag instead? OK, it does involve spending money which is against the spirit of the idea. But if you had one you might use it more than once! Field and Trek have one for 50 quid.

What's the point of going out? We're just going to end up back here anyway

Unknown · June 2007

I prefer to use camp sites. I have free camped but don't feel comfortable doing it. Hostels are the next step up, then B&B - but only if the weather's really bad or there's no convenient camp site.

It does mean that my route can be dictated by the location of the next camp site but I don't really mind that since it's not all about where for me, it's as much about how. As long as I'm somewhere I've not been before then it's not an issue whether it's on a tourist or recommended trail or not. I tend to have a day off every 5 to 7, to give myself a rest and to break the pitch/sleep/pack routine.

Spawn of Cabbie · June 2007

There seems to be an outstanding proportion of tight arses on this board!

Sleeping rough?

mercsport · June 2007

" Sleeping Rough " ???? " Tight arse " ??!!!
By no means ! Although your pronouncement was slightly cryptic , I suspect you miss the point of it all entirely . Amongst a host of other reasons , possibly the one you may understand is the fact that I pity the poor sods who feel obliged to mix it with the strident types ( usually ) who inhabit campsites .
Oh , what a glory it is to lay down in a field or wood in perfect peace of an evening and not be bothered by others about their ablutions . Their mobile phones , their TV's , their generators thrumming the night long . They seem to be for those who never wanted to leave home in the first place .
Mostly I've carried a NorthFace Tadpole tent , ( the original works prototype in fact ) with clear mesh side panels which when used on a hot summers night on the continent , without the flysheet , is almost as good as not using the tent at all , except it keeps the voracious wildlife at bay wonderfully and still be a room with a view .
The tent is a muted green and blends in with the countryside nicely . As campsites on the continent are usually , no, .. actually are , a version of hell on earth to me it's usually the wide open spaces or the forests that beckon when twilight falls . Never a problem in many a year . As many nights have been spent just lied in the grass when I couldn't be fagged to unpack anything . I had a Goretex bivibag once on one trip : it worked OK for the odd occasion that I had to weather a few wet ground shaking lightning storms in the mountains . But I found it confining in use and gave it away afterwards .
A one/two season down ( ..repeat : DOWN ! Lighter , warmer and packs up smaller than anything else on earth )sleeping bag as light as possible is all that's needed to keep warm , and that's too much sometimes of course . I recommend the lightest Mountain Equipment down bag made . Not much bigger than a can of beans when scrunched up and compressed .
One thing is for sure you'll likely take too much stuff with you that'll never get used . Spare clothes mostly . Streams , rivers , public fountains are always there to soak your rags and oneself . A shirt , shorts , socks and , ...er , that's about it really . Oh yes , a light fleece maybe . Travel light .
It's not about saving money .

Bruce

Eurostar · June 2007

Hear hear. Nothing beats wild camping. Camp sites are detestable. Some of my best travel experiences have been having a hillside overlooking a valley all to myself. I camped above an empty ski resort in the Pyrenees once. Didn't see anyone except goats. When I woke up I was above the clouds. Just like looking out of an aeroplane window, with a few peaks showing through. It was so peaceful - all I could hear was the odd goat bell. There was a layer of ice under my Thermarest but I was very cosy in my sleeping bag. Then I cooked bacon and eggs while the goats scrunched their grass.

Unknown · June 2007

+1 for sleeping rough

means I get to see some fantastic places, nearest campsite or B&B hundreds of miles away.

The night sky, seen with no light pollution. The dawn experienced from the sleeping bag.

I too use the inner tent with mesh sides without the flysheet sometimes.

B&B and hotels... snoring, people having sex, too hot and stuffy..etc etc

Campsites..snoring people having sex, mobile phones, TV's and radios...etc etc

george

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chewa · June 2007

As a mid 40-something, I'm too old to sleep on a beach or park bench [;)], and my wife likes to have her own wc and shower after a cycle, so we tend to stay in B&B or small hotel.

I like to book ahead but generally make a 40mile route. then if the weathers bad or one of us is feeling not to great we know it's just a couple of hours away. If weather great we detour in loops away.

Then we know we've got a bed for the night - very reassuring (if boring!)

plus je vois les hommes, plus j'admire les chiens

Spawn of Cabbie · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I suspect you miss the point of it all entirely <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I do miss the point.

I can just about see the appeal of wild camping.

On the other hand, I would rather not go anywhere if it meant goping to a campsite.

I have yet to see a normal looking camper - I fear I am too good looking & cool to be accepted by them.

inaperfectworld · June 2007

by eck you're a tough lot: bus shelters etc after a day's riding. i am over 50 so preferring a shower and a bed is more forgivable i hope. is a small tent or bivi bag preferred should i get stuck? and do you get troubled by the local farmer

Spawn of Cabbie · June 2007

I'm under 30 and there is no way I would even dream of dossing in a bush shelter for the night!

Is that when you can't find a crack den to squat in for the night?

Unknown · June 2007

What is with the age thing?
I am 58 and have been doing it, sleeping rough, for so long I have it down to a fine art. finding a "safe" dry place, or behind a hedge. Never been moved on, except to be invited into the house.

When the wind is howling at 50 to 60 mph, a bus shelter is a good choice.

When I am home I take in cyclists/travellers so it evens itself out.

I choose to do it because I want to see lots of countries and sometimes there is nowhere else, or I have no cash. If I sleep rough I can afford to eat in a cafe, if I spend money on a campsite I can afford to buy stuff from a supermarket.

Everyone is different, that's what makes it great to meet and chat to cyclo-tourists.

I was invited into a "pe¤a" in Spain not exactly crack, but they were smoking dope and chasing the dragon etc.

Just get out and ride, let the day bring what it will.

Each to their own.

And Chewa it isn't boring what you do. You tour on a bike, and that's never boring, is it???

george

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Spawn of Cabbie · June 2007

And where exactly do you have a wash after a day's cycling? In a puddle?

I haven't seen too many shower facilities when waiting for the Number 27.

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Spawn of Cabbie

And where exactly do you have a wash after a day's cycling? In a puddle?

I haven't seen too many shower facilities when waiting for the Number 27.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Look at the title of this forum

Tour and Expedition

Wash????
Carrying 10 or 15 litres of water is heavy enough and its for drinking and cooking.

george

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Unknown · June 2007

Right. I sleep int'shoe box at mid'l a rowd.

Spawn of Cabbie · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Wash????
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It's what stops you stinking.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Tour and Expedition

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Does it count as an expedition when you travel in places with a bus service?

Nigeyy · June 2007

And f'breakfast thou hast an andfulluv gravel, reet?

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by yello

Right. I sleep int'shoe box at mid'l a rowd.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Fight Cystic Fibrosis: do something. http://www.cycleforhaylee.org http://www.cff.org

Unknown · June 2007

Spawn of Cabbie

do you really want to know, or just wage a personal flame war?

As I said
Carrying water, its very heavy 1ltr=1kg
There are places I have visited where water is very hard to find, and I carry water for drinking and cooking
And get a wash where and when I can. This is not on every tour. where there are rivers and lakes, or the sea I use them.

And I love to get into a shower or bath when I can, hot or cold.

Expedition and bus service.
Ask anyone who has ridden route 40 in Argentina if its a tour or expedition, or the Carretera Austral in Chile.
If you are not a schoolkid you will wait an aweful long time for a bus to come along.

As I said each to their own,

enjoy the rest of the Monty Python sketch.

Tailwinds

george

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accomodation; ever been desperate?

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