Crudcatcher Weekend Ride - Inners/GT - 27/28/29 Jul

cat_with_no_tail

Ok guys, honest opinion time now.

Called up earlier to book wigwams. They're situated directly opposite "The Hub" (the glentress trailhead, not the empty sub-forum). They have confirmed that they WILL fit 5 people, but advise that they're really designed to accommodate 3 in comfort. They're basically just like big wooden tents, there is a seperate shower block, communal kitchen, and secure bike storage with cleaning stuff & tools.

Sadly, they've not got 3 available that weekend (would have been the sensible option) so it's a case of:

a. Squeezing 10 of us into 2 wigwams (see pic below for an idea of sleeping arrangements)
2. Finding somewhere else that can sleep 10
iii. Decent campsite
four. Leaving 4 people in ditches with their heads backwards on the way up there.

flyingmonkeycorps

Having slept in a Wigwam, I don't think I'd want to share one with four other people. Three, maybe four in total at a push would be ok, but five would be very cosy. And imagine the smell by the end...

Squarepants

cheers for the info dude, campsite gets my vote, and I'm still in pending firery aerial death on the way to/from Bali

lawman

campings cool with me, Bikeradar live was a freaking epic weekend, is there any other form of accomodatio or camping facilities near the hub? Dunno if they'll be a place like there is at cannock just outside the centre, I'm sure you'll have a look at all options matt but whatever is decided upon (other than being left with my head backwards in a ditch of course) I'm there! (and as long as I can get a lift with bails )

cat_with_no_tail

@ Flying monkey, I was thinking along the same lines. Looks like pretty close quarters for 2 nights with 4 other smelly blokes, some of whom will have never met.

@ Squarepants & Tom, the more I look into camping, the more I am liking the idea.
Not looking to be cheap or anything, but the cost of camping is going to be significantly less than anything else too. As in, less than half. Plus I have been informed that we can camp on the same site as the wigwams, and use their facilities and bike storage and everything, so we'd still be right outside the hub too.

bails87

I'm happy to pitch a tent (oo er) but I don't have my own. I've probably got enough stuff to make camping survivable for a couple of days (sleeping bag, big down jacket in the event of summer snow) providing someone else provides the actual tent.

Bike storage isn't too much of an issue for me because mine and lawman's bikes will be inside the car.

Camping at the wigwam place and having access to the kitchens, showers etc sounds good.

Proutster

If the general consensus is camping then I'm happy to go with that - although it's been almost 30 years since I last went camping (too used to my luxuries now). And yes, I am getting old.

Cat - have you had a look at The Tweed Valley Bunkhouse In Innerleithen? (http://www.Tweedvalleyholidaylets.co.uk) it looks like they've got availability and it sleeps 12. Total cost looks like £480 - if that's more than you were bargaining for, then I'm sure we can all chip in to make up the difference?

Is the Kailzie Bunkhouse booked up too?

Edit: While I've been typing this it looks like you're leaning towards camping - as above, if that's the consensus then I'm more than happy to go with that. It'll probably make it even more of a laugh!

thekickingmule

I was meant to be camping this week, but because my minion wanted to go to Download Festival, I couldn't (Bad minion!) This made me a sad mule.
Camping sounds grand to me! Last time I was up there, we stayed in Peebles, Rosetta Campsite, or something like that. It was nice, but quite pricey. If we can stay outside The Hub, then that sounds like a plan to me. What facilities are there we can use?

cat_with_no_tail

Ha, I knew you'd be up for it, you love your camping dontcha!

Rosetta is one that's been recommended to me too by a good half dozen people. Although a couple have said it was let-down by a group tanked up on strong ale at 2am (wasn't you was it?)

Not sure about using facilities at the hub, I was referring to the campsite facilities which include things like secure bike storage, cleaning and maintainence facilities as well as a decent shower block and kitchen.

Here is what I'm thinking, if we can book up at the same campsite that has the wigwams, anyone who is dead set against camping can get a Wigwam. That means everyone can be kept relatively happy, and we can all stay together.
They only cost £60 per person for the weekend (with bike storage etc included) if it's 2 sharing. That goes down to £45 per person with 3 sharing.

Can you let me know who has a tent and how many people it will comfortably sleep.

Ours is a 4 man, 2 "bedrooms" so it'll comfortably sleep 2. I can bring the 2nd airbed too if it's required (although I'd rather not if you can bring your own, the IOM is a long way to lug it from).

@ Prouster - Like I said, I don't want to sound cheap, but as I've now found out this is coming *entirely* out of my pocket (corporate travel company can't do it) I'd rather keep the costs as low as possible. I still don't mind doing it, but I'm sure you can appreciate £500 is a lot of money to fork out on a "cheap" MTB weekend with a group of people many I've never met before.

andyrm

Yup - camping looks good to me!

And as it's coming out of your pocket now, let me know if you want a contribution (monetary, not reachrounds etc).

cat_with_no_tail

andyrm wrote:

Yup - camping looks good to me!

And as it's coming out of your pocket now, let me know if you want a contribution (monetary, not reachrounds etc).

No the pre-arranged reacharounds will still be fine. Quiet though or they'll all want one.

Proutster

Cat - I didn't realize that you weren't able to do it on your corporate travel account any longer - that makes it completely different!! Camping it is then.

I know that you (kind of) refused @andyrm's offer of a contribution but there's no way that I can let you pay for it all - we'll come to some arrangement (and by that I definitely mean financial ).

As my previous post, I haven't been camping for many years and therefore don't have any camping stuff at all - ideally I'd like to go for one of the Wigwam's.

You've got a PM.

pilch

Hi camping is fine with me, I agree I think it would be a bit much to be cuddling up with a bunch of blokes i've only just met... especially with my extreme tourettes, skin complaints and constant flatulence - hang on, I think i'll fit right in!

I'll most likely kip in my van, room to a stick a few bikes/valubles out of sight too if we should venture in to Peebles for a big night out...

Big thanks to CWNT for sorting this out, i've done a few similar myself, so appreciate the organising & effort involved, and yes please don't feel obliged to pay for this out of your own pocket!

lawman

Camping sounds great to me, was a big success at radar live! I've got a tent that can sleep 2 relatively comfortably, I'll ask around and see what I can grab hold of

Will definitely contribute no matter what you say matt!

thekickingmule

What's with all the negative man love?
My tent is tiny, it says it is a 2-man tent, but those 2 men would definitely be having man love if they shared it. It does fit me well though, so I shall bring that.

Definite contributions shall be made, even if it's in the form of alcoholic liquids. I'm not entirely sure a "big night out in Peebles" is possible really. We had good fish and chips somewhere, but there's only a few pubs (if memory serves me right). We barbecued the other nights (which fended the midgies off - Oh my God, the midgies!) which was nice... we may have gone on a little late into the night. Not sure it was 2am though, me thinks they were exaggerating

cat_with_no_tail

I have a question for those of you who camp regularly.

Just had an email back from the fella who runs the campsite at Glentress. He said:

we do have camping pitches onsite and the charge is £16 per pitch per night based on a 2 man tent, extra adults add £6 under 16 years add £3, this includes the use of our communal kitchen and toilets/showers, campfires are allowed in certain areas.

Not sure what to make of this.

Our tent is a 4 man tent, it's fairly big (one of those with the main living area, then a "bedroom" off to either side) but it will be sleeping 2. Will I be paying £16 per night for the pitch? or will I have to pay £28 per night because it's a 4 man tent (even though there will only be 2 people in it) ?

Obviously, I can ring him and ask him to expand on this, just thought I'd see if anyone else could explain beforehand.

If you and Bails are coming up together Tom you and him may as well share that one.

Just spoken to Richie and he's got a big tent (not a euphamism) that can fit 3 of us in palacial comfort, plus we've then got a spare 2-bedroom one for anyone else too.

To clarify:

Thanks for the offers, but I'm not interested in taking contributions, I said i was going to do this and I am. Anyone wanting to contribute should do so in the form of a small donation to the cardiomyopathy charity. Thanks.

bails87

Matt, thanks for the generosity, I'll be donating (more generously than planned) to Kaiser's thing instead of giving you any moolah.

I'm happy to camp, I'm also happy to pay the £60/45 if someone/two wants to share a wigwam.

thekickingmule

Matt, compare it with the Rosetta one (Click the pic for the website):



We'd be paying the High Season prices. The Rosetta campsite is on a stupid hill if I remember rightly. It seemed stupid that the caravans, which can be angled, were on the flat bits. It was alright though, and they sell bacon and sausage butties near the showers.

It shouldn't cost £28 a night though, it's usually just a couple of quid more at most. The Rosetta one bases it on the size of the tent, which I think is fair enough. It costs the landowner no extra money if the tent is full, it's the amount of room the tent takes up that matters.

lawman

Yep will more than happily donate to kaiser's fund, will add it to what I've got so far to donate.

Knew you would have wanted a wigwam bails :P (actually looks nicer than my flat!!)

cat_with_no_tail

Bails, actually proutster wants a wigwam too (he's getting old bless him). As I say, 2 or 3 should fit into one of those things great so if you are wanting to I can put you in touch (or just PM him).
One thing to remember though is that they are just basically big wooden tents, so you'll still have to bring a sleeping bag for them etc. Plus, all the cool kids will be camping

Mule, it's the location of the Glentress site that appeals to me as much as anything. Being only a couple of hundred metres from the trail head is a massive plus (although I do appreciate that Rosetta is only 3-4 miles away too).

Proutster

Cat With No Tail wrote:

so you'll still have to bring a sleeping bag for them etc.

Sleeping bag??? Where's my pure Siberian Goose down duvet with Egyptian cotton covers?

And I'm not getting old....I am old

thekickingmule

Yeah I can understand the distance thing, I was surprised just how much further out of Peebles it was than I thought. Shame there isn't a campsite between Inners and GT, as that would be perfect!

cat_with_no_tail

Proutster wrote:

Cat With No Tail wrote:

so you'll still have to bring a sleeping bag for them etc.

Sleeping bag??? Where's my pure Siberian Goose down duvet with Egyptian cotton covers?

And I'm not getting old....I am old

It's right here.

Ohhhh yeah!

Proutster

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Proutster wrote:

Cat With No Tail wrote:

so you'll still have to bring a sleeping bag for them etc.

Sleeping bag??? Where's my pure Siberian Goose down duvet with Egyptian cotton covers?

And I'm not getting old....I am old

It's right here.

Ohhhh yeah!

Old = not falling for old tricks

cat_with_no_tail

Ok, help me out a bit here guys. Edit the list with your accommodation choices.

So far, accommodation wise we have

Country Manor (wigwam)
Proutster
Bails

Tent #1 (can sleep 3 people)
Me
Richie 63
???

Tent #2 (on his own because of his "issues")
Kickingmule


Tent #3
???
Tent #4
???
Tent #5
???

Richie63

Tents options wot I has
Hyperspace 4 bodies better with 2


Family tent


large central area with 3 pods coming off 6 people or just 3 with a pod each

pilch

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Ok, help me out a bit here guys. Edit the list with your accommodation choices.

So far, accommodation wise we have

Country Manor (wigwam)
Proutster
Bails

Tent #1 (can sleep 3 people)
Me
Richie 63
???

Tent #2 (on his own because of his "issues")
Kickingmule


Tent #3
???
Tent #4
???
Tent #5
???

Van #1
Pilch

cat_with_no_tail

Pilch - you sure man? There is plenty of room. Unless it's particularly comfy in the van I'd suggest coming and joining the rest of us round the campfire.

pilch

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Pilch - you sure man? There is plenty of room. Unless it's particularly comfy in the van I'd suggest coming and joining the rest of us round the campfire.

Yeah, honestly...don’t worry I have every intention of socialsing round the campfire! - it's a renault trafic kitted out as a weekend van, double bed, night heater blah blah, I do lots of events all over the country so its not really roughing it... may as well make use... assuming I can park in the same place as everybody is making camp?

cat_with_no_tail

Ah, it's a Mobile MTB man cave! Now I seeeee.

I'll double check when I come to book everything else. Can't see how it would be an issue though.