i love hammocks!

howdy,

i got back last night from a test ride/trip.

next month we're heading back to blighty for a visit and whilst there we're going to go camping with some friends.

i'll be heading off for three days/nights touring on the bike and sleeping rough before meeting nikki and the others for a long weekend camping in the new forest.

so - i've got myself a new camping set-up which involves a hammock (with built-in mosquito net) and waterproof tarp.

it is light enough to be carried with me on my bike (which our old knackered tent isn't!).

see below for a photo of the hammock set up:



and with the tarp:



so on wednesday lunchtime i set off and rode about 40 miles/60 km through the ardeche mountains until finding a nice secluded spot to stop for the night.

i made myself a little fire, opened a nice bottle of local ardeche beer i'd bought in a nearby village and made myself some pasta.

i was amazed by how comfortable it is to actually get a nights sleep in a hammock. even after a hard days riding (and it is hard doing 5 mile/1,500 ft climbs with panniers on the bike!) i was comfortable enough to feel fully rested by morning.

then, yesterday morning, i set off again to do another 30 miles to meet nikki before heading off to pick pete and miho (nikki's brother and sister-in-law) up from the train station for their long-weekend visit.

(i told you that you might make it onto the blog!)

also, and this will only interest a vast minority of you, i've switched bikes.

i'm getting rid of my disc brakes (and the brilliant frame that unfortunately only supports discs) and getting back-to-basics with more technically sensible v-brakes.

after a full day of stipping two bikes in order re-build one new one i also wanted to use this trip to see how it works - i was not disapointed - it's a great bike.

it was amazing to slowly (whilst undulating) descend towards the rhone valley as although spring is only just starting here (with the buds on the trees ready to burst through any day now!) it is in full flow at the lower altitudes with cherry/apple blossom and wild flowers everywhere - beautiful.

unfortunately there are no photos from the trip as i didn't want the extra weight of the camera and so you'll have to wait until you come and visit before you can see it.

cheers, gairy.