chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
I'd been toying with the idea of an overnight trip during the Christmas period, when a website I like to frequent, challenged folk to get out and celebrate the end of 2020 with an overnight trip. I decided to put my plans into action and planned an overnight trip up onto the Heide for a sneaky overnight wild camp. Wild camping is not really allowed, especially up in the Heide, so it's best to be discrete as possible, so with that in mind I set off after lunch, so I would arrive at dusk. Under a leaden sky I set out through the country lanes to the North of my house, before swinging off into the forest.
The forest was still and quiet, the track under my wheels was rutted and muddy at first, before giving way to good gravel after the sandy terrain of Wildech.
From Wildech I made good time on the fast gravel fire roads, flying along and enjoying being out on a trip.After an hour or so, I reach the lake at Anglesbechteich which was swarming with people. I didn't linger long, eager to keep my distance and solitude from others.
Riding on, I was soon up onto the Mistlehorn Heide and the wonderful singletrack that crosses this heathland, from there it was down to the road again and a few kilometres of quiet roads take me further and deeper into the heathland. The sun is getting low in the sky and the clouds breaking as I leave the road again and dive back onto the sandy trails that criss cross this high section of the Heide.
Finally as the sun is setting, I reach the clearing that I was intending to camp in. Normally around here, the only open ground is often carpeted with thick heather and as such, next to impossible to pitch a tent on. This clearing is different and presents a couple of nice pitching options and it is sufficiently tucked out of the way to provide some nice discrete camping. I pop a coffee on and then pitch my tent in the last of the light. The full moon rises above the trees and baths the clearing in light as I eat my food before turning in.
I toast the end of 2020 with a tot of Whisky and a homemade browny before snuggling into my warm down cocoon and drifting off into a deep sleep.
The next morning is cold and grey, the sun struggles to make its presence felt as I strike camp and set off towards home. After a rough forest section, i'm soon on good gravel roads and flying along, the exercise slowly warming my body up. The forest changes around me, from wide gravel avenues between the trees to mudded rutted tracks caused by the many forest workers who come here to tend and fell the trees.
As the morning goes on the cloud starts to thin and finally break, the low sun creating some beautiful light between the trees.
Closer to home the scenery changes again as we see the last of the Heide change into the fields and pastures of the numerous farms around here.
From here it's an easy few kilometres down to Reberralah, where I take a traditional break under the sprawling oak tree. I contemplate the imminent end of my trip with a mix of melancholy and sadness, but also satisfaction at the trips I've managed despite everything this year. When I get home a hot shower and coffee will preface the cleaning and drying of all my kit. First though I still have an enjoyable 14km left in front of me, a mix of gravel and quiet roads lead me home and the end of my farewell trip of 2020. At 85km, not my biggest, but defiantly a satisfying and enjoyable end to a difficult year.
The forest was still and quiet, the track under my wheels was rutted and muddy at first, before giving way to good gravel after the sandy terrain of Wildech.
From Wildech I made good time on the fast gravel fire roads, flying along and enjoying being out on a trip.After an hour or so, I reach the lake at Anglesbechteich which was swarming with people. I didn't linger long, eager to keep my distance and solitude from others.
Riding on, I was soon up onto the Mistlehorn Heide and the wonderful singletrack that crosses this heathland, from there it was down to the road again and a few kilometres of quiet roads take me further and deeper into the heathland. The sun is getting low in the sky and the clouds breaking as I leave the road again and dive back onto the sandy trails that criss cross this high section of the Heide.
Finally as the sun is setting, I reach the clearing that I was intending to camp in. Normally around here, the only open ground is often carpeted with thick heather and as such, next to impossible to pitch a tent on. This clearing is different and presents a couple of nice pitching options and it is sufficiently tucked out of the way to provide some nice discrete camping. I pop a coffee on and then pitch my tent in the last of the light. The full moon rises above the trees and baths the clearing in light as I eat my food before turning in.
I toast the end of 2020 with a tot of Whisky and a homemade browny before snuggling into my warm down cocoon and drifting off into a deep sleep.
The next morning is cold and grey, the sun struggles to make its presence felt as I strike camp and set off towards home. After a rough forest section, i'm soon on good gravel roads and flying along, the exercise slowly warming my body up. The forest changes around me, from wide gravel avenues between the trees to mudded rutted tracks caused by the many forest workers who come here to tend and fell the trees.
As the morning goes on the cloud starts to thin and finally break, the low sun creating some beautiful light between the trees.
Closer to home the scenery changes again as we see the last of the Heide change into the fields and pastures of the numerous farms around here.
From here it's an easy few kilometres down to Reberralah, where I take a traditional break under the sprawling oak tree. I contemplate the imminent end of my trip with a mix of melancholy and sadness, but also satisfaction at the trips I've managed despite everything this year. When I get home a hot shower and coffee will preface the cleaning and drying of all my kit. First though I still have an enjoyable 14km left in front of me, a mix of gravel and quiet roads lead me home and the end of my farewell trip of 2020. At 85km, not my biggest, but defiantly a satisfying and enjoyable end to a difficult year.
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