By: Blonde Two
At the beginning of January (the month of my 50th birthday), I set myself the Get Outside challenge of sleeping outdoors (or very nearly outdoors) for 50 nights in 2018. It is the end of August now and I think it is possible that the rest of the UK is currently empty because everyone is here in the South West. This has been my best month for sleeps so far especially as, controversially, I am allowing myself to count three most delightful nights in a beach hut on Hengistbury Head (there wasn’t a loo or a tap and I only had cold outdoor showers) During this month’s camping adventures I have had my fair share of insect bites, but my most exciting animal encounter was with a midnight slug!
50 Sleeps for August 2018
Outdoor Sleep 29
Type: Family tent
Location: Snowdonia National Park
Date: Thursday 2nd August
Reason: A Two Blondes walking and camping holiday in Wales
Supper: A rainy walk to the local pub for most excellent spare ribs and then back along the dark lane for a crisp supper
Breakfast: Crunchy nut cornflakes
Comment: A lovely, quiet campsite near a river in a steep valley. We couldn’t see exactly how steep until the mist cleared later in the weekend!
Outdoor Sleep 30
Type: Family tent
Location: Snowdonia National Park
Date: Friday 3rd August
Reason: A Two Blondes walking and camping holiday in Wales
Supper: Pasta, mushrooms and mushroom sauce (washed down with gin and tonic)
Breakfast: Crunchy nut cornflakes (with slightly less milk because we were running out)
Comment: An early start on our walk with some sunshine. The campsite had filled up and there was music playing but all was quiet by 11:00 that night
Outdoor Sleep 31
Type: Family tent
Location: Snowdonia National Park
Date: Saturday 4th August
Reason: A Two Blondes walking and camping holiday in Wales
Supper: Fish and chips in Machynlleth
Breakfast: Boiled eggs, cheese triangles and whatever else was left over as we were heading home
Comment: Three good nights sleep on my luxurious Robens Rapturous airbed
Outdoor Sleep 32
Type: Beach hut
Location: Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth
Date: Thursday 9th August 2018
Reason: We were invited to join our son and his lovely girlfriend in her family’s beach hut
Supper: Hoummous and pitta bread (apparently that is what you eat in a beach hut)
Breakfast: Boiled eggs on sour dough (Mr B2 had been baking and come prepared)
Comment: A most relaxing night in our communal dorm. Opie the dog mostly slept on Grandma’s bed (me). He has taken a liking to my down sleeping bag! I woke up early and swam.
Outdoor Sleep 33
Type: Beach hut
Location: Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth
Date: Friday 10th August
Reason: We were invited to join our son and his lovely girlfriend in her family’s beach hut
Supper: Pasta with spicy tomato sauce and peppers (cooked in the beach hut)
Breakfast: Boiled eggs (do you see a pattern forming here?)
Comment: Another great night with the most amazing sunrise loo-visit views
Outdoor Sleep 34
Type: Beach hut
Location: Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth
Date: Saturday 11th August
Reason: We were invited to join our son and his lovely girlfriend in her family’s beach hut
Supper: We had had a massive lunch with the ‘in-laws’ so I think supper was crisps and wine!
Breakfast: Boiled eggs… still delicious
Comment: We were sad to leave the beach hut, it was a wonderful experience. We were very pleased to be invited, not every young couple wants Mum and Dad along in the middle of their summer holiday!
Outdoor Sleep 35
Type: Bivvy
Location: Dartmoor National Park
Date: Sunday 19th August
Reason: To introduce my nephew (12) to wild camping
Supper: Tea at home – baked potatoes and lots of fillings
Breakfast: ‘Breakfast sandwiches’ made at home by B (nephew)
Comment: It was such a privilege to introduce B to wild camping. He is 12 and already an excellent camper, whittler and marshmallow toaster. I am definitely enjoying the ‘cool outdoor aunty’ role. I had my fair share of those myself and it is great to have a chance to send the favour on down the generations. B slept really well, despite wriggling off his mat and onto his aunty! I had to wake him up at 08:30 but he did manage a little midnight wake up to view the amazing star scene we were blessed with. I saw my first shooting star and had my first ‘slug on nose’ experience!
Outdoor Sleep 36
Type: Bivvy
Location: Spooky quarry by the sea
Date: Thursday 23rd August
Reason: A date night for myself and Mr B2 (he really does know how to treat an outdoor girl!)
Supper: Delicious seafood and sunset views at the most excellent Breakwater Bistro in Brixham
Breakfast: Fabulous coffee and the best cinnamon buns I have ever tasted at our new favourite drink and eateries Five Doors Up and Port Espresso (also in Brixham)
Comment: This bivvy turned out to be a 24-hour holiday on the other side of Torbay. We could see home from our bivvy spot and enjoyed exploring the delights of Brixham, which included an outdoor swim in the fabulous sea-filled Shoalstone Pool
Outdoor Sleep 37
Type: Tent
Location: Dartmoor National Park
Date: Saturday 25th August
Reason: The annual Two Blondes wild camping workshop (much in demand this year!)
Supper: Beyond the Beaten Track vegetarian breakfast, complete with surprisingly tasty ‘analogue sausages’
Breakfast: First breakfast – chocolate Munchies and marmite sandwiches. Second breakfast – Fox Tor Cafe’s very fine ‘small breakfast’ (really not very small!)
Comment: Once more it was great to meet a great bunch of outdoor enthusiasts. We had a walk out in the sunshine, a stunning sunset complete with ‘sun dogs’, a night walk to some atmospheric ruins and then a taste of ‘the real Dartmoor’ when the rain and mist came in overnight.
Is that a pan of slugs simmering away in the first photo?
If you can’t eat them… join them!