Alastair Humphreys has cycled around the world, walked across India and rowed across the Atlantic, but he captured my imagination with his adventures much closer to home. These include walking a lap of the M25, drifting down a river on tractor inner tubes, sleeping on the highest point in his county and cycling around the Isle of Wight.
He defines these “microadventures” as overnight, outdoor activities that are “achievable for normal people with real lives. They are local, cheap, brief and non-elitist, and open the door for total beginners to sample adventures without feeling intimidated or out of their depth.”
I asked him for some ideas for a microadventure novice like me. “You could sleep on a hill, walk a lap of your home, go for a full-moon walk or enjoy a 5-9 commuter adventure.” I was captivated by the last suggestion, which involves leaving work at the usual time, going on an overnight escapade and getting back in time for work in the morning. It sounded like a brilliant way to make the most of the limited free time that a full-time job affords; a way to escape everyday life without waiting for the weekend or taking any time off.
I persuaded an adventurous friend, Matt, to join me (read: bribed him with beer), and we decided to cycle up a section of the river Lea, a 42-mile tributary of the Thames that flows from Leagrave, Bedfordshire, to Bow Creek, east London. We would leave our separate offices and meet at Springfield Park in Hackney, east London, and ride together up the river as far as Dobbs Weir in Hertfordshire, find a place to sleep in bivvy bags (waterproof covers for sleeping bags) rather than tents, then cycle back to work in the morning. It was about 20 miles each way.
“That sounds cool!” said Alastair. “That sounds completely insane,” said everyone else. And, indeed, as the day approached, I did feel nervous. I consulted Alastair about my fears. “The best thing about a microadventure is that the worst things – rain, poor sleep, worry – are not so bad,” he explained.
Yes, one uncomfortable night may be bearable – but what about mad axe murderers or the dubious legality of sleeping wild? He explained that although we might feel exposed in a bivvy bag, we are actually far less conspicuous than if we had a tent. And although wild camping is illegal in most of the UK, except Scotland, in reality no one minds if you’re not “blatantly on private land, near someone’s home or otherwise being annoying”, says Alastair. With that in mind, we should choose an appropriate spot, leave earlyin the morning and leave no trace of our presence. “Remember, you are acting far more illegally and dangerously every time you break the speed limit in a car,” said Alastair.
Buoyed by his reassurance, on a Wednesday in April, we set off on our first ever microadventure. The cycling was more tiring than I expected – 20 miles along bumpy paths after a full day of work is very different to 20 miles at the weekend, and another 20 before work is even worse. At night, it was extremely cold, despite packing as many layers as I could carry. I barely slept, making work the next day something of an ordeal. So it is probably best not attempted by brain surgeons or anyone whose job actually matters. But, despite all this, it was brilliant – so brilliant we’ve decided to do “Wild Wednesday” every week. Well, once a month. Anyway, we’re definitely going to do it again at some point …
Grand Adventures by Alastair Humphreys is out now (£16.99, Harper Collins). Buy a copy for £13.59 at bookshop.theguardian.com. alastairhumphreys.com
Rachel’s microadventure
17:30: King’s Cross
I leave the office on a gloriously sunny afternoon. My rucksack weighs a ton – perhaps prosecco wasn’t strictly necessary – but I’m excited. I rendezvous with Matt in the park and we set off up the towpath. There are plenty of people around at first, runners and rowers and cyclists, but as we head further away from London, they soon thin out and we feel more intrepid. “We’re a bit like the Famous Five, aren’t we?”, says Matt. On a serene stretch through Silvermeade wetlands, as the sun is setting, we stop to watch a herd of muntjac deer, so small that at first I think they are big rabbits.
20:15: Dobbs Weir, Herts
We reach our target destination (chosen because there is a pub and a proper campsite nearby, just in case “wild camping” doesn’t work out). It is certainly not wilderness, but there are plenty of secluded green spaces. We choose a suitable patch, cut down some thistles with a penknife and ready our bivvy bags. It all feels a long, long way from the city. We’ve only just made it in time: it’s dusk and it would be hard to find a good pitch in the dark. Perhaps the long, warm evenings of high summer would be a better time to attempt a microadventure …
21:30: The pub
We cycle to the pub for a pint to steady our nerves and some chips to warm us up. It’s great reaching a country pub under our own steam, rather than by car or train. Having seen our isolated sleeping spot, the chances of an opportunistic murderer stumbling across it seems small. We are more worried about hypothermia – the night is clear and bitterly cold. Matt says: “No offence, but if it gets to the point where we have to huddle together for warmth, I’m cycling home.” I check the map: home is 17 miles away. Time to put on our many layers in the pub toilets.
23:00: Barbecue and bed
The flames of my disposable barbecue are cheering, the hot sausages are delicious and I’m glad I packed the prosecco after all. It is a starry night with almost a full moon. We are warm in our sleeping bags and happy to be out in the open, with no tent creating a barrier between us and nature – Matt even spots bats darting around. I wish I had invested in a sleeping mat – the ground is hard and bumpy – but I’m tired and fall asleep easily. I wake a couple of hours later, disorientated and cold, and further sleep is fitful at best.
06:00: Up and off
Matt wakes me at dawn. It is a beautiful morning and the birds are in full voice. We pack up, bleary-eyed, and get back on the road. I spot a solitary heron, fishing for his breakfast, and one of the deer, which has strayed right on to the path. The sun rises as we ride, the human world wakes up and we are joined by early-morning joggers and dog walkers. Soon, we are back on busy London streets; a surreal change with fellow cycle commutersof pace from our peaceful start. I am at work by 8.20am; showered and at my desk by 9am. Concentrating a camping trip into just 15 hours has made for an exhausting but addictively intense experience.
Survival kit list
Lumo clip light
A versatile light that will attach to pretty much anything – rucksack, keys etc – to make sure you’re never left in the dark. £7
Blue Mountain mess tins
Big enough for a campside feast and handy to carry; with folding handles, they fit inside each other to save space. £8
Mini Trangia stove
A complete classic that no camper should be without – as good for lightweight camping as wilderness challenges, and so small it can fit in the pocket of a rucksack. Includes a burner, windshield and two pans. £28
Storm Bivi
Great for wild camping when you don’t want to put up a tent, or lightweight trips when you don’t want to carry much – the Bivi fits over your sleeping back and zips up, keeping you warm and hermetically sealed inside. £60
Windproof matches
Your best friends in a storm; simple but reliable these matches are completely wind-resistant. £4.25
The Delta cutlery set
Compact cutlery set that will fit easily in your rucksack. £7
Helium 3.8 self-inflating sleeping mat
Sleep on a mountainside in perfect comfort; this mat insulates you from the ground, and the foam core makes for a good night’s sleep. Large push-in valve allows for rapid inflation and deflation. £42.50
All equipment for Rachel’s trip provided by Cotswold Outdoor: cotswoldoutdoor.com
