I set of on my ebike one day in early September, my panniers packed with yummy snacks and drinks, a little one person tent and copper solar powered landern, both from Lidl.
I travelled a fair distance on some very quiet country roads and lane, all I could hear was the caws of crows and rooks and the occasional distant hoot of a tawny owl. The burring motor on my ebike seemed to be the only loud noise. I wasnt in any rush, my destination was about 10 miles away. I was heading to a secluded church, 11th century, wich is in near some woods so I will be camping there.
The church is reputedly haunted by an old lady who lived and died in a nearby village. I was hoping encounter her; I was quite scared but she is said to be a friendly ghost. When I arrived I found a flat patch near some woods.
My pitch was very near the church, is a small wood, I could see it in the distance, all I had to do was walk down a path, go through a small gate into the churchyard. Tomorrow morning I will be doing some sketches and taking photos for references as I am want to do some paintings from my travels. I also am doing my first wildcamp. I had brought my campingaz stove, some provisions, instant mash potato, butter, a tin of Marks and Spencers chicken korma, tea, hot chocolate, a packet of pain o chocolate, some cornflakes and packet of peanuts.
That should be ok for an overnight camp. The sun had more or less set, so I set about putting up the tent, I got it from Lidl and also bought a solar powered lantern which I had in the sun for most of the day before, so should have enough charge. I also brought some torches too, including a head torch. I had bought a mozzi net of amazon so this was the first time using it. Luckily I found a stone that was flat enough to put my stove on, I didnt want to set fire to the grass. Using the fire steel, lit my stove and boiled some water for a drink.
It was so relaxing watching the flame as the light became dim, but the flies were a bloody nusiance. I warmed up my curry, firstly putting the remaining water on my mashed potatoes. I sat eating my hearty meal and listened to the remaining evening birdsong. Soon the bats came out of their roost and began to swoop through the trees, lots of pipistrells. I heard shreaks coming from the woods! Was it the ghost of the old lady!? No, just two foxes fighting. It was now dark, meal finished and just sat in the light eminating from my new light, it gave off a nice cosy orange glow.
I finished drinking my tea, it was too early to go to bed so would I dare to venture into the churchyard at night? Of course! What and adventure that would be! Test me bravery. So, I set of with my trusty light and slowly walk up the narrow track leading up to the footpath and the churchyard. I reached the small gate it made a slight squeak as I entered. Crows cawed in distant trees, the moon was slowly rising through them. The graveyard was dead! Dead quiet, not scary, just still, peaceful.
I walked amongst the graves, the church was small, the clock tower was no more than 40 feet high. Very quaint and pretty; I walked up the path that ran parallel to the church; dong dong, dong.. the bell chimed, it was 6pm a lovely sound.
I held the lightup to a couple of graves and read the inscriptions, 'Patty' much loved mother, sadly missed. 'Our Gerard' loving son, 1948 - 2008. A short walk back to the tent only took me about 6 minutes or so, I took out my sleeping bag which I had left rolled up, I didn't want any bugs crawling in. I was ready to settle down for the night, my bike ride had make my legs ache slightly.
I wasn't sure if I would sleep if at all as this was my first experience of wildcamping. So, getting into my sleeping bag I read my book 'Hauntings in Yorkshire' that was autographed by the author Stephen Wade, under the light, probably not the best choice of book to read on my first night, the mind can wander and before you know it, a normal sound can make you jump to all sorts of conclusions. I had a night cap, a small bottle of Leffe belgian lager that was slightly warm and a small packet of peanuts.
I felt drowsy so put the book down and tried to get some shut eye. It was pretty quiet except for the tawny owls in the distance, they were taking it in turns to hoot to one another. The woods were further up to the right, but this was a nice little spot. I could faintly hear sheep bleeting. I brought a self inflating mat and pillow too which was a godsend. It was very quiet, something that I wasn't used to, as a main road runs under my bedroom window. Listening to any little noise preparing my mind for the night ahead.
I woke up, checked my phone, it was 4.37, well at least I had got some sleep, went to bed around 11pm, I tried to snooze for the rest of the morning. Rain began to lightly hit the tent, it was so relaxing to listen to and gladly lulled to sleep once again. Waking up this time around 7.55, I unzipped the tent and peeked outside; the rain had stopped, it must have only been a short shower, the sky was blue and there was a destinct chill in the air which was refreshing after the intense heat of the day before. I could hear rooks and blackbirds doing their morning song. I crawled out of my sleeping bag and exited the tent, taking in a deep breath and stretching. This was living!
I found a spot to do my morning ablusions, then proceeded to light my stove one again to make a brew. I opened 2 boxes of coco pops that I had taken from a variety pack and threw the remaining packet of peanuts in that I had left from the night before. The milk I had brought in a container remained fresh. Sitting there sipping my tea thinking about what I was going to do that day... I packed my tent and kit back into my panniers and wheeled my bike towards the church. It was a bit of a struggle getting the bike throught the church gate, which one side was on a metal wheel caster.
I walked towards a church bench and put the side stand down on the bike, got some facewipes out and had a freshen up. The sun was now up and was getting hot. I walked to the rear of the church and found a little stream which was quite overgrown with himalayan balsam. I sat on my sit mat in the shade listening to it trickling. I took out my sketchbook and started on some drawings and sketches for the paintings I was going to do when I got back home. It was so relaxing listening to the birds singing and crowing. After about an hour and a half of sketching, I decided to stretch my legs, so I thought I would have a look inside the church. Taking the bike with me which I put in the porchway, I entered the church.
The door looked very old, the wood had tiny holes in it that looked like woodworm. I put down the latch, the door creaked. I was met with lit candles and a soft patterned red carpet. There was a woody smell accompanied by the smell of old wax. The sun shone brightly through the stained glass windows, very colourful. There was nobody in the church, not a soul about, not a living soul anyway. I walked down the centre isle, bibles were set out neatly in the pues. I am not a believer in god but I do enjoying wandering around all churches and graveyards, they are such peaceful places, a sanctuary in this busy and noisy world we live in, it seems the only place of solice these days. I heard a knocking sound twice coming from the rear of the church, on inspection I found nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe it was the ghost!
After a couple more hours sketching and polishing off the last of my pain o chocs, and tea I decided to head back home. I didn't want to go home, I was so chilled out, the thought of hitting the main roads again filled me full of trepidation. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, first time wildcamping if you can call it that, not exactly in the middle of a forest but for a first time go it was great. I cant wait for my next trip out. Maybe I could choose a rain day and do some nature sound videos, rain on a tent. I got lots of references for my art project.
