cycle touring and water

Quoted message said:

I'm off to my first cycling tour in UK/France in July (about 800 miles).
I am planning on doing wild camping and I'm wondering where to find water
before setting camp.
In France you can find drinkable water in most cemeteries. But in the UK

do

Quoted message said:

you ask in a pub, do you knock on a random door, or do you just buy

bottled

Quoted message said:

water?

I've found that cafe's and pubs to be more than willing to fill your bottles
espcially if you have bought something from them. Failing that nip into the
pub toilets and fill your bottle anyway.

In message <[email hidden]>, Arnaud
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Hi folks,

I'm off to my first cycling tour in UK/France in July (about 800 miles).
I am planning on doing wild camping and I'm wondering where to find
water before setting camp.
In France you can find drinkable water in most cemeteries. But in the
UK do you ask in a pub, do you knock on a random door, or do you just
buy bottled water?

If I am wild camping then it is most likely going to be somewhere well
away from habitation, normally up in the mountains, I would take water
from the local stream etc.

In 'lowland ' areas, I would be more likely to ask at a house/farm etc.
for somewhere to camp (well actually I'd likely use campsite in the UK,
here are so many of them), but if i was wild camping I'd just ask/get
from wherever was handy - stop in a pub/cafe, ask at a house (it's how I
fill up my bottle if need be) public toilet etc. A collapsible water
carrier of some sort would be useful, like an Ortlieb waterbag.
--
Chris French, Leeds

in message <[email hidden]>, Arnaud

(') said:

Hi folks,

I'm off to my first cycling tour in UK/France in July (about 800
miles). I am planning on doing wild camping and I'm wondering where to
find water before setting camp.
In France you can find drinkable water in most cemeteries. But in the
UK do you ask in a pub, do you knock on a random door, or do you just
buy bottled water?

It's a good question, and one that's bothered me on occasion. Forty
years ago most villages had a well or pump or spring or public drinking
fountain. They're mostly gone, and getting refills of water on a long
trip can be hard unless you're up in the wild places. Legally I believe
that you can knock on any door and ask for water, at least here in
Scotland, and I expect if you did this politely you'd get a helpful
response most of the time. But occasionally I suspect that you would
get a very hostile response.

There are public lavatories in most villages in the UK and many of these
will have drinkable water. If the water is not drinkable there will
usually be a notice saying so.

I imagine also that most country pubs would refill your water bottles if
you asked and that most would not charge. And finally there is bottled
water but shops in more remote places probably won't have any.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; If God does not write LISP, God writes some code so similar to
;; LISP as to make no difference.

Arnaud said:

Hi folks,

I'm off to my first cycling tour in UK/France in July (about 800 miles).
I am planning on doing wild camping and I'm wondering where to find water
before setting camp.
In France you can find drinkable water in most cemeteries. But in the UK do
you ask in a pub, do you knock on a random door, or do you just buy bottled
water?

A long time ago, when I used to do this with Scouts, people on the
walking routes were generally kind and refilled our bottles. The uniform
may have helped though.

The plastic water bags are an interesting idea, but would be heavy if
you need a lot.

You can get water filters and purifying tablets from the outdoor shops,
or perhaps if somewhere suitably remote with clean streams, you could
just boil what water you find.

There are so many campsites and youth hostels in our area (Yorkshire)
that I can't think of any places to go where you'd be more than a few
miles away from the nearest one, especially if you're going places by
road. Scotland may be different.

I'm not sure about the legality nowadays of camping where there isn't
a campsite, unless in some of the more remote places. We've camped on
places like the top of Pen-y-Ghent - don't know if we needed permission
of not. There used to be some rules - does anyone remember them?

- Richard

--
_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com
_/ _/ _/ _/
_/_/ _/ _/ Time is a one way street,
_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twilight Zone.

in message
<[email hidden]>, Richard

Corfield (') said:

I'm not sure about the legality nowadays of camping where there isn't
a campsite, unless in some of the more remote places. We've camped on
places like the top of Pen-y-Ghent - don't know if we needed
permission of not. There used to be some rules - does anyone remember
them?

May I draw your attention once again to the excellent Land Reform Act of
2003?
<URL:http://www.scotland-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2003/20030002.htm>

You may not camp in the curtilage of a building, nor in a building, nor
in someone else's caravan or tent without their permission, nor in an
enclosure surrounding a building (or fixed machine), nor in a school
playground, nor in a specially developed or set out playing field if by
doing so you would interfere with its use, nor in a place that was
already subject to an admission charge before the act was written, nor
on land where a building is being built or demolished, nor in an active
open-cast mine or quarry, nor in a growing crop, nor in land explicitly
excepted from access rights by the local authority.

Otherwise you may camp (or walk or cycle).

Furthermore, under section 14 a landowner may not do anything to deter
you from doing so - if he does, he's breaking the law, not you.

All this, of course, only applies in Scotland.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Generally Not Used
;; Except by Middle Aged Computer Scientists

The water taps outside garages (petrol stations): I've seen them labelled
as "not suitable for drinking" but is that really true? Is it just mains
water or what?

~PB

Getting water no prob - if you remember in time. By the end of a long
hard day and a struggle to find a camping spot you can easily get
distracted and forget about some necessities. For me this has
sometimes led to things like breakfast consisting of half a cup of
water, one digestive biscuit, a mouthful of whisky and a tin of
sardines. Probably very healthy but not entirely satisfying.

have a nice trip

Jacob,

Pete Biggs said:

The water taps outside garages (petrol stations): I've seen them labelled
as "not suitable for drinking" but is that really true? Is it just mains
water or what?

Presumably the water becomes not suitable for drinking if its stored
in a header tank, or runs through non-certified plumbing, or perhaps
they dont want to be sued by anyone who drinks it. You'd think that in a
petrol station there'd be a good easy to access mains water system that
could be plumbed into for these taps.

- Richard

--
_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com
_/ _/ _/ _/
_/_/ _/ _/ Time is a one way street,
_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twilight Zone.

In message <[email hidden]>, Simon
Brooke <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Arnaud

(') said:

Hi folks,

I'm off to my first cycling tour in UK/France in July (about 800
miles). I am planning on doing wild camping and I'm wondering where to
find water before setting camp.
In France you can find drinkable water in most cemeteries. But in the
UK do you ask in a pub, do you knock on a random door, or do you just
buy bottled water?

Legally I believe
that you can knock on any door and ask for water, at least here in
Scotland, and I expect if you did this politely you'd get a helpful
response most of the time. But occasionally I suspect that you would
get a very hostile response.

I've quite often stopped and knocked on someone's door when out for a
day ride or touring - in various places around the UK. While a hostile
response is certainly a possibility, it's never happened to me, rather
the opposite in fact, I been offered the odd bit of cake, or biscuit
etc. as well. People often seem surprised at first, I guess it doesn't
happen very often, but has always been helpful.

--
Chris French, Leeds

Upon the miasma of midnight, a darkling spirit identified as Pete Biggs
<[email hidden]> breathed:

Quoted message said:

The water taps outside garages (petrol stations): I've seen them labelled
as "not suitable for drinking" but is that really true? Is it just mains
water or what?

Usually these signs indicate that the water comes from a storage tank
rather than the mains supply, and hence may or may not have decades
worth of dead rats floating about in it.

--
- Pyromancer.
- http://www.inkubus-sukkubus.co.uk <-- Pagan Gothic Rock!
- http://www.littlematchgirl.co.uk <-- Electronic Metal!
- http://www.revival.stormshadow.com <-- The Gothic Revival.

In message
<[email hidden]>, Richard
Corfield <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Arnaud said:

Hi folks,

I'm off to my first cycling tour in UK/France in July (about 800 miles).
I am planning on doing wild camping and I'm wondering where to find water
before setting camp.
In France you can find drinkable water in most cemeteries. But in the UK do
you ask in a pub, do you knock on a random door, or do you just buy bottled
water?

<snip>

Quoted message said:

You can get water filters and purifying tablets from the outdoor shops,
or perhaps if somewhere suitably remote with clean streams, you could
just boil what water you find.

In remote enough areas, I just take the water and drink it, yes there is
a risk, but i think it is small.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

I'm not sure about the legality nowadays of camping where there isn't
a campsite, unless in some of the more remote places. We've camped on
places like the top of Pen-y-Ghent - don't know if we needed permission
of not. There used to be some rules - does anyone remember them?

Rules have changed in Scotland as Simon has pointed out. In England and
Wales, it wasn't and still isn't legal to camp without the landowners
permission. However, the criminal law doesn't have anything to say about
this (there is stuff aimed at 'new age' travellers etc. but doesn't
apply to someone wild camping.)

In reality, wild camping in the wilder/more open areas of England and
Wales is an accepted practice.

--
Chris French, Leeds

On Tue, 29 Jun 2004 00:25:37 +0100, in <[email hidden]>,

Arnaud said:

Hi folks,

I'm off to my first cycling tour in UK/France in July (about 800 miles).
I am planning on doing wild camping and I'm wondering where to find water
before setting camp.
In France you can find drinkable water in most cemeteries. But in the UK do
you ask in a pub, do you knock on a random door, or do you just buy bottled
water?

Cheers,
Arnaud.

Even if you are not staying on campsites, you can still obtain water
there if you are discrete.

Bottled water is an option.

Pubs/cafes etc will nearly always fill you up - especially if you buy
a pint at the same time.

Public toilets in UK often have these stupid wall-mounted devices that
you cannot fit a container into.

Drink from natural sources and use purification tablets if needed.

There is always the option of buying dehydrated water.

I would be reluctant to knock on a random door.

--
DISCLAIMER: My email box is private property.Email which
appears in my inbox is mine to do what I like with.
Anything which is sent to me (whether intended or not)
may, if I so desire, form a legal and binding contract.

Richard Bates <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I would be reluctant to knock on a random door.

I must admit I stopped doing that, but only because I could never say no
when offered a cup of tea, biscuit etc. (I'm a complete tea [censored], offer me
a cup and I'm yours) and any journey took an hour or so extra to finish. As
for safety concerns, I'd be happy to do it anywhere that my own judgement
told me was okay. I've not been wrong so far.

Graeme

chris French said:

I've quite often stopped and knocked on someone's door when out for a
day ride or touring - in various places around the UK. While a hostile
response is certainly a possibility, it's never happened to me, rather
the opposite in fact, I been offered the odd bit of cake, or biscuit
etc. as well. People often seem surprised at first, I guess it doesn't
happen very often, but has always been helpful.

I've not been on a long enough ride to warrant a top-up other than a
good pint in a pub, but if I needed to refill en-route somewhere I'd be
much more inclined personally to ask someone who was outside gardening,
washing the car etc if possible. I know I'd find it less intrusive (and
suspicious) for someone to give an "Excuse me, couldn't fill this up
could you, please?" to me over the garden wall whilst standing next to
their bike than some random stranger knocking on the door.

You at least get some warning on what they're like before asking and at
the very least they should point you to somewhere nearby you can top up
if they're overly suspicious. I doubt most people would tell you to
bugger off if you asked on their doorstep though, even if it was just
from the surprise of it fuzzing their brain for a minute ;0).

Frink

--
Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail'
See his mind here : http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/
Annoy his mind here : pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook
"No sir, I didn't like it!" - Mr Horse

Pete Biggs said:

The water taps outside garages (petrol stations): I've seen them labelled
as "not suitable for drinking" but is that really true? Is it just mains
water or what?

I've used them often, without ill effects, but I've got a strong
stomach...
I carry 2 Platypus water bladders: strong and light, and they take up
no space whatsoever when empty.

Mark van Gorkom.

In article said:

Quoted message said:

In remote enough areas, I just take the water and drink it, yes there is
a risk, but i think it is small.

In remote enough areas - there's nothing like finding a half-rotted dead
sheep in a stream to make you glad you decided to wait till further uphill
to fill your water bottles.

Richard Bates <[email hidden]> writed in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

There is always the option of buying dehydrated water.

err - sorry wot? 🙂

Upon the miasma of midnight, a darkling spirit identified as Alan
Braggins <[email hidden]> breathed:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, chris French wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In remote enough areas, I just take the water and drink it, yes there is
a risk, but i think it is small.

Quoted message said:

In remote enough areas - there's nothing like finding a half-rotted dead
sheep in a stream to make you glad you decided to wait till further uphill
to fill your water bottles.

But how often does that actually happen? Dead animals are rare in the
country, and even rarer in a stream. You'll occasionally find one in
the ditch beside a main road (usually accompanied by small plastic bits
of whatever vehicle did the deed), but away from busy places they're
extremely rare, and the chances of anything untoward happening are
probably in the lottery-winning odds range.

As a child I often drank from streams, never came to any harm.

--
- Pyromancer.
- http://www.inkubus-sukkubus.co.uk <-- Pagan Gothic Rock!
- http://www.littlematchgirl.co.uk <-- Electronic Metal!
- http://www.revival.stormshadow.com <-- The Gothic Revival.

[email hidden] (jacob)typed

Quoted message said:

Getting water no prob - if you remember in time. By the end of a long
hard day and a struggle to find a camping spot you can easily get
distracted and forget about some necessities. For me this has
sometimes led to things like breakfast consisting of half a cup of
water, one digestive biscuit, a mouthful of whisky and a tin of
sardines. Probably very healthy but not entirely satisfying.

Yebbut you probably have learned from your adventures and will plan
ahead next time you camp...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.