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)
jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗ ;; 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/acts2003/200-
30002.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)
jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗ ;; 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 <nvf7r1-
[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

In message <[email hidden]-
le.dyndns.org>, 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 : cmp.liv.ac.ukfrinkOpen ↗ 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.

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.
- inkubus-sukkubus.co.ukinkubus-sukkubus.co.ukOpen ↗ <-- Pagan Gothic Rock!
- littlematchgirl.co.uklittlematchgirl.co.ukOpen ↗ <-- Electronic Metal!
- revival.stormshadow.comrevival.stormshadow.comOpen ↗ <-- The Gothic
Revival.

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

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?

I have a feeling that publicans are under a legal obligation
to provide travellers with water free of charge on request.

I've been refused once - that was in the cafe on the summit
of Snowdon.

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.
- inkubus-sukkubus.co.ukinkubus-sukkubus.co.ukOpen ↗ <-- Pagan Gothic Rock!
- littlematchgirl.co.uklittlematchgirl.co.ukOpen ↗ <-- Electronic Metal!
- revival.stormshadow.comrevival.stormshadow.comOpen ↗ <-- The Gothic
Revival.

Richard Bates <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

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

<pedant>

I'm not continuous, are you?

<pedant>

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