“Is that tent supposed to look that way” The campground manager says with a curious WTF sort of tone. I am tucked inside a claustrophobic cocoon of what remains of my mountain hardware 2.1 skyledge tent trying not to laugh. However, the broken rake that I propped under one of two sewn up zipper doors in order to combat last nights rain is just too much of a site for my sarcasm.
Mountain Hardware 2.1 Skyledge in Cape Town after a year of touring (about 300 solo female cyclist sleeps)
The longer I cycle tour, the less these things seem to matter” I chuckle from inside as I attempt to unsuccessfully sit up straight under the broken poles, contort my body into a pretzel shape and crawl out the permanently open zipper door. This is sort’a normal isn’t I think to myself as I stand up in the sand and straighten my new hay stack haircut, a frazzled homemade mess of locks resembling Cramer’s from Seinfeld. People like me really shouldn’t be allowed access to scissors. I think to myself as I run my fingers through my botched attempt at cutting off my own sun-baked hair.
(the red line is what I cycled, the dotted line is the sailing route, my apologies for the blurry map, it’s the best I could do)
Have you had a tent like that before?” The young manager asks looking far less concerned with my ‘who needs all the ‘right’ gear anyway, just go with what you got’ attitude. The same attitude that stop bothering to use a tent and started happily sleeping under the stars or road out of the wind instead.
wild camping due to broken tents, loads of fencing and high winds
‘I had the tough little Vaude Hogan for the first year of this 3 year world tour, great tent but I eventually lost the poles, it wasn’t worth the cost to replace them and the tent wasn’t free standing which was an issue when camping on rocky ground. I also tried an OR bivy sack, nice and light but there was too much condensation. I wanted something bigger. I’ve slept in the ultralight MSR Hubba Hubba 2 person, it’s is a popular tent, loads of space, great tent. My new Hilleberg Jannu has a half goedesic design, strong poles and top quality material… should hold up the best in the winds of Patagonia”
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2 Person in Tibet, China. The material was too light for continuous use, I stuck my hand through it after 3 months…2 days later after I slept in the Hilleberg Jannu…
How’s the new tent, do you get wet last night?” The young sleepy manager asks, his orange hoody is pulled loosely over his uncombed hair. The cloudy morning sky suggests there is more rain to come. I am standing next to my new tent proudly grinning. I am pondering how a TENT got to be so puuuurdy while debating if being orgasmically happy about a tent is something to worry about.
W.E.T,… in this? No way, I loooooove it. At 3 kilos after a zipper pull replacement, it is worth every ounce” My arms flail in full participation as if breaking into a happy dance before coffee over a tent is perfectly normal behavior.
This tent is amazing, I can’t believe how great it is. You really have to sleep in it to believe it, come on inside”. I utter as the manager uncomfortably grins, shifts his stance and takes a small step back. He turns and hurries off barely able to keep his flip flops on. Ooops…scared him… he either thinks there is a horney old maid trying to seduce him or that I’m some spastic over the hill lunatic with a fetish for tents…not sure which is worst I think to myself as I step through the huge tent door to spend the morning out of the rain, dry and comfy in my spacious sturdy tent thankful for my new sponsor Hilleberg!
Every now again you get the rare opportunity to come across such an amazing adventure that about the only thing you can say is WOW. Meet adventurer Anne-Sophie Rodette, presently she is tackling Patagonia by UNICYCLE
