Solar trailer short trips

[matthewslack]

Fifteen miles into Monday, I have the first good break in the clouds, do taking an extended stop to revive my perilous battery state. Up to 8.4 amps in the blue sky, an investment against the day being less good than the forecast.



Yesterday was a day of very few miles, and half of them not solar powered.

From my camp to the end of the public road above the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse is seven very steep, hilly miles, which I don't have the gearing for with my trailer, and even if I did, I didn't have the battery capacity on the solar system.

On this trip, for peace of mind and side trips, I have brought both of my downtube batteries, and the first of them took me the 14 miles there and back, using two thirds of its capacity.



View East, to an island and Ailsa Craig in the distance, source of curling stones.



As I started the short walk to the Chinook helicopter crash memorial, this happened:



Reminds me of something...

Then on to the memorial cairn, a sup of good port from the bottles at its base, and a quiet moment.



Then back to camp, pack up, a long chat with interested and interesting van folk, and a short ride on an increasingly showery day with a worsening forecast: Rain followed by westerly near gale overnight.

Priority was a few miles towards home to make the remaining day easier, but a safe sheltered spot for my tent. Which turned up very soon after turning the corner past Machrihanish, a field below the level of the road, tucked in beside some reeds.

Ready to roll.



Surf at Machrihanish.



Shelter.

 

[matthewslack]

The rest of Monday was more shower than sunshine, and of necessity bar one short extra bit along the Crinan canal and then north on route 78 past many prehistoric sites, all main road. Could not afford energy for more miles.

Pretty harbour of Tarbet and foliage changing colour on the way.





In late afternoon, at Kilmartin on the village green looking south over miles past, I was favoured with another lengthy gap in the clouds and sat charging for over an hour. That brought generation back into balance with consumption on the day, which gave confidence to push on a few more miles to leave a short final day.





The fine grassy verges at the turn off to one of the many marinas here in Scotland's yachting heartland made a great last camp, with just over 20 miles left to run. There was even a half hearted sunset.

 

[matthewslack]

And so to the last day of perhaps the last solar powered trip of the season. Only 39km back home, and a bright early morning. But too early in the day at this time of year, so running mostly on battery because of the low sun angle.





I took a short opportunistic 15 minutes charge before the main hill of the day, but even so I pulled the Shimano battery down to one bar. Very careful from then on, with level one assist unless level two unavoidable.



The gentle approach paid off, with successful arrival in town.



And the last few km completed my third objective of the trip. The other two were a learning trip in September, tick, a destination - one of the UK's major coastal landmarks, tick, and finally another milestone for the bike.



12,000km in 15 months. Also 7,500 miles near enough, and 8,000km since I set out in March on my first solar powered trip.

I'll add a little summary of lessons learned in a while, but that is probably the end of this summer's solar trips.

If you have been, thank you for watching!

 

[WheezyRider]

And so to the last day of perhaps the last solar powered trip of the season. Only 39km back home, and a bright early morning. But too early in the day at this time of year, so running mostly on battery because of the low sun angle.

View attachment 48999

View attachment 48998

I took a short opportunistic 15 minutes charge before the main hill of the day, but even so I pulled the Shimano battery down to one bar. Very careful from then on, with level one assist unless level two unavoidable.

View attachment 48997

The gentle approach paid off, with successful arrival in town.

View attachment 48996

And the last few km completed my third objective of the trip. The other two were a learning trip in September, tick, a destination - one of the UK's major coastal landmarks, tick, and finally another milestone for the bike.

View attachment 49000

12,000km in 15 months. Also 7,500 miles near enough, and 8,000km since I set out in March on my first solar powered trip.

I'll add a little summary of lessons learned in a while, but that is probably the end of this summer's solar trips.

If you have been, thank you for watching!

Been a very interesting read & fun living vicariously on your trips to the north

What are your plans for next year? What mods are you doing over the winter?

 

[egroover]

Its been very interesting reading about your trips, very impressive and admire your attention to detail in your trailer/bike design and your reports
I can't help feeling there's much more to come from you in the design department as no doubt solar technology becomes more efficient in the same way batteries get smaller with higher density, to make a more streamlined narrower trailer and smaller lighter batteries for more range/capacity to harness power when the sun is bright.
This off-grid touring is very appealing, if the solar and battery advances can reduce the constant range anxiety (that's part of the fun right?), I might give this a go one day...

 

[Plas man]

loving your storys and photos , thanks for sharing

maybe a much improved Mk 2 trailer for next season ?

 

[nigelbb]

Thanks very much for the narrative & photos so we can all vicariously follow your adventures.