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Bivouac

Dec 11, 2012

We called this adventure Bivouac. A bivouac shelter is any of a variety of improvised camp sites such as those used in scouting and mountain climbing. It may often refer to sleeping in the open with a bivouac sack, but it may also refer to a shelter constructed of natural materials like a structure of branches to form frame may be utilized, which is then covered with leaves, ferns and similar for waterproofing and duff (also known as leaflitter) for insulation. (wikipedia) When camping on motorcycles you're limited to a few bits and pieces and forced to strip down to the barest of necessities. A bivouac is just that, camping in its most minimal form. We lived true to this in not only what we carried, but also in how we traveled‚Äëbasic planning, solid friends, and shots in the dark as to where we might find ourselves. A six-day adventure. No pre-planned layovers. One final destination: Portland. Actually, two final destinations: Portland and back home to Venice. Simple motorcycles may not have been perfect for the trip but definitely good enough to log the 2500 miles. We broke this trek into two-day stints. Two days up, two days there, and two days back. Nathaniel Ratliff blasted in our ear buds as we took to road numbers like 128, 299, 5, 110, 99, 26, what have you. But these weren't the numbers that mattered. The numbers that meant the most were the countless perfectly paved turns along the way through the deserts, vineyards, golden rolling hills, redwoods, and rocky shores of the California-Orgegon coastline. And the number five mattered, too, which was the number of hours until we need our next shot of repulsive energy drink and strip of beef jerky. Once in Portland, we liaised with our partners in simple back country living‚ÄëThor from SEE SEE Motorcycles, and Benji and Karma from Poler‚Äëat Thor's amazing shop, a must stop destination if in the Northwest. They invited 40 of their closest friends on two wheels and crafted a weekend camping manifest that could bring tears of joy to a bearded lumberjack. Heading outward, we dropped off the highway, weaving in and out of green timber groves to golden fields underneath classic Portland cloud cover, breaking through to high altitude sunshine with glimpses of Mt. Hood in all her might, and finished off with 78 turns of single lane rubber to tar happiness. Most everyone kept rubber side down with one spectacularly well-executed low side, the only casualty a bit a paint and a bent handlebar. The camp spot - we have been sworn to secrecy so we'll give you only a few brief hints and maybe you can work it out one day - was surrounded by 100ft trees, camp fire with 10-pronged skewers, and a reflective lake cold enough to shake anyone's hangover. The campfire assembly couldn't be beat with endless tunes provided by our buddy Bill, Smores roasted by Poler, refreshment by House Spirits and Black Star Brewery, dinner on Deus, and brekkie by Stumptown. The Poler gang practiced what they preached, photographing new product in the battlefield and the SEE SEE crew proved their Marshmallow roastin' and whiskey swillin' skills. Camp Vibes where in air. A slow start the next morning was fixed by a few "Coffee beers" and "frothy omelets." A different dual sport route home was navigated by the legend of Thor over rocks and under power lines back to Portland where we had one more night recovery with new and old best friends. One quick stop off at our friends at West America to scope out the progress on their future adventure and then we finally crashed hard under the stars in a friend's back yard. A last drop of glorious Portland coffee in the morning and we off we were, back to couch camp with friends in San Francisco and then one last push jetting home down the coast to Venice with a victory shot in front of the shop captured just before our only casualty of the trip, Nevin's Olympus XA range finder. Simple good fun with good friends atop two wheels. We called this adventure Bivouac. Track: Nathaniel Rateliff, A lamb on the Stone nathanielrateliff.com/

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!