Solo two nighter

[John Fenna]

I have just returned from a solo two nights in the woods.
I got to my little wood early friday morning after work - only to find that another tree had fallen ... just missing camp!
I had to rejig my shelter hanging as this tree had been one I hung my "Communal Area" shelter highline from... yup THAT close to camp!

After setting up camp I had lunch and relaxed, did a bit of carving and read a little.


After my evening meal I read for a while (Nessmuk - love his book and often re read it) and had an early night. Not a peaceful night thanks to a Crying Vixen!
An early morning - thanks to a Cock Pheasant - and most of the day was spent bird watching. I have been following the Great Spotted Woodpeckers in these woods for many years and like to find their nest as soon as possible then watch the chicks develop but have only once seen them fledge.
I did a bit more carving and making camp luxuries and made a Ransom Bannock



Another early night followed (after my wife dropped by to tell me the Rugby score!) and again it was disturbed by foxes this time male and female doing the natural...
Sunday morning started again by being woken by a Pheasant - this time almost next to me!
The dawn was beautiful and I then managed to spot the Woodpecker "drumming" on two separate trees and found fresh fox poo.
The only downside was I had to come home mid morning...

 

[Cromm]

Outstanding

 

[knifeman]

Great to see other people using the TBS boar, I have mine in Turkish walnut but I really like the Micarta on yours! And it sounded like a great trip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[markheolddu]

Sounds like you had a great time mate

 

[adestu]

nice job chap.

 

[Madriverrob]

Good job ....

 

[Big G]

Canny camp that John, that tree looked some size that came down.

 

[Mesquite]

Sounds like it was a great camp John.

A woodpecker and birdsong is a great way to be woken up as I found out this morning as well

 

[DogRose]

Well played, it's admirable how much you seem to pack into these little trips, they always look like great fun.

 

[John Fenna]

Thanks guys
Actually I did more than I said - I also played at making brooms from birch and pine - that tree had to be good for something - played with different fire-lays and spent ages processing firewood from hung up timber that the storms had brought down... there was so much birch twig debris I barely touched it when gathering tinder and kindling yet it blazed so well that I later needed to replace the pot hanging pole across the fireplace!
The secret is to get up before the sun climbs over the horizon and go to bed not too long after it sets - having a handy Pheasant to give you an alarm call helps!
The Pine that came down was over 50' tall and the trunk at the base must have been over 8' around - it would have obliterated my camp if it had fallen a few degrees differently - and so soon after I had refurbished it too!
These woods have lost a lot of their Pine trees over the winter but the hardwoods are mostly fine... except where Pines have knocked them down...
The clearing I made the camp in was formed by Pines coming down in the "Hurricane" back in around '86 some of the best trees in the wood fell then, some survived and threw up either 90 degree bends in the main trunk of loads of "branches" to form new and multiple "trunks".
Although I only have perm to play in a small part of the wood (about half an acre to an acre) there are loads of Birch, Willow, Thorn and Pine, Rowan, Hazel, Alder Buckthorn, Ash, Lime and even Box while the ground gives Blackberry, Bluebells, Ransom, Alexanders, Jack-by-the-Hedge, Wood Sorrel, Pendulous Sedge and more. The woods have Buzzard and Woodpecker nests every year and is overflown by Red Kites on a regular basis - there are even Pheasants!
On the ground there are Foxes (!), Badgers, Rabbits, Mice and Miner Bees - but as yet no Deer...
All this 1/4 mile from home and I am the only person who goes into the woods except for the owner who has a compost heap near the entrance and my next door neighbour who takes out the odd bit of Pine (well there is a lot to clear up!) and adds to the compost heap.

And I have a second perm only 1 mile away

 

[Richard Francis Burton]

Spot on. Cosy.

 

[MegaWoodsWalker]

Looks the bannock on the fire!

 

[Bluebs4]

Its been years since i had an solo over night camp , this has inspired me thank you.

 

[Arya]

Sounds like you had a good time!
If you ever get photos of the woodpecker chicks, please share them I love those birds!

 

[John Fenna]

Sounds like you had a good time!
If you ever get photos of the woodpecker chicks, please share them I love those birds!

Will do