JonathanD and CLEMS epic days out.

[JonathanD]

It’s been a long time since we spent a few days in the woods. Normally we get out every week or every other week for a day out in our favourite spots. But overnighters have eluded us due to a chain of dramas since 2022.



It’s the first time I’ve used the Night Cat flat lay hammock tent and I’m quite impressed by it. It’s actually Poppy’s and I commandeered it after finding my Backwoods bungalow had a stitching problem on the zip. Unfortunately, although she’s never used it, Pops has managed to lose the instructions, so I was pitching blind. I think I got it right, apart from the stabilising straps which would have performed better lower and wrapped twice around the trees to stop any movement. But it was good. And I got two decent nights sleep. And I could move around and sleep on my side with no problems. Had great food with pigeon and pheasant breasts. With some awesome bacon and sausages for breakfast. We didn’t do much apart from talk rubbish. But I did make a collapsible hanger for my day sack.

 

[Mesquite]

That looks like a great night, chilling with a mate, pigeon breast(?) and buttered potatoes for dinner washed down with some good malt and sausages in the morning topped with a good nights kip in the woods. Not a lot beats that!

 

[Broch]

Great to see you're back out in the woods!

 

[PoppyD]

I hope you didn’t get any dog poo in my hammock.

 

[FerlasDave]

Nice one mate. I especially like your clearly labelled flask!

 

[JonathanD]

Nice one mate. I especially like your clearly labelled flask!

Well you have to be sure. That’s just testing whisky in there.

 

[JonathanD]

I hope you didn’t get any dog poo in my hammock.

How/why would I get dog poo in there? Is it a specific problem you’ve encountered before?

 

[FerlasDave]

Well you have to be sure. That’s just testing whisky in there.

And with CLEM you need to be sure which one is for drinking from!

 

[JonathanD]

Too right.

 

[CLEM]

A good read that mate, good couple of days too.
We shall have to break out the warmer kit for the next one, autumn is coming on fast now.

 

[PoppyD]

How/why would I get dog poo in there? Is it a specific problem you’ve encountered before?

No and I don’t know. When you said you were borrowing it I was thinking about all the bad things that could happen to it. And that was the one thing I kept on thinking about happening to it the most.

 

[Tengu]

I can offer you some cat poo? Just as nice???

 

[hughtrimble]

Looks like a lovely time.
How weighty is the hammock tent? Couldn't find that spec on their sales pages, which makes me think it's probably quite a few kg?

 

[JonathanD]

Looks like a lovely time.
How weighty is the hammock tent? Couldn't find that spec on their sales pages, which makes me think it's probably quite a few kg?

I think it’s just over 3kg, that includes the heavy mat as well though. I’d ditch that and go with a lighter alternative. And you wouldn’t need one in the warmer months.

 

[JonathanD]

No and I don’t know. When you said you were borrowing it I was thinking about all the bad things that could happen to it. And that was the one thing I kept on thinking about happening to it the most.

Such an odd girl. No idea who you you got that off.

Where’s the pics of you and your baddest womans beach camping and foraging last week?

 

[warthog1981]

It looks like a great wee trip thanks for sharing

 

[MikeLA]

Great photos, best one is the whisky (wish I could drink that still)

 

[Sooty22]

It’s been a long time since we spent a few days in the woods. Normally we get out every week or every other week for a day out in our favourite spots. But overnighters have eluded us due to a chain of dramas since 2022.

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It’s the first time I’ve used the Night Cat flat lay hammock tent and I’m quite impressed by it. It’s actually Poppy’s and I commandeered it after finding my Backwoods bungalow had a stitching problem on the zip. Unfortunately, although she’s never used it, Pops has managed to lose the instructions, so I was pitching blind. I think I got it right, apart from the stabilising straps which would have performed better lower and wrapped twice around the trees to stop any movement. But it was good. And I got two decent nights sleep. And I could move around and sleep on my side with no problems. Had great food with pigeon and pheasant breasts. With some awesome bacon and sausages for breakfast. We didn’t do much apart from talk rubbish. But I did make a collapsible hanger for my day sack.

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I was wondering why your hammock is so taut, but the name gives it away. How does it work? Does it feel stable inside?

The old swiss army folding lanterns are superb. I have a thing for all things Swiss, and have a few of those! If you find the candles burn / melt away too fast and can't buy originals, they used a higher melting point wax and called 'high stearin'. I found the Jubla ones from IKEA are ideal, and the long version cuts almost perfectly into two 'original' length ones.

 

[JonathanD]

We had a great day out yesterday. And a trip that was a very very very long time coming. Up to Sheffield to see Stuart Mitchell and Portland Works.

I think Stu and I have been communicating for nearly a quarter of a century now. If not longer. I first commissioned a Deval Bushcrafter off him in 2005 or 2006. O1 tool steel and stabilised maple handles. Since then he’s probably made about 15 further knives for me in various steels and grinds. Mostly full flat with steel bolsters with my adder logo on it. His knives have been on my belt in a few continents around the world. And he also got a few orders from other people who wanted my design too.





After Stu kindly picked us up from the station we went to the now famous Portland Works www.portlandworks.co.uk literallly the birthplace of stainless steel and home to many knife makers and artisans over many decades.

Stuart started working there in 1985 with his father Pat Mitchell, and has been working there for over 40 years now after taking over the business not so long afterwards. He pioneered the use of SF100 steel after discovering an old example just before the buildings 100th anniversary. Since then the steel has grown in use and reputation.





Portland Works has history embedded and oozing out of every brick. The smell of steel and oil is rich and deep. And the whole building echoes from the gentle sounds of pressing, stamping, forging and grinding which is part of its ambience and quite soothing. It’s home to knife makers, die makers, drop forgers, sheath makers, Locksley gin, basket weavers, chastity belt makers and many other artisans who still make products in the traditional way.

 

[JonathanD]

Stu’s workshop is on the first floor with a great rooftop access over Portland Works and Sheffield.




I’ve seen pictures of his workshop for years with the updates and making of posts we made for BcUK way back. So to see it in person finally, the place where all of my knives were born was amazing. From the work bench where I’d seen my knives sat during completion, to Stu’s modified grinding machines. No jigs here. Everything is done free hand on belts and wheels.








The history in this one room is off the charts. Original drop forged D pattern blanks, FS blanks from the original moulds, military prototypes and customer orders, Michelin star restaurant knives. You name it. It’s here. He’s made knives for movies, A list Hollywood actors and idiots like me and CLEM. And a whole load of Stu’s knives and knife blanks from decades past. Including a few rare Wilkinson sword hilts from a limited run of historical swords they made in the late 90’s. Stu made the blades. I could spend all day here just looking at the stuff piled up in boxes and on shelves. Every piece has a great story behind it and Stu is as much a historian as well as knife maker.



An old sign of Stuart’s dads workshop before Stu took over and started making his own name in the knife making world.