Subtitle: The "What have you lost now Mike?" Tour.
With our usual level of organisation and planning, Al and I made a last-minute decision to go hammocking this past weekend, which, of course, was the coldest of the winter so far.
We met after work on friday, and headed to Al's favourite woods not far from where he works.
Set-up took place in the dark, but seemed to go ok. We elected not to bother with tarps as the forecast was very cold (it reached -7) but dry. Al's underquilt froze.
The evening was notable for consuming a great deal of port, in a very short time, on largely empty stomachs. After I made some interesting cornering maneuvers when collecting wood, and twice almost face-planted into the fire I realised that I was, for the first time in my life, drunk (I'm nearly 43). Al told me to sit down, which rapidly became lying down, and I subsequently had to be helped into my hammock. Al thought the whole thing was hilarious.
Next morning there was light for pictures. Both of us had slept pretty well on the whole, despite the cold. Al's pitch under de-construction
And mine
Having survived the night, we decided to move a little further north as Al wanted to try another spot. This involved a walk of at least a mile, carrying all our winter kit (in my case two rucksacks and a haversack as I hadn't been expecting a hike) through pathless woodland. Stunning country though.
Pausing for breath, I realised that I was missing a glove. I dropped my pack, and retraced my steps, and came back with the glove. Success! We moved on, and found a lovely spot under a large yew tree. At this point i realised that I was now missing my axe. I was on the point of going back along the mile of woodland when Al suggested that I look where I put the pack down shortly before. And there was the axe!
This was just 50 yards away through the trees...
with the river in between
So we got set up, and it started snowing. It turned out at this point that there were climbers on the cliffs. That couldn't have been very nice for them...
Shortly afterwards I misplaced my knife sheath, which Al found in the food bag. I cut myself a stick from some blackthorn, and then Al realised that he was facing his first ever bushcraft night sober. It took a few minutes to dissuade him from a hike out to Tescos... my revenge for getting me drunk
By dusk it had started to turn to rain, to we decamped to the hammocks early.
Next day was gloriously dry. I went for a morning walk
I tracked a fox (heard in the night, along with tawny and barn owls) through the snow to where it made a rodent kill, and wandered out onto a spit into the river.
Packing up
Then on the way home we stopped for a bite of lunch at another spot (under the old severn bridge, as it happens), where we met a chap who turned out to be an expert forager who collects wild greens for the most expensive restaurant in the county. We chatted, established our credentials as interested and vaguely knowledgeable, and he said we could go foraging with him whenever we liked. Result!
I have to say that this was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable weekends out that I have ever had. Utterly brilliant. The air was cold but we never were, and the peace was absolute. I think I smiled for the entire two days.
Many thanks Al.
With our usual level of organisation and planning, Al and I made a last-minute decision to go hammocking this past weekend, which, of course, was the coldest of the winter so far.
We met after work on friday, and headed to Al's favourite woods not far from where he works.
Set-up took place in the dark, but seemed to go ok. We elected not to bother with tarps as the forecast was very cold (it reached -7) but dry. Al's underquilt froze.
The evening was notable for consuming a great deal of port, in a very short time, on largely empty stomachs. After I made some interesting cornering maneuvers when collecting wood, and twice almost face-planted into the fire I realised that I was, for the first time in my life, drunk (I'm nearly 43). Al told me to sit down, which rapidly became lying down, and I subsequently had to be helped into my hammock. Al thought the whole thing was hilarious.
Next morning there was light for pictures. Both of us had slept pretty well on the whole, despite the cold. Al's pitch under de-construction
And mine
Having survived the night, we decided to move a little further north as Al wanted to try another spot. This involved a walk of at least a mile, carrying all our winter kit (in my case two rucksacks and a haversack as I hadn't been expecting a hike) through pathless woodland. Stunning country though.
Pausing for breath, I realised that I was missing a glove. I dropped my pack, and retraced my steps, and came back with the glove. Success! We moved on, and found a lovely spot under a large yew tree. At this point i realised that I was now missing my axe. I was on the point of going back along the mile of woodland when Al suggested that I look where I put the pack down shortly before. And there was the axe!
This was just 50 yards away through the trees...
with the river in between
So we got set up, and it started snowing. It turned out at this point that there were climbers on the cliffs. That couldn't have been very nice for them...
Shortly afterwards I misplaced my knife sheath, which Al found in the food bag
. I cut myself a stick from some blackthorn, and then Al realised that he was facing his first ever bushcraft night sober. It took a few minutes to dissuade him from a hike out to Tescos... my revenge for getting me drunk By dusk it had started to turn to rain, to we decamped to the hammocks early.
Next day was gloriously dry. I went for a morning walk
I tracked a fox (heard in the night, along with tawny and barn owls) through the snow to where it made a rodent kill, and wandered out onto a spit into the river.
Packing up
Then on the way home we stopped for a bite of lunch at another spot (under the old severn bridge, as it happens), where we met a chap who turned out to be an expert forager who collects wild greens for the most expensive restaurant in the county. We chatted, established our credentials as interested and vaguely knowledgeable, and he said we could go foraging with him whenever we liked. Result!
I have to say that this was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable weekends out that I have ever had. Utterly brilliant. The air was cold but we never were, and the peace was absolute. I think I smiled for the entire two days.
Many thanks Al.
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