Anyone out and about tonight?

[Silverhill]

I just thought I'd see if myself and 'Oakhill Wanderer' are alone in our foray into the woods tonight. We're braving the elements on a rather foggy and wet evening to enjoy an evening in our usual spot near Derby.

So far, we've managed to sustain a decent fire since around 3pm despite the wet/soggy ground conditions courtesy of an old fallen pine. The fire's currently kicking out a decent tickover heat and has served it's purpose by keeping us dry and cooking a modest dinner. We've now moved on to the whiskey

The setup consists of Oakhill Wanderer in a DD Frontline with tarp, underblanket and SF2, whilst I've chosen a Polish poncho/lavvu/tent with bivi bag and SF1 & SF2 combo onto a Thermarest.

I doubt the temperatures will dip as low as previously expected here, but I'd say -3*C would be a reasonable estimate.

 

[Harvestman]

Not out tonight, but did have a lovely early evening camp earlier whilst out with the dog. Found an old steel frame shelter with an intact roof, so a dry spot. Had a nice brew, with two firsts: I used my knife to get sparks from a firesteel (after I briefly mislaid my normal striker) and melted snow for the brew as I hadn't brought any water. Lovely.

Hope you have a good night. Would love to be out myself.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

I wish, spent the day driving to Inverness, shopping, kids Yule pressies, some stuff for me and back.

Hope you Guys have a good time,, Pic's plz

 

[Shewie]

Live from the campfire, technology eh

 

[Silverhill]

Never mind gents.....There's always next week!

Shewie.......I like to keep it 'realtime' whenever signal dictates

 

[Shewie]

Can you post live pics too ?

 

[addo]

I'm sat by a hot wood burner waiting for a cold quinzy to get colder so I can kip in it tomorrow.
Have a good camp dude.

 

[Man of Tanith]

not tonight unfortunately.
couple of weekends time i'm off with swompy.
hopefully with a selection of goodies from my brithday to test out

 

[Sawyer]

Does out in the back patio having a brew courtesy of my ikea home made hobo stove count?

 

[dave53]

just dont eat yellow snow regards dave

 

[Silverhill]

Sorry Shewie, I've not figured out how to upload pics just yet, although I took a couple of snaps before it got too dark with the phone camera (poor quality).

Glad you managed to make your Quinze Addo! Hope you had a decent nights sleep! I've just awoken to the sound of the gamekeeper's dogs, so I'd imagine he's around and about somewhere!

Glad to see there are others equally crazy as ourselves!!

 

[Harvestman]

Well guys, if you were out last night i hope you hada good one. What a fantastic day it has been here today! I dropped the wife in town (more shopping), grabbed my kit, and headed for one of my favourite woodlands.

Near the top are two enormous beech trees. This pic doesn't do them justice. The biggish branch in the middle between the two trees is over a foot wide, and I can walk under it without stooping.

I left the kit in the woodland at a convenient spot for a camp, and took the dog for a stroll out across the moor.

The sugar loaf, with the Black Mountains as the white ridge behind it.

Left to right: The Skirrid, Little Skirrid, Monmouth Cap

Got a bit carried away and ended up back at the bottom of the hill, where I found this lovely yew tree with interesting roots.

Then back to the top again, for a brew up on the stove, and to cut myself a yule log from a fallen oak where I'd left most of the kit. Then back to the car, and took the scenic route home, via Llandegfedd reservoir.

All in all, a great day. Hope yours was as good as mine.

 

[Silverhill]

Cracking pics there Harvestman, with some breathtaking views!

I've been thinking about collecting a Yule log too, but haven't found 'the one' just yet.

 

[Exploriment]

Great pictures indeed, but clearly they're not at night now are they?

I went last night to meet up with a group that goes hiking every tuesday night, in a revolving location each time. (Loads of places to hike around here.) I usually go out to the ones on my end of town, but this time I decided to meet up with them way out in the east end of town, where for some reason I never get to.

I grabbed the bus, but it was one of about four #5 routes. Turns out the one I had grabbed didn't go quite where I wanted to go. Consulted the map and saw that with a bit of cross country running and orienteering through a golf course, I could make it to the meetup spot. Jumped off and started running. Navigated my way just fine, ended up exactly where I was supposed to, but about four minutes after 19:00. No one there. I couldn't see or hear anyone, and didn't know their intended route. Oh well. Decided that I needed the exercise, and opted to walk the long way home along the Niagara Escarpment around the Red Hill Valley.

Freezing cold, windy night, but great walk nonetheless. At about the halfway point, I encountered the group I was supposed to meet. Said hello, walked with them for a while, then parted ways and kept going along the Bruce Trail. Which in many places could well be called the Brutal Trail. Doing it in the dark is a definite challenge. At the juncture where it met a converted railway trail I opted to wuss out and walk it instead.

Met up with some homeless guys with a fire going along the Escarpment. Said hello, asked if I could warm up by their fire for a minute. Sure. They asked if I wanted some of their booze, but I declined. "You guys enjoy." And off I went again, my cold hands a little warmer.

Probably did about 20, 25 clicks.

Don't know for the life of me why I haven't checked the area out before, and I can only see so much in the dark, but it whetted my appetite to go back and check it out in day light hours.