i have to admit i am guilty of not interacting so much of late, not really browsing so much.partly due to another time consuming project and partly as i used to log on in my break at work and the it stasi had blocked access to the old forum.now i just jumped on to see how old acquaintances were holding up and adapting to covid being a resourceful bunch...anyway first post is yours and a window into something new:- steam tenting! i was aware of steam punk and liked the look my lads attended a couple of steam punk themed weddings a while back but i thought it was more for the younger generation. now i see i have missed a trick. i picked up a seemingly unused unwanted canvas tent ( blacks of greenock patrol tent ?a "nijer" for a pittance from a local scout group who have moved to lightweight 2 man tents.a couple of years back. i got back into canvas when i got a polish lavvu, i have a portable woodbuner stove and have the means to exit the flue safely, and a couple of extras like a fire extinguisher and a carbon monoxide alarm.also camp beds lanterns tripod and cast ironware. now all i need is a suitable outfit and freedom to roam.any pointers to guide me into exploring this further? i note your photography is as excellent as ever.should you not have a plate camera in mahogany and brass to complement your setup? my late new years resolution... i will try to log on and post more often. good to see the stalwharts of the forum like toddy et al are all still here.Another change I have noticed over time is that I remember a time on this forum that a subject like this would have created a lively debate, a flurry of postings.
Those days seem to have gone...
Over 200 people have opened this post, but only four have bothered to make any kind of response. That seems to be the level of interaction that I see on most posts now. No wonder people cannot be bothered to create and post up interesting content any more.
I think back to the days that I came to this site looking for inspiration, it was the first tab I checked, every day, on my browser when it opened up. I used to see postings on every outdoor subject I could imagine and some indoor as well. Now I just see adverts for knives. It is usually the last Tab I check now. It's very sad.
Every now and again I think "I can't really grumble if I'm not posting stuff up myself", so I try my best to write something interesting or post some pictures of my latest project but it usually falls as flat as this one has.
I've made some wonderful friends through this site over the years and I'm not going to give up on it yet, but mostly I find myself talking to those friends on other social media where I get more feedback.
BCUK is however is still a fantastic information resource, the search facility is far superior to anything on FaceBook or the like. Don't let it wither on the vine, it's future is in your hands.
When someone asks a question though, we all learn
I have become that most ridiculed of beasts, an armchair bushcrafter...
Is that cabinet at the back of the table, the IKEA one with the reversed drawers? I seem to recall reading about that in a different thread somewhere or on a different site even maybe?
I have just read this thread through from the beginning and feel a little guilty at having been a 'member' of the site for so long but more of a lurker than contributor. I have learned a huge amount from this site but I am a passive learner rather than active contributor.
I guess that's mostly because I rate my skill/knowledge levels way below a) what I'd like them to be and b) that of other long-standing members.
I could participate more but my participation would be more along the lines of asking questions, seeking advice/guidance, looking for recommendations rather than me actually contributing in a way that might be helpful to other people.
I would worry that a constant flow of questions could become tiresome to those always providing the answers and so I - and maybe others - don't post as often as we could and so the vicious circle continues.
We,ve just sold our caravan - with the intention (in our mid 60s) of getting out more often and camping next year (if and when the virus gets sufficiently suppressed), so I will certainly keep coming back to the site to continue learning and I will try to contribute more in sensible ways.
Thank you everyone,
David
No. You have simply evolved into a homesteader, with a comfy chair.
Though the reasons we wander are many, deep down are we not looking for that place we feel at home?
How many here dream of owning a woodland and building a cabin. No. There is no shame in being an armchair bushcrafter, you've earned it.
Besides as Mors Kochanski pointed out in one of his talks, two-thirds of bushcraft involves hitting the books and assimilating the knowledge that has taken centuries to obtain. So to reach the next level you need someplace dry, cosy, with space to think & who knows create.
I run out out of new things to post up so it's nice when someone asks a question and it bumps older posts up for newer members to see so it's all good.
Yes, indeed, the chuck box on the table in the Baker tent is the one I built around an Ikea drawer unit.
It's a standard fixture on my larger base camps now.
I still enjoy the temporary nature of camping but I do like to take my creature comforts with me now where it is convenient.
This is the one you are probably looking for: A Simple Chuck Box
The canvas doesn't take up much space on it's own. Full size poles can go on a roof rack or half poles fit in a boot.