Best Bushy Memory of 2011

[Jinsin456]

As the end of the year draws ever closer I thought it would be appropriate to start a thread to see what everyone's fondest memory / best trip etc has been in the past year.

I think my favourite trip of the year was when Jason (jag009) went a two day trek through the Galloway Forest, got a great sense of accomplishment after that and the weather and scenery was amazing. The first Scotland South meet I attended in Glentrool was also good, apart from the hammock incident wiston lodge was also great but the weather just knocked that off the top spot as it was awful all weekend! There was also a great weekend in dunure woods when Nathan (scout) came to play, we actually got a bit bushy that weekend for a change!

I think these are my top 4 but the more I think about it the more I remember and the more this turns into a reminisce (sp?) thread so before I babble along anymore what has been your best memory (or 4 ) of 2011?

 

[kINGPIN]

Walking in the woods with my son a few weeks ago is my best memory. The anticipation of having a young person that can accompany me on some of my adventures is immense.

Also.... the day I opened my parcel from lakeland bushcraft with my sabre 45!!

 

[Kepis]

Too many to mention im afraid but right up there is the the look of acheivement on the faces of people when they get their first bow drill ember or carve their first spoon and numerous other firsts.

But right up there is when eldest (14yrs) raised over £1000.00 off his own back for Help for Heroes

 

[lannyman8]

My best/worst night out bushcrafting was when Toilet Digger broke his leg in the woods.....

the worst night because he was in pain and broke his leg...

the best bit was using some med skills, letting my training take over and the correct diagnocise of the injury, spiral fracture mid shin left leg.... pooor Mr Digger!!!

it was a logistical nightmair, 16-17 stone bloke stuck in the woods with said broken leg, wanting to move him as little as possible as i knew it could make it much worse, maybe cause a very bad internal bleed etc etc etc, call paramedics who came out, they then called a specialist team with a 6x6 off road vehicle to collect him and take him to hospital for x-ray etc etc....

regards.

chris.

 

[Bowlander]

High's

1. Spending a night under canvas with my 3 year old son, we'd been the previous year but he wasn't really aware.
2. Taking him out in canoe
3. My young lurcher taking her first rabbit on the lamp

Low's

1. The weather
2. The weather
3. The weather

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

My first Bushmoot
My first Wilderness Gathering
Meeting some wonderful people at both of them.

Lows.
Having to leave the moot early
Drinking chillie vodka.

 

[JAG009]

My top 3 are

(1) Walking from Glasgow to Inverness ,started this with Scott ( Jinsin456 ) who had to drop out after two days with bad feet and dehyration due to the weather being very hot indeed ,next time Scott .
I then met up with Colin (coln18) at Fort William and we walked to Inverness ,A top trip from start to finish

(2)A two Day walking trip through the Galloway Forest with Scott (Jinsin456) was a good laugh ,the weather was great too which made it just a joy to walk

(3) And a recent 5 day trip with Tony (Peterlee paddler ) to Inchtavannach ,the weather was pretty bad but it was great canoe trip


This list could go on and on ,this year has been good for trips out and meets ,a thanks to all who have arranged them and turned up ,you all know how you are


Cheers

Jason

 

[spiritwalker]

Attending the bushcraft show really enjoyed it especially lofty's talk...
hope to go again next year with my 4 yr old son and try a spot of canoeing

lows not getting enough lads camps in family camping was cut back too due to number 2 son arriving still next year should be fun

 

[Mesquite]

It's got to be my 50th Birthday bash... was probably the best time I'd spent in the woods with some really good friends I've met from the forum

Another is just being able to spend time relaxing in the woods

 

[outdoorpaddy]

High:
For me it's got to be the Woodlore Fundamental bushcraft course. Met some great people, including the man himself, and learnt so so much about bushcraft and even more about myself. Can't wait to get back there and do another course.
Low:
Getting horrible results in my AS levels, got what I deserved at the end of the day, but still put me in a royally cr*p mood for a good while

Great thread!

outdoorpaddy

 

[Prawnster]

Finally getting my best mate to come wild camping and canoeing with me last month. It got him hooked and he's going to buy his own boat!

The bushcraft show at Windermere was a highlight as was the Shadowhawk tracking class there.

Taking my young kids and a load of their cousins and friends for a day out in the woods. Getting them all in one place, sat under my tarp eating hotdogs I'd just cooked on my honey stove was certainly memorable.

There's still a few weeks left so I think I'll try and squeeze another highlight in before January.

 

[John Fenna]

It's got to be my 50th Birthday bash... was probably the best time I'd spent in the woods with some really good friends I've met from the forum

That is probably because I was not there.....
Mine is the "exclaimation mark" incident - it still hurts to remember it....
That and seeing the happy faces on those I have taught to make fire!

 

[Mesquite]

That is probably because I was not there.....

Strange as it might seem... you were missed John

Mine is the "exclaimation mark" incident - it still hurts to remember it....

Now that was the funniest moment in 2011 and yes... I still crack up when I think about it. It's also closely followed by the 'sloth' moment at the moot

 

[Teepee]

Best;

My first padlle in the sea in my kayak.
Meeting some great people off here
6 days of scorching sunshine in Scotland with few midges.
Waking up to snow falling on the tarp and watching it from my hammock with a coffee.

Worst;
Breaking my foot on a walk

 

[xylaria]

Best bit moving to wales. its scotland without the midges. Imagine a country that within 20 minutes I can forage fresh mussles and upteen salt marsh plants and 20 minutes the other way get to mountains. That is wales.
Worst bit finding the bit of wales that was like scotland with the midges, if you stopped for more than a minute the midge would just start calling the dinner bell, aslo the same place found an abandoned farm on the cynant stream cumbrian mountians with dead sheep locked in barn with live, most the sheep in meadows were lame. Really grim. Rang council, police RSPCA. They got tipped off and moved the sheep, that is wales.

 

[Harvestman]

Seeing a short eared owl, a peregrine and a barn owl in a magical 15 minute spell at the nature reserve I recently became warden of.

Close contenders:
Becoming warden of said reserve and finding a fabulous orchard there.
Woodturning for the first time in years, and making bowls.
The delight on the faces of youngsters learning outdoors/wildlife stuff in a group I help out with.

Lows aren't worth remembering.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Getting footage of the otter I'd been tracking for months. It was like I knew everything about it without seeing it up until that point. Actually, buying the camera was the best thing I wish I'd done it sooner.

 

[shaggystu]

It's got to be my 50th Birthday bash... was probably the best time I'd spent in the woods with some really good friends I've met from the forum ....

that was certainly one of my high points this year too

 

[toilet digger]

My best/worst night out bushcrafting was when Toilet Digger broke his leg in the woods.....

the worst night because he was in pain and broke his leg...

the best bit was using some med skills, letting my training take over and the correct diagnocise of the injury, spiral fracture mid shin left leg.... pooor Mr Digger!!!

it was a logistical nightmair, 16-17 stone bloke stuck in the woods with said broken leg, wanting to move him as little as possible as i knew it could make it much worse, maybe cause a very bad internal bleed etc etc etc, call paramedics who came out, they then called a specialist team with a 6x6 off road vehicle to collect him and take him to hospital for x-ray etc etc....

regards.

chris.

likewise

 

[toilet digger]

and it was my right leg!!!!!!