So first off a couple of changes to my kit-list; swapped the rucksack to my Forces 44 as the LK35 seemed to pull my shoulders in such a way that I couldn't breath, not ideal when hiking! After seeing the weather forecast I also added a poncho.
Set of after work on Friday, parked up and walked a couple of miles up into the forest. Couldn't ask for more from the weather, sunny with a light breeze. Nice views from the forest edge...
Looked like the Chaffinches were having a good time too.
Had a wander around, collected some birch bark and tried to scout out a camp site. Found my spot for the night, a nice grove of Ash (?) tucked in among the plantation pine.
First up my tarp, just went for a lean-to set up with a little cover from a huge pine.
Given that the Czech army bed roll is just a blanket bag really thought I'd better get some extra insulation under me. Used my poncho to collect some nice springy browse.
My bed for the night, it struck me how much time saving modern kit allows. A modern sleeping pad is so quick to set-up you don't even consider it but it took me 40 mins (admittedly I was only taking a little from each tree) to gather just enough for a mild spring night.
Next up to set up my pot hanger and gather wood, the poncho proves its worth again.
As the sun started to set thoughts turned to food and fire.
Prepped my stew before getting the fire lit as I like to just sit and relax once the its going. Beef stew was on the menu
No ale to go in it sadly, but water and a stock cube should do the trick.
Time for this flint and steel malarky. My tinder pouch came from John Fenna and the striker from Whitler Kev (gotta love the barter system on BcUK
). I'd had a practise in the garden and had success with prepared tinder. I'd brought with me some charcloth and a few cramp balls and found some bark on a fallen birch on my way into camp.
Now I'd love to say I had success but after several attempts I just couldn't get my coal to ignite my birch bark, maybe it was a little damp but I had a pocket full I hoped would be dry by morning.
Poor tinder prep on my part, lesson learned.
So with dark looming and my belly rumbling I reached for the lighter in my FAK
.
Still even a failure is a success if you learn something right? So on with the fire and dinner on the Waigan stick.
My candle lantern, a friend in the forest.
Tried my best to get a decent shot of my dinner but it was nearly 10.30 before it was ready and dark. Suffice to say it was delicious
.
Turned in around 11.30 and slept like a log. I was really pleased with the bed roll, really warm in combination with the browse bed, and I was happy to just kick off my boots and climb in without worrying about damaging it. If your in two minds about getting one, I can guarantee is £10 well spent!
I woke around 5.30 to a beautiful morning with the birds singing.
So on with breakfast and another crack at the flint and steel. The birch bark had dried nicely in my pocket over night and a feathered a few sticks for good measure. And Im pleased to report, success
!
Bacon, bannock and coffee. A proper bushy breakfast. The lid of a Tatonka 1.6l makes a perfect portion of bannock for one.
Had my breakfast then sat around reading for an hour while the embers cooled and enjoed the morning.
Had a tidy up and got ready to set off for a few miles walk around the forest. My first objective was to head down to the southern edge where some streams were marked on my map.
Most of this place is old plantation but with some deciduous on the fringes.
Sorrel in bloom
Some things make me mad
, did my best to clear it up.
Lots of walking along old fire breaks and overgrown forest roads.
Reached my goal of a water course, but it was dry. So I admit I walked back to my car and re-filled my bottles rather than dig a gypsy well.
It had been raining since mid morning, so when the sun poked out I stopped for some lunch.
Headed back north through the forest, on the search for a camping spot. After much bushwacking and working my way through the undergrowth I spotted some broad leaf tree's up in the canopy. Pushed my through the pines to find... My previous nights campsite! Shows how easy it is to get turned around in the woods even with a compass. Still the afternoon was drawing on and I thought it a good spot for another night.
I'd slept in the piney side of the clearing last night so thought it good to set-up among the Ash tree's for my last night. I guess with the trip down to the car I covered about 6 miles.
First thing first though, I needed a brew so got the honey out (the only time I used it). I'd got the hang of the flint and steel so I was enjoying a brew in short order.
On with the shelter, set-up to give good coverage if it started raining again.
Weather had cheered up no end by late afternoon.
Dinner tonight would be a bit of chorizo and spoczek gumbo.
On with the fire and dinner...
Early to bed, woke up around 2 with the rain pounding on my tarp. Staggered around in the dark to drop my tarp down, definitely missed my head torch in that moment. Not as comfy a nights sleep without a browse bed but I wasn't particularly cold more just a bit hard on the back.
Woke to a wet morning, grabbed a quick coffee and bite of bread then headed back to the car.
Well I hope you enjoyed my ramblings, not sure if blow by blow accounts are boring but well I wrote at as it happened.
I really enjoyed using a simple kit list and its certainly rewarding having to work a bit harder for your comforts. Not quite Daniel Boone perhaps, but I did it with what kit I already owned and although I did cheat (as detailed) on a couple of things I think I stuck to the spirit of it.
