Enjoyed a nice relaxing day our with Hugo & Rockmonkey today, we started off by taking a long(ish) walk into one of our favoured spots up in the woods, on the way in we collected some materials for the challenge of the day, more on that later, we also passed one of the best looking shelters we have found in these woods, although the leaning trunk it was constructed against, was a bit suspect
Out of the first section of woodland and time to start heading up hill, thankfulyl we only had to spend a few minutes out in the blazing sunshine, before we headed back into the woods
up past the Official Mountain Bike trails, some of these scare the poop out of me walking them, let alone going at speed on a bike - mad fools
a quick dash out of the woods again and into the Coombe where we were met with a dazzling display of Orchids
Shortly after we were in our spot for the day, hammocks up and a brew on, it was time to set about today's bushy challenge, last week we did the bow drill, this week it was the hand drill, with Elder drills collected on the way in, we needed hearth material, so up slope to the Clematis and a section of dead standing was soon obtained
Looking through the woods, it was lovely being up here today,
no time to waste though, back to camp and it was time for RM & myself to make our sets, Hugo couldnt partake of the hand drill due to an injury he had collected earlier in the week, so with hearths fashioned and the drills smoothed off, it was time to start spinning.
I had a few attempts at the hand drill today, but try as i might i coiuldnt get an ember, i think the drill i was using was a bit too far gone, as although i could produce smoke a plenty, the ember was not forthcoming
We knew that RM's hand drill set was too punky as the drill just disintegrated as soon as he started spinning it up, still live and learn, it's not a failure, it's a learning experience, just to make sure i hadn't lost the knack, i grabbed my normal drill set when i got home and went out in the garden where i made a coal in five passes of the drill, again, elder on clematis.
So with the challenge over it was obviously time to carve something
You really have to admire Hugo's preparation though, he is the only guy i know who applies a dressing BEFORE he starts carving
Time was marching on and getting late in the day so we packed all our stuff away and headed out of the woods, via the scenic route
Quick look back
and then back to civilisation
Another superb day out, oh yes, we collected wild strawberries on the way back, that my dad then enjoyed for his afters at dinner tonight
Out of the first section of woodland and time to start heading up hill, thankfulyl we only had to spend a few minutes out in the blazing sunshine, before we headed back into the woods
up past the Official Mountain Bike trails, some of these scare the poop out of me walking them, let alone going at speed on a bike - mad fools
a quick dash out of the woods again and into the Coombe where we were met with a dazzling display of Orchids
Shortly after we were in our spot for the day, hammocks up and a brew on, it was time to set about today's bushy challenge, last week we did the bow drill, this week it was the hand drill, with Elder drills collected on the way in, we needed hearth material, so up slope to the Clematis and a section of dead standing was soon obtained
Looking through the woods, it was lovely being up here today,
no time to waste though, back to camp and it was time for RM & myself to make our sets, Hugo couldnt partake of the hand drill due to an injury he had collected earlier in the week, so with hearths fashioned and the drills smoothed off, it was time to start spinning.
I had a few attempts at the hand drill today, but try as i might i coiuldnt get an ember, i think the drill i was using was a bit too far gone, as although i could produce smoke a plenty, the ember was not forthcoming
We knew that RM's hand drill set was too punky as the drill just disintegrated as soon as he started spinning it up, still live and learn, it's not a failure, it's a learning experience, just to make sure i hadn't lost the knack, i grabbed my normal drill set when i got home and went out in the garden where i made a coal in five passes of the drill, again, elder on clematis.
So with the challenge over it was obviously time to carve something
You really have to admire Hugo's preparation though, he is the only guy i know who applies a dressing BEFORE he starts carving
Time was marching on and getting late in the day so we packed all our stuff away and headed out of the woods, via the scenic route
Quick look back
and then back to civilisation
Another superb day out, oh yes, we collected wild strawberries on the way back, that my dad then enjoyed for his afters at dinner tonight
