To cut a mid-length story short I got a space on Woodsmoke's Trailbreaker course this
weekend through a cancellation and headed up there on Friday afternoon and basically
started grinning from around 3pm when I arrived at Euston station. Kept smiling all the
way on the train on the way up and the smile continues
Anyway, I have done all sorts of bushcrafty things this weekend - possibly the most
startling were gutting a fish (I was a bit squealy I have to admit) and ponassing it and
then blow me if I didn't actually sleep out last night in a bivy bag under a tarp. Me!
As predicted I had a perfect night's sleep (nice cold air on my face, warm body) and
whenever I woke up I was able to gawp at the gobsmackingly stunning loveliness of a
forest in moonlight. Utter heaven. I felt like I was in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at
the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park.
We made a lean-to (four of them, in groups) with spruce boughs overlaid on logs at
a steep angle and some people slept in them and had a good, warm sleep. The
creation involved me sitting on the forest floor (not even bleating about getting my
trousers a bit grubby) and unearthing a rather fine root even if I do say so myself.
The only thing I didn't do was bow drilling as I found out it is quite tough on your knees
which are my Achilles heel (so to speak) so I think I'll stick to lighters or firesteels which
involve less kneeling! It was good to watch everyone else doing it but I think I'd have to
build a table first and do it seated
In short, I am liking this stuff lots and the Trailbreaker course is an excellent introduction
weekend through a cancellation and headed up there on Friday afternoon and basically
started grinning from around 3pm when I arrived at Euston station. Kept smiling all the
way on the train on the way up and the smile continues
Anyway, I have done all sorts of bushcrafty things this weekend - possibly the most
startling were gutting a fish (I was a bit squealy I have to admit) and ponassing it and
then blow me if I didn't actually sleep out last night in a bivy bag under a tarp. Me!
As predicted I had a perfect night's sleep (nice cold air on my face, warm body) and
whenever I woke up I was able to gawp at the gobsmackingly stunning loveliness of a
forest in moonlight. Utter heaven. I felt like I was in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at
the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park.
We made a lean-to (four of them, in groups) with spruce boughs overlaid on logs at
a steep angle and some people slept in them and had a good, warm sleep. The
creation involved me sitting on the forest floor (not even bleating about getting my
trousers a bit grubby) and unearthing a rather fine root even if I do say so myself.
The only thing I didn't do was bow drilling as I found out it is quite tough on your knees
which are my Achilles heel (so to speak) so I think I'll stick to lighters or firesteels which
involve less kneeling! It was good to watch everyone else doing it but I think I'd have to
build a table first and do it seated
In short, I am liking this stuff lots and the Trailbreaker course is an excellent introduction