Llangollen group

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Red Kite

Nomad
Oct 2, 2006
263
0
64
London UK
Hi Lightfoot

Count me in for this weekend, can you PM me directions - Its been a while and the old memory aint what it was.

I'm going to bring my canoe up, so if anyone else fancies a paddle on the canal feel free to join in.

Stewart
 

lightfoot

Forager
Jul 5, 2006
186
0
58
Chester
I've just found that this thread has been moved from the main forum into the Wales forum and nobody told me. Am I being unreasonable to expect an explanation, for courtesy sake if nothing else - took me 5 minutes to find my own thread - thought it had been deleted!

As for the practical reasons - out of the dozen or so interested people only two are in Wales - most are from the North West, the organisers are from Cheshire (North West) and even the owner of the wood is is from Blackburn (North West) and the thread evolved from the Next Delamere thread (North West) which, by the way, was not in the North West forum and has not been moved to the North West forum.

I can't help but feel that what could be a really fantastic opportunity for many BCUK members from the North West and the Midlands will now be missed, not to mention folks like Red Kite who is willing to go the extra distance and travel from London (he's been before so knows it's worth it).

No doubt there will an argument that as the wood itself is in Wales then the thread should be in the Wales forum. If that is the case then perhaps the BCUK Bushmoot thread and all associated threads should be relocated to the Wales forum too.

Any thoughts on this folks?
 

IntrepidStu

Settler
Apr 14, 2008
807
0
Manchester
I can see your piont, but I can also see the other side. In my opinion though, the destination of the meet should determine the location of the post. Try not to let it bother you to much; you have given the members a great oppertunity and you should feel happy about that and try not to let the politics bother you that much.

On another topic, my other half is also now thinking of coming.

This is a good thing you have done here, Keep up the good work.
Stu
 

elevenses

Forager
Jan 7, 2008
163
0
cheshire
I don't think it is unreasonable to expect courtesy. I think it would have been nice for someone to let you know. personally I think I may have made the decision to move it the Wales section (as its in Wales) but to keep a link in the area it started with an explanation for the move. ?

either way as Intrepidstu has said it not worth bothering about. think about the smell of the earth and fresh foliage and it will soon pass ............:D

looking forward to our north west meet in north west Wales ish LOL
 

lightfoot

Forager
Jul 5, 2006
186
0
58
Chester
Right then, down to business.

Looks like it's Elevenses and his lady, IntrepidStu and his lady, Red Kite, me and possibly Dwardo. How about our Emu friend?

As the ladies are coming and are new to this sort of thing then I have rethought the whole set-up. It's going to be a ladies weekend.

With that in mind I went in search of a loo seat at the cheapy shop (I'm more broke than you could imagine) but didn't find one. I did, however, find a solar camp shower. It looks at bit rubbish for a shower and I can't imagine the girls wanting to strip off in a strange wood with strange men around and shower under a plastic bag but it could be very useful for hand and face washing.

I'm going to locate us near middle camp as that's closer to the loo and other features that will be more psychologically comforting. Speaking of psychological comfort may I recommend the following:

Get there as early as you possibly can so the girls can acclimatise. We may think any wood is a piece of heaven on earth but newbies will need to sniff around a bit more. I'm aiming for early to mid afternoon so will get to work on improving the loo.

I also recommend the following items:
  • A loo seat
  • Nice deck chairs for them if not for yourselves - I have one for me and there are some rubbishy ones there plus plenty of stumps.
  • Blankets to wrap them in when the evening chill bites.
  • If you've got any of those solar garden lights then bring them too. It'll make night time trips to the loo for the ladies much more comfortable as well as giving a bit of an enchanted atmosphere. I can bring loads of T-lights and there are lots of jam jars there but they'll all be out by 2 or 3 in the morning.
  • Water. I know there are springs there and at middle camp we have taps but as I always boil and the kettle only holds around 3 litres then you might as well bring 5 to 10 litres, or more, to see you through for a while. I'll bring as much as I can too. That said Dave the Wood just drinks the water and he's never been ill. Tis up to thee.
  • CHOCOLATE
  • Nice food. A barbecue would be an idea. We have some metal grills but they're a bit battered.
  • Alcohol (if worst comes to worst then you can at least render them unconscious)
  • Comfy bedding complete with sheets, quilt and pillows could be the difference between complete success that will lead to many decades of happy bushcrafting together or abject failure resulting in a painful divorce.
  • Boots or wellies as it can be a muddy wood and trainers as it can be okay if the weather hasn't been too wet.

Ultimately it's up to you guys. They're your women but I know how unpleasant lots of women can find such places and I know how unpleasant a not very happy woman whose stuck in a place she doesn't want to be in can be.

We'll make sure to transport all the kit down so don't worry about weight.

Think that's it.
 

IntrepidStu

Settler
Apr 14, 2008
807
0
Manchester
Sounds Good.

Just a few more questions.
Where is the nearest hospital?

Will there be any first aiders present?

What is the situation regarding camp fires for cooking? (I turned my camp stove to charcoal yesterday. I thought the gas canister was going to explode....Scary).

Do we need to bring wood for burning and for making pot hangers, etc?

And finaly, can you get the location to me (including OS grid ref).


Dont worry about a tiolet seat, I'll get one this week some time, dont think I can stretch to solar lights though. Ill glue a torch to her hand.
 

lightfoot

Forager
Jul 5, 2006
186
0
58
Chester
Well that's probably why you've got women and I'm single - treat em mean keep em keen.

The nearest A&E is Wrexham Maelor, LL13 7TD which is 9 miles from the farm and 7.9 miles from the end of the footpath in the vilage.

No first aiders that I know of though that's another thing on my list for the future.

I have a bog standard first aid kit.

My suggestion for walking wounded who aren't likely to die but need A&E is to walk to the car and drive to the hospital.

For more serious injuries but still not ones that will cause damage or fatality if we move the casualty would be to move them to somewhere easier for an ambulance to get to.

For serious injuries where movement is an issue e.g. spinal then there is an air ambulance that covers the area. I have the direct number but 999 is the recommended procedure.

You can cook on an open fire, any style you like and there is plenty of wood for burning. We have a large wok, various pans and frying pans, big kettle, large cooking pot (approx 5 litre). There are also plates, cutlery and various mugs but you might want to bring your own as they're basic.

Ideally bring bio-degradeable soap. Washing-up liquid is provided.

I have fletching glue that you can use to fix the torch to your missus' head.

No doubt there's more but I can't think of it right now and need to get do some work.

Anybody got any questions fire them over as they arise.

Will PM you the grid ref.
 

elevenses

Forager
Jan 7, 2008
163
0
cheshire
Hi Stu

I am first aid trianed.


Lightfoot i see you have been around women before LOL

i was also going to ask if you want me to bring fire wood or not :)



Sounds Good.

Just a few more questions.
Where is the nearest hospital?

Will there be any first aiders present?

What is the situation regarding camp fires for cooking? (I turned my camp stove to charcoal yesterday. I thought the gas canister was going to explode....Scary).

Do we need to bring wood for burning and for making pot hangers, etc?

And finaly, can you get the location to me (including OS grid ref).


Dont worry about a tiolet seat, I'll get one this week some time, dont think I can stretch to solar lights though. Ill glue a torch to her hand.
 

lightfoot

Forager
Jul 5, 2006
186
0
58
Chester
Hi Stu

I am first aid trianed.


Lightfoot i see you have been around women before LOL

i was also going to ask if you want me to bring fire wood or not :)


Lot's of wood to burn in the wood so no need to bring any.

I'll put my tatonka up as a group tarp so you'll just need your tarps / tents for sleeping.
 

lightfoot

Forager
Jul 5, 2006
186
0
58
Chester
Lightfoot i see you have been around women before LOL

You can tell already! What usually gives it away is my chewed off ears, one eye, scars from head to toe, limp and high pitched voice!

Bushcrafting is the French Foreign Legion for the 21st Century
 

lightfoot

Forager
Jul 5, 2006
186
0
58
Chester
Hey folks

If you don't hear from me on this forum later today it's because I've already gone to the wood. Looks like I'll be going this afternoon - a day early - to get a few things in place.

It would seem that we will also be joined by Dwardo and John the Bow (the guy who gave us the recurves recently) which reminds me - I bought a bale of hay yesterday so we now have an archery target for the weekend, two working bows and about 12 working arrows with the necessaries for 16 arrows if anyone feels like doing a bit of re-fletching.

See you there.
 

lightfoot

Forager
Jul 5, 2006
186
0
58
Chester
Good man, and talking of girls . . .

The weather forecast at the met office isn't exactly shiny. Friday is forecast for rain and gusts of wind up to 27 mph. Saturday looks cloudy and drizzly and gusty whilst Sunday morning looks even more cloudy, drizzly and gusty. So basically it's going to be cloudy, drizzly and gusty all weekend.

Do you think the girls will be disappointed missing out on a wet windy weekend in a Welsh wood with a bunch of blokes talking about axe grinding, stoves made from pepsi cans, hammocking versus ground sleeping, the pros and cons of tatonkas and comparing splinter wounds around the fire? If so then bring em along. Otherwise . . . well, I'll leave it to you.

Heading off any minute now so will see you there tomorrow. Have a safe journey.
 

IntrepidStu

Settler
Apr 14, 2008
807
0
Manchester
Got back not long ago. For me, not a great weekend because I was pretty ill and didnt much feel like socialising. Lightfoot has played a blinder in organising everything though. As I was leaving he was organising a walk up into the hills to get some panoramic views.

So me and the missus would just like to say thanks to Lightfoot (David) for working so hard to make sure everyone enjoyed the experience, and everyone else for doing what they could to help me get through the weekend without collapsing of exhaustion.

I will definately be going again as soon as possible so I can sit around the fire under that massive parachute, and get tips from the other mad bushcrafters.

Stu.
 

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