Oh so satisfying firebow victory

[Wook]

While we were on holiday in Aberfeldy, we visited The Crannog Centre with the kids. There is a modern reconstruction of a Celtic roundhouse and displays of ancient crafts. One of those displays is fire by friction. The guide, dressed as an ancient Celt, tried and tried and tried to get a coal with the firebow. Her favoured bow had just been broken and she struggled to use the shorter one that was left. She had one of the visitors help by working one end of the bow, but to no avail. She must have tried 3-4 times.

After the display there was an opportunity to try the different crafts. Several visitors tried the firebow, but with no luck. I've made a coal less than 5 times with various home kits, but today I was feeling lucky.

I applied everything I'd read, and everything I'd learned from previous attempts. Initial high pressure to generate dust, followed by high speed to generate heat. And what do you know, I got a coal first time! The guide came running over and called all the visitors to come see as well. I dropped the coal onto some punk-wood and covered it with straw, and a few blows and some help from the wind, I had fire!

If I was a bigger man I'd say it would have been equally satisfying even if the guide (who does this sort of thing for a living) had also got a coal. But I'm not a bigger man It was very satisfying......

 

[Goatboy]

Oh I don't know Wook, no pics = didn't happen
Just kidding, well done and in one of my favourite places to visit.
Glad you had fun.
GB.


Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[Disco1]

Well done, you do get a nice feeling when everyone less has failed.

 

[petrochemicals]

Um wook show sqaah who big chief. Heap o big magic.

Good for you.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Nicely done.

 

[potboiler]

And you proved the guide right - if you hadn't been there, some visitors might not have believed it was possible! I hoped they thanked you for helping out...

 

[Limaed]

Wook would you recommend the centre as a day out for the family? I'm not to far away.

 

[Goatboy]

Wook would you recommend the centre as a day out for the family? I'm not to far away.

If Wook doesn't I would. Great place, the staff know their stuff, lots to see and they're doing some very important reseach into the time period. Pretty well priced too. Just be carefull in the surounding countryside as it seems to be a tick magnate. They do some great evening stuff too with story telling and allsorts.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[Wook]

Wook would you recommend the centre as a day out for the family? I'm not to far away.

I'd say it's good for kids over 7-8 years, especially if they're interested in history. The tour is mostly a series of talks which drag on a bit for little ones. My 10 year old loved it. My 7 year old looked a little bored at times. I left my 3 and 5 year olds with my wife since I knew they wouldn't enjoy it.

 

[Robson Valley]

Good going, Wook. You've added a couple of notes regarding pressure and speed that I must try to remember. I'm not there, yet.

 

[Limaed]

Thanks for the response fella's, the kids are probably a bit young yet then. We went to Discovery Point in Dundee the other day but they didn't find Antarctica that interesting unfortunately!

 

[Goatboy]

Thanks for the response fella's, the kids are probably a bit young yet then. We went to Discovery Point in Dundee the other day but they didn't find Antarctica that interesting unfortunately!

Penguins and ice... Equalls drinks and choccy biccies how are you raising these children?

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[Wook]

Thanks for the response fella's, the kids are probably a bit young yet then. We went to Discovery Point in Dundee the other day but they didn't find Antarctica that interesting unfortunately!

The Unicorn is much better and cheaper too. Where else can you scurry around in the bowels of a Napoleonic era warship? All my kids love the Unicorn, although you do need to keep the little ones on a tight leash.

 

[Limaed]

The Unicorn is much better and cheaper too. Where else can you scurry around in the bowels of a Napoleonic era warship? All my kids love the Unicorn, although you do need to keep the little ones on a tight leash.

Thanks I'd forgotten that was in Dundee, good one.

 

[Goatboy]

The Unicorn is much better and cheaper too. Where else can you scurry around in the bowels of a Napoleonic era warship? All my kids love the Unicorn, although you do need to keep the little ones on a tight leash.

Period ship, did it ever leave dock? Cant remember. It is cool though.
Pictavia is well worth a visit too. Well laid out and engaging for anklebiters too.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[Wook]

I think Pictavia went out of business last year Goatboy. I only went once but my recollection is of a bunch of display cases in a garden centre.

The only time the Unicorn went to sea was when it was towed to Dundee (there's a rhyme to that effect ). It never had masts installed and was immediately laid up in ordinary, which is why it is one of the best preserved historic ships. I believe it is the 3rd oldest ship afloat in the world.