Anxious to get some bush time in before leaving for a work trip, I headed off to a nearby patch of forest. Not big time bush. 3-4 hours will cover all the longer trails. It a place where joggers go so its not serious, though some of them are often found unconscious 
I too was looking for a couple of hours moderate exercise
In a hurry, with errands to do after the walk, I did not bring a machete/parang or any snacks just my Camelbak. Part of the way on the very beaten track I saw a small trail that was not there weeks ago.
Aha, thinks I a poacher trail. There are poachers here taking birds and also bat lilies. So off I go. Probably was a bat lily poachers trail as there was only one non blooming lily plant along the way and lots of signs of digging not pig rootling.
I carried on this trail along the slope for while then I heard dogs coming at speed from behind. Feral dogs are not unknown. Two big domestic dogs guarding their territory challenging me. Put my back against a tree upslope for the height advantage but cursed myself for not bringing even a Mora, just a 2 folder (thats not a knife)though had my 4 trail stick. Any way the dogs were more bark than bite and, I eventually walked on unmolested while they trotted off their honour intact.
Didnt feel like venturing back into their territory but was getting fed up with the trail and the hundreds of mosquitoes. Like a fool, I had not worn real bush gear like BDUs or heavy denim just mall bushcrafter Columbia trousers and an Amazon River shirt. Of course the mosquitoes just laughed all the way to the blood bank and I turned into a pin cushion. Tried of feeding them I decided to cut cross country back to the main trail. No problem, took a bearing on the button compass and I knew the drainage anyway. But I had no trail knife and no trail as well which meant pushing my way through the undergrowth. Of course, that meant ducking 1 long spikes on the palms and other plants and these things had even less difficulty going through my clothes into me than the mosquitoes.
Got back on the trail after a bit but decided to shorten the walk as the contouring and uphill work had made me a bit tired. Had water but no snacks and the blood glucose had been used up or been drunk by the mossies.
After a bit I came to a terap (great cordage plant) which I contemplated harvesting. Deciding against it, I stepped back on the trail. Switching back to 160 deg vision, I realised there was a scared snake under my feet and stick desperately trying to escape. Luckily I had decided to wear my old fashioned all leather hiking boots. That was really clumsy, as I usually see them early.
Coming out of the bush, I stopped to harvest some wild cassava cuttings which I wanted to plant at home. Took out the folding saw and sawed away. While putting it away, I saw some fibre on the serrations and, in a moment of pure genius, I flicked the saw forgetting that my thumb was depressing the lock. The blade jackknifed on my hand and the teeth punctured my fingers. Why on earth did you do that? was my only thought. Could not believe how smart I was. Must have been a low glucose episode.
Of course, I did not have even a band aid on this short walk. Bled like anything back to the car. Saw serration punctures are real good for liberating blood.
What a day. Just when you think you have matured as an outdoor person, a series of dumb mistakes each bringing me a bit closer to a disaster. Fortunately mother nature only gave me a couple of slaps rather than a felling blow -the snake was a black cobra.
Still I have a story. This weekend I have a workshop slot teaching jungle trekking safety to new guides. What a joke!
I too was looking for a couple of hours moderate exerciseIn a hurry, with errands to do after the walk, I did not bring a machete/parang or any snacks just my Camelbak. Part of the way on the very beaten track I saw a small trail that was not there weeks ago.
Aha, thinks I a poacher trail. There are poachers here taking birds and also bat lilies. So off I go. Probably was a bat lily poachers trail as there was only one non blooming lily plant along the way and lots of signs of digging not pig rootling.
I carried on this trail along the slope for while then I heard dogs coming at speed from behind. Feral dogs are not unknown. Two big domestic dogs guarding their territory challenging me. Put my back against a tree upslope for the height advantage but cursed myself for not bringing even a Mora, just a 2 folder (thats not a knife)though had my 4 trail stick. Any way the dogs were more bark than bite and, I eventually walked on unmolested while they trotted off their honour intact.
Didnt feel like venturing back into their territory but was getting fed up with the trail and the hundreds of mosquitoes. Like a fool, I had not worn real bush gear like BDUs or heavy denim just mall bushcrafter Columbia trousers and an Amazon River shirt. Of course the mosquitoes just laughed all the way to the blood bank and I turned into a pin cushion. Tried of feeding them I decided to cut cross country back to the main trail. No problem, took a bearing on the button compass and I knew the drainage anyway. But I had no trail knife and no trail as well which meant pushing my way through the undergrowth. Of course, that meant ducking 1 long spikes on the palms and other plants and these things had even less difficulty going through my clothes into me than the mosquitoes.
Got back on the trail after a bit but decided to shorten the walk as the contouring and uphill work had made me a bit tired. Had water but no snacks and the blood glucose had been used up or been drunk by the mossies.
After a bit I came to a terap (great cordage plant) which I contemplated harvesting. Deciding against it, I stepped back on the trail. Switching back to 160 deg vision, I realised there was a scared snake under my feet and stick desperately trying to escape. Luckily I had decided to wear my old fashioned all leather hiking boots. That was really clumsy, as I usually see them early.
Coming out of the bush, I stopped to harvest some wild cassava cuttings which I wanted to plant at home. Took out the folding saw and sawed away. While putting it away, I saw some fibre on the serrations and, in a moment of pure genius, I flicked the saw forgetting that my thumb was depressing the lock. The blade jackknifed on my hand and the teeth punctured my fingers. Why on earth did you do that? was my only thought. Could not believe how smart I was. Must have been a low glucose episode.
Of course, I did not have even a band aid on this short walk. Bled like anything back to the car. Saw serration punctures are real good for liberating blood.
What a day. Just when you think you have matured as an outdoor person, a series of dumb mistakes each bringing me a bit closer to a disaster. Fortunately mother nature only gave me a couple of slaps rather than a felling blow -the snake was a black cobra.
Still I have a story. This weekend I have a workshop slot teaching jungle trekking safety to new guides. What a joke!
