Ray Mears Goes Walkabout - Your Views

[firecrest]

I think you'll find a techfreak is a person who like the technical side of things - eg, Kit. A person who garners knowledge usually does so out of a love of a subject not because theyd rather sit at home than get out in the woods. Unfortunatly , money time and comitments mean that many of us here on the boards must spend most our `bushcrafting` activities either by reading about it or snatching time learning things in the garden.
Those that `just go out and do it` are not in possesion of some superior moral fibre than those that don't, or are more dedicated or valiant. simply, they can afford it, have the time, are either ditching their kids with the wife or don't have any to begin with. Oh and they are probably middle class, probably own a car and don't live in a city, which is as the statistics go.

 

[Bogman10]

I think you'll find a techfreak is a person who like the technical side of things - eg, Kit. A person who garners knowledge usually does so out of a love of a subject not because theyd rather sit at home than get out in the woods. Unfortunatly , money time and comitments mean that many of us here on the boards must spend most our `bushcrafting` activities either by reading about it or snatching time learning things in the garden.
Those that `just go out and do it` are not in possesion of some superior moral fibre than those that don't, or are more dedicated or valiant. simply, they can afford it, have the time, are either ditching their kids with the wife or don't have any to begin with. Oh and they are probably middle class, probably own a car and don't live in a city, which is as the statistics go.

For Myself, with the high price of gas these days, I won't be getting out that much this year. I like to hunt and fish and used to go every weekend, now I have to cut it back to every 2 weeks or longer!!!
I do watch every out door show out there and I own WAAAAYYYYY to much gear, but the gas prices are totally cramping my Bushcrafting, hunting, fishing Style!!
Just saying ...

 

[Jedadiah]

simply, they can afford it, have the time, are either ditching their kids with the wife or don't have any to begin with. .

OR, take your wife and kids with you. I could spend the weekend walking around a golf course with people who i don't really like, or sat in a pub spending money on people i don'y know. I can pack to family up and go into the woods for the weekend and enjoy the company of my nearest and dearest as well as friends with no influences like DVD's, computer games, shopping, house work or any other distractions. You know what? They love it as well! One of the reasons i like Bushcraft is because it is non-competetive, you can have as many or as few people participate with you, the people around you want you to succeed and enjoy, you can learn as well as being safe in the knowledge that niether yourself or anyone else will know everything about the subject. You can enjoy company or solitude. You can carve spoons or whip cordage all the time your out, or spot flora and fauna, wildlife, cook, or do nothing but relax and no one will critisize your choice of activity.

(Yes, i know that it is off topic Backwoodsman and Firecrest, but if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Lifes too short!)

 

[spamel]

For Myself, with the high price of gas these days, I won't be getting out that much this year. I like to hunt and fish and used to go every weekend, now I have to cut it back to every 2 weeks or longer!!!
I do watch every out door show out there and I own WAAAAYYYYY to much gear, but the gas prices are totally cramping my Bushcrafting, hunting, fishing Style!!
Just saying ...

High price of gas?! I bet you lot in North America are paying something like 2p a gallon! I would have to sell a child on eBay to a wealthy Arab to be able to afford to fill my car up in UK!

 

[firecrest]

Yes families love to go out, but nicolas was making a remark which sounded derogatory about people who buy books and can't manage more than a day trip or so, and most people with small children are hard pressed to do more than a day trip.
Yes yes, I know Im pulling the thread off subject, Im awful for that!

 

[spamel]

What are you talking about? It hasn't been on subject for ages!

 

[Bernie Garland]

any ones only a cheap bus trip away to some woodland,on there own or with the missus and
kids,its no big deal shall we do it or talk about it on forums.?

Bernie

 

[firecrest]

Its just not that easy for some people
I like to get out for days in the woods, but that doesnt really allow much time for bushcraft activities, and besides I can't go alone.

 

[Tadpole]

any ones only a cheap bus trip away to some woodland,on there own or with the missus and
kids,its no big deal shall we do it or talk about it on forums.?

Bernie

My nearest (wood)land where I could be hidden enough to even try and camp is now 19 miles away, using a bus (four changes) would be £13 for me, same for my wife, and half that for my daughter. Not everyone is a bus ride away.

 

[spamel]

Nobody should feel pressurised into how long they can spend outside. Do what you want when you want. Most people are in jobs and need to pay for rent, food, clothing, etc. I'm the same, and add to the fact that I like to shoot now and then too, and also don't mind the odd hike which is mainly walking with the odd bushcrafty thing thrown in along the way, then i cannot give 100 percent of my free time to bushcraft. I do what i feel comfortable with, when I can and that keeps me happy.

 

[Bernie Garland]

My nearest (wood)land where I could be hidden enough to even try and camp is now 19 miles away, using a bus (four changes) would be £13 for me, same for my wife, and half that for my daughter. Not everyone is a bus ride away.

Well why not walk halfway get the bus the rest,your keeping fit and getting out,instead of sat posting.

bernie

 

[firecrest]

walking half way means walking half way back too doesnt it? 10 miles or so in all. probably down boring town roads, lol!

 

[firecrest]

that would mean walking 20 miles there and back,

 

[crazydave]

My nearest (wood)land where I could be hidden enough to even try and camp is now 19 miles away, using a bus (four changes) would be £13 for me, same for my wife, and half that for my daughter. Not everyone is a bus ride away.

you need me and leon to teach you how to hide in peoples gardens then - much cheaper

I camp in my own postage stamp quite often as i just like sleeping ouitside, I've screwed hooks and eyes into the fence so I can rig basha's. I do want to bury some 4 inch drain so I can use a hammock with bamboo poles at some point. I go out there a fair bit to play stove design or try a different cooking method (currently seeing how hard it is to light and keep one lump of charcoal glowing for a brew

 

[Tadpole]

Well why not walk halfway get the bus the rest,your keeping fit and getting out,instead of sat posting.

bernie

I cover about seven miles on my weekend walks, so that would not be a problem however, I'd not expect my kid to walk that kind of distance, not carrying a rucksack with enough kit for a weekend. Nor would my wife be able to carry her share of the kit. For that matter I doubt I'd be able to carry it either, slight broken back problem. as for sat[sic] here posting... some of us have to work. Ok I'm lucky enough to have the net at work, but still few if any of us are as lucky as you when it comes to just being able to drop everything and go and do what ever it is we feel like it.

you need me and leon to teach you how to hide in peoples gardens then - much cheaper

I camp in my own postage stamp quite often as i just like sleeping ouitside, I've screwed hooks and eyes into the fence so I can rig basha's. I do want to bury some 4 inch drain so I can use a hammock with bamboo poles at some point. I go out there a fair bit to play stove design or try a different cooking method (currently seeing how hard it is to light and keep one lump of charcoal glowing for a brew

I camp in my own garden, rigged hooks on my air-raid shelter for my hammock, and tarp. I've done most of my practice in my garden, fire lighting, cooking over char-fungus, leather work, knife skills. (my garden is 13' 6" X 14' 9" half is used for growing veg, flowers, herbs, and the rest is taken up with a shed, paving, and an air-raid shelter.) I have a park near me but you are more likely to pick up discarded needles than pine needles.

 

[Matt Weir]

Well, I'm looking forward to Sunday when RAY MEARS GOES WALKABOUT is on.

Has anybody watched that yet?

 

[backwoodsman]

so am l, lets see which group of indigenous people he can exploit this week

 

[Jedadiah]

most people with small children are hard pressed to do more than a day trip.

I agree with what your saying but Jed Jnr is 2yrs 2 months old and his first bushcraft expedition was at 8 months. I'm lucky in a the sense that he loves it and so does Sharon. Her last outing was last month at 7.5 months pregnant, so bump came along as well. Is that the youngest bushcrafter? Not even out of the womb yet! (be careful with that axe Eugene!)

 

[BorderReiver]

There are two kind of Bushcrafters, the tech freaks and the once that actually do it...
Let me explain:
The techfreak has to have every book needs to go out and watch every Ray mears Bear Grylls and god knows what else movie and clip.
But never ever actually sleeps outside or goes beyound a little daytrip

And than there are the once that actually do it and go out and stay a while outside learn primitive living, but I believe that relativly speaking the number of people who actually do bushcrafting (if you can say so) are very small.

I totally disagree.

One of the things that makes this forum so successful is the huge range of interests,skills,knowledge and experience of the participants.

There are almost as many "kinds of bushcrafter" as there are members here.

From the young bucks who can sleep on a length of paracord strung between two trees to the older,possibly infirm person who manages to get out for an hour every now and again.

The thing that unites the various disparate types is the love of getting out and being part of the countryside.

Some of like to have the latest gear;some like to use as little as possible;some can afford hundreds of knives;some struggle to afford a Mora.

No one is a "better bushcrafter" than the next person just because their way of enjoying themselves is different.

Living with nature and doing no damage is the thing that we are all aiming for,I hope.

 

[crazydave]

its all wordcraft really - my neighbour told me he was going organic to which I said 'so you've got an allotment then'

its the knowledge and the sharing thats important.