Just back from 3 nights in the wood. I was tempted to stay another night, but I have a re-union to attend on Saturday morning and know that if I turned up smelling of wood smoke like Davy Crockett the abuse would have been unending...
Photos from an earlier thread. 3 days rations and my 1970's Royal Marines Arctic issue Bergan. I've always liked the exterior frame and because of restricted tent space the Bergan would stay outside all night. Obviously I use a liner, well a heavy weight builder's rubble sack really, but this is one of the few truly waterproof Bergans I've ever owned.
Home for the stay. It's stretching things a bit to call it a tent, more a sleeping pod or gloryfied Bivvy really, but it's sold as a 'One man Tent' by the much maligned Mil-Tec. I've had it some time and used it in the summer on motor bike trips. It's certainly waterproof, it's been tested, last August... but like many small tents it suffers from condensation when the temperature drops as it did on the last 3 nights. It's more suited to the occasional over night than a longer stay.
I took a tarp in case I needed a dry admin area but the weather was truly Spring like during the day, so I didn't bother rigging the tarp.
After recent heavy rain the old well was full. One wall has collapsed over the decades and the well overflows which is convenient really as the surface is naturally cleared of leaf debris by the flow.
First job set up the water filter system.
Priorities.. Get a brew on with fresh filtered water in the old kettle I patched up with Metal Weld. It's aluminium as are the mess tins I've been using for 60 odd years so obviously I'm as mad as a box of Frogs...
The stream runs freely after the heavy rain, all the fallen leaves and debris from recent gales has washed away. There is a Farm that borders the stream further up the valley, so I tend to use the old well which is further away, although properly filtered and boiled I think the stream would be safe enough.
In the night I hear the Deer cross the stream just a few metres from my camp and make their way up the stream bank into the trees, leaving their tracks clear to see in the mornings.
The wood was full of Bird song and the signs of Spring are everywhere. In few weeks the woodland floor will be a coloured carpet of Blue Bells.
And the Hazel Catkins glow gold when the sun catches them.
After cold nights (but warm in my winter bag) it's nice to see the sun light slowly creep through the wood.
Yet another brew and smoke in the wood as I wait for the sun to flood the wood with warm light.
And another day begins...
Photos from an earlier thread. 3 days rations and my 1970's Royal Marines Arctic issue Bergan. I've always liked the exterior frame and because of restricted tent space the Bergan would stay outside all night. Obviously I use a liner, well a heavy weight builder's rubble sack really, but this is one of the few truly waterproof Bergans I've ever owned.
Home for the stay. It's stretching things a bit to call it a tent, more a sleeping pod or gloryfied Bivvy really, but it's sold as a 'One man Tent' by the much maligned Mil-Tec. I've had it some time and used it in the summer on motor bike trips. It's certainly waterproof, it's been tested, last August... but like many small tents it suffers from condensation when the temperature drops as it did on the last 3 nights. It's more suited to the occasional over night than a longer stay.
I took a tarp in case I needed a dry admin area but the weather was truly Spring like during the day, so I didn't bother rigging the tarp.
After recent heavy rain the old well was full. One wall has collapsed over the decades and the well overflows which is convenient really as the surface is naturally cleared of leaf debris by the flow.
First job set up the water filter system.
Priorities.. Get a brew on with fresh filtered water in the old kettle I patched up with Metal Weld. It's aluminium as are the mess tins I've been using for 60 odd years so obviously I'm as mad as a box of Frogs...
The stream runs freely after the heavy rain, all the fallen leaves and debris from recent gales has washed away. There is a Farm that borders the stream further up the valley, so I tend to use the old well which is further away, although properly filtered and boiled I think the stream would be safe enough.
In the night I hear the Deer cross the stream just a few metres from my camp and make their way up the stream bank into the trees, leaving their tracks clear to see in the mornings.
The wood was full of Bird song and the signs of Spring are everywhere. In few weeks the woodland floor will be a coloured carpet of Blue Bells.
And the Hazel Catkins glow gold when the sun catches them.
After cold nights (but warm in my winter bag) it's nice to see the sun light slowly creep through the wood.
Yet another brew and smoke in the wood as I wait for the sun to flood the wood with warm light.
And another day begins...