Suffolk Bushcraft Group

[Big Stu 12]

In trying to repair the sling, I made a total hash of it.
Got a new one coming from DD tomorrow.... their customer service is superb

I can only agree... DD service is great

 

[SJStuart]

I can only agree... DD service is great

They take suggestions for improvements, too, so I've suggested putting stopper beads on the whoopie slings to make it impossible for the large loop to be pulled through as happened with mine. So hopefully in future this won't happen to other people.

Since the replacement they're sending me won't have that bead, what I'm going to do is thread an interior strand from some Paracord through at the most closed point of the loop (weave it between the Amsteel strands) to make it so fat it simply can't be pulled through, without compromising the Amsteel in any way

 

[Big Stu 12]

They take suggestions for improvements, too, so I've suggested putting stopper beads on the whoopie slings to make it impossible for the large loop to be pulled through as happened with mine. So hopefully in future this won't happen to other people.

Since the replacement they're sending me won't have that bead, what I'm going to do is thread an interior strand from some Paracord through at the most closed point of the loop (weave it between the Amsteel strands) to make it so fat it simply can't be pulled through, without compromising the Amsteel in any way

If your realy worried you could always tie a knot in the end right behind the back bury on the tail end that would then act as a stoper and as its in the last couple of inches will not degrade the Amsteel in any way....

 

[Big Stu 12]

Thinking about the next meet, it has been spoken amounst a number of the guys including myself, that a wild camp is needed, the question is do I carry on and book Orchards for an April meet were we have the faciltys or do we do a wild meet.

So can I have your input, I dont want to put people off comming to meets as we have had a good group beginnig to evolve,

My feeling is that Orchards is a great site that allows us to have the room to do what we want with in reason, and with the growing relationship with the camp site owner may allow us to do some archery/air gun use.... as he gets to know us, and other users permitting.

My feeling is that we continue to do the following.

• Once a month at Orchards, perhaps alternating one nighters and two nighters each month keeping to the 1st weekend of the month, I am saying this because I know some pople would like to bring the "famliy some times" and having toilets/showers make this easier.

• then just arrange wild trips as and when as we already do, this would allow trips to other sites for example other groups, and as already suggested other personal sites.

Please be objective in your answers and let me know your thoughts.

 

[SJStuart]

I do prefer doing overnighters away from public campsites, mainly because of the total freedom it provides, as well as having to be "purist" in our efforts (finding our own firewood, as one simple example).

That said, having just bugged out and come home after setting up my hammock and tarps on my own woodland just tonight, courtesy of a stomach bug (hammock + vomit = unhappy me), there are times when having the "facilities" on-site is a blessing.

I certainly think that in the flu season (when people are suffering enough) the campsites are the better option (for the above, and because having a frozen backside from dropping-trail in the middle of the night is no fun for anyone).

Outside of that, I'm more than happy (personally) to forgo the luxuries of indoor plumming and have a more exciting time.

 

[mitch66]

hi, sorry i could not make it over the weekend i had a stomach bug, and id booked the friday off work. feeling a bit better now just had 2 banana's, first food since sunday. the photos look good, kev id get a better seat thats the 3rd time youve fell off that thing, think id be putting it in the pond. i hope to see you all next time. the cake looked grate looked a shame to cut it up your good lady sure knows how to make a nice cake. all the best lads

 

[Big Stu 12]

hi, sorry i could not make it over the weekend i had a stomach bug, and id booked the friday off work. feeling a bit better now just had 2 banana's, first food since sunday. the photos look good, kev id get a better seat thats the 3rd time youve fell off that thing, think id be putting it in the pond. i hope to see you all next time. the cake looked grate looked a shame to cut it up your good lady sure knows how to make a nice cake. all the best lads

Oh no not good news, sorry to hear that, this bug seems to be effecting a few people, Hope you get better soon, see you next time.

 

[Big Stu 12]

At the mo I am about on the weekend of the 30th, I fancy a wild camp, who's up for it?, not sure yet but hey the dates booked......

 

[SJStuart]

At the mo I am about on the weekend of the 30th, I fancy a wild camp, who's up for it?, not sure yet but hey the dates booked......

You can count me in.... fed up with being confined to dashing distance of a toilet with the stomach plague, but if I'm not better by then, I'd almost-certainly be dead

 

[Big Stu 12]

You can count me in.... fed up with being confined to dashing distance of a toilet with the stomach plague, but if I'm not better by then, I'd almost-certainly be dead

Yes not a good thing, hope you get better soon, thats good, I posted this quickly before going to work, I did wonder Rendelsham or The Colchester site that Paul has used.

And wondering about booking Orchards for Friday 5th April for those that want, and the Saturday to make a two nighter, it should be lighter by then at night... but hey no real problem pitching in the dark.. it just makes it easyier to do things on the Saturday, I will also ask if we can use a bow as well nearer the time. thoughts about that as well please

 

[SJStuart]

Yes not a good thing, hope you get better soon, thats good, I posted this quickly before going to work, I did wonder Rendelsham or The Colchester site that Paul has used.

And wondering about booking Orchards for Friday 5th April for those that want, and the Saturday to make a two nighter, it should be lighter by then at night... but hey no real problem pitching in the dark.. it just makes it easyier to do things on the Saturday, I will also ask if we can use a bow as well nearer the time. thoughts about that as well please

I pitched in the dark last night myself (before my stomach said "yeah, dream on buddy" and I packed up to come home).
I quite often end up pitching in the dark... mainly because the times I get to grab my gear and go is late evening (once the Mrs is home to take the kids)

Looking forward to longer days and warmer nights, though... at least then I can stop taking the absurdly huge Snugpak Elite 5 with me every time, and go down to the smaller 50 litre Bergen instead of the 80-130.

Re the bow: bow hunting is illegal in the UK outright, but I am a fairly skilled archer (with both bows and crossbows) and enjoy target practise

 

[Scopey]

I've not made a meet yet, I usually only get 2 weekends off every 5 weeks. I will certainly come down to Orchards at some point to me you all and be sociable, but in general I prefer getting out , wild camping. Camping at a camp site doesn't really do it for me , I like being out in the woods, enjoying the sounds, wildlife etc prefer not to be close to roads, houses etc. But then again I usually like a good long walk in to get away from the car etc and I know that's not for everyone
A good mix of both seems like a good compromise ...

 

[Big Stu 12]

I pitched in the dark last night myself (before my stomach said "yeah, dream on buddy" and I packed up to come home).
I quite often end up pitching in the dark... mainly because the times I get to grab my gear and go is late evening (once the Mrs is home to take the kids)

Looking forward to longer days and warmer nights, though... at least then I can stop taking the absurdly huge Snugpak Elite 5 with me every time, and go down to the smaller 50 litre Bergen instead of the 80-130.

Re the bow: bow hunting is illegal in the UK outright, but I am a fairly skilled archer (with both bows and crossbows) and enjoy target practise

Well the clocks change on the 25th so that should that should make it lighter in the evening , dont know about temp, lol but summers around the corner... do you have a Bow/Cross Bow, yeah its been illegal since the very early 80's if I remember right, but think it may have be outlawed by default in the 60's by not meantioning Archery Equipment in the permited hunting Equipment in some act back then.. I may stand to be corrected, but seem to recall this, prob from when I used to do field archery...... when I was about 16...some 30 years a go....

I know Tony said he could bring some bows ect...

 

[Big Stu 12]

I've not made a meet yet, I usually only get 2 weekends off every 5 weeks. I will certainly come down to Orchards at some point to me you all and be sociable, but in general I prefer getting out , wild camping. Camping at a camp site doesn't really do it for me , I like being out in the woods, enjoying the sounds, wildlife etc prefer not to be close to roads, houses etc. But then again I usually like a good long walk in to get away from the car etc and I know that's not for everyone
A good mix of both seems like a good compromise ...

Yeah always good to catch up with people, get to know new bushcrafters, and share skills, maybe we should come over to Thetford one weekend

Thats what I thought mate always good to get to mix with others, myself I like being in the woods away from it, but the chances of it get less and less as time goes on, but still working on it....untill then we have a couple of place's we can go, some better then others.

 

[Big Stu 12]

On an other note, It has been spoken about by a few of us, should we be looking at getting a parachute for the group shelter.. something like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/X-Type-Pa...Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item19d806738b

If some one wants to investigate then please do... perhaps a few quid in the pot each...

And of course the storage of it..

 

[SJStuart]

I have more than a few bows and crossbows (including a few mini-crossbows) but I don't usually take them off my property (remember: I ride a motorbike and don't drive a car, and there's just no way any of the bows or crossbows worth taking anywhere would fit concealed on the bike... even strapping to my back isn't an option. That said, I'm going for my car test shortly so things will change)

I do actually have a parachute stored away in (packed and ready for use, actually) one of the many boxes in my outbuildings. Not sure if I want to go opening that can of worms, though... awful lot of boxes in there and none of them are labelled (hurray for haphazard house moving)

When the time comes to dive into the forest for a session of wild camping, I will need to know at least roughly how far from the vehicle we'll be walking (since that dictates what I'll bring)

 

[SJStuart]

[video=youtube;3f9lb1YQfa4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f9lb1YQfa4[/video]

This is a video I shot yesterday on my woodland. Figured I'd share it with you all. Had a lovely day, and the first day out for me in a few weeks thanks to the flu, damage to my neck, and this stomach bug.

 

[Big Stu 12]

Looks like you have a nice little wood there, we will have to do a long weekend meet there some day if thats posible.

 

[SJStuart]

Certainly possible. I'm there this Saturday night, possibly with one member of this group

 

[Big Stu 12]

Certainly possible. I'm there this Saturday night, possibly with one member of this group

Yeah, wish I was out this weekend... I got the kids on Saturday during the day... and got to do some unpacking on Sunday