Hi Folks, Been meaning to show these pix off for ages but just got wrapped up with other things, you know how it is sometimes.
So while in the UK over Christmas just gone Me, Paul (best mate) and Matthew (my brother) decided we'd have a lads day out together. Initially we couldn't make our minds up what to actually do, when Paul suggested a tromp in the woods. And if we happened upon any fallen trees with hefty burls on then then great, as he'd like some to make his high class woodwork creations with (See his website) http://www.ridgeway-woodcraft.co.uk/
So armed with our various bits and bobs the great Burl hunt got into full swing the day after Boxing day. I brought along my folding buck saw and Hill Bill knife, as well as my hobo stove. Paul brought a big rucksack to carry back his potential haul as well as the cakes and drinks, and Matthew brought along his canvas and leather shoulder bag with some other bits and bobs in it. Not sure what he brought but he looked the part as some Gentleman explorer. He's really into Steampunk and thought he'd go in character. We did chuckle about it and he doesn't take himself too seriously either so it was done with tongue firmly in cheek.
So on with the show:
First tree we found had some lovely lumps and bumps on it but there was no way we'd have any plans on carving that tree up. Vandals we are not. So I set the self timer and we posed. I looked like I've just had an accident in my pants.
Matthew soon found a walking stick and adopted the Gentry about his country estate pose.
While Paul found some interesting fungi and snapped away trying out his camera's macro settings.
Lunch time soon rolled around and the burls must have heard us coming as they were well hid. So we took a rest break. I set up the field canteen on a handy tree. I also found a sawn log which made an ideal base for the hobo stove. No, I didn't cut it, the woods had been harvested for logs recently and there were a lot of short ends kicking about.
Bacon sarnies for din dins. nom nom nom. (insert sound of the master chef whistling contentedly to himself)
Paul, meantime spotted some more fungi, these were really tiny too, barely an inch tall.
I found the hobo stove with the Lynx can burner worked OK, but using a frying pan didn't really work so well as the flame inside the hobo stove was too fierce. So I set aside the hobo brazier and used the pan directly on the lynx stove. The fuel didn't burn away so quickly this way. Matthew was well impressed with the lynx burner. Just as well I had that stump to use as a base as well.
Hmmm lovely! Bacon sarnies and Dr pepper. Food of the gods!
We found a big clearing in the wood and set about again beating the undergrowth for the illusive burls and we finally flushed out a couple of likely candidates from downed trees. Paul got his wish for a decent sized one too, it filled his rucksack. The bow saw I made worked a treat. No I didn't get any pictures of that moment actually sawing. But Paul did get a pic of me taking some suitably atmospheric shots of my lovely Hill Bill knife. See details of that here:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85199&highlight=
Matthew looks on enviously, he did like my knife but as a consolation he did find himself a nicely spiralled walking staff amongst the thicket so he didn't go home empty-handed.
Closing pose. The three intrepid hunters exhausted from a days beating of the undergrowth but with bellies filled with bacon butties and Mr Kiplings best cakes, had a really good time enjoying each others company and getting some fresh air in Kent. Nice simple day out, no pressures, no agenda, just walked the way the paths led us in relaxing company and appreciating the natural beauty that's around us.
Thanks for viewing. Thanks to Paul and Matthew for a really nice day. Overnighter next time I think?
Biker
So while in the UK over Christmas just gone Me, Paul (best mate) and Matthew (my brother) decided we'd have a lads day out together. Initially we couldn't make our minds up what to actually do, when Paul suggested a tromp in the woods. And if we happened upon any fallen trees with hefty burls on then then great, as he'd like some to make his high class woodwork creations with (See his website) http://www.ridgeway-woodcraft.co.uk/
So armed with our various bits and bobs the great Burl hunt got into full swing the day after Boxing day. I brought along my folding buck saw and Hill Bill knife, as well as my hobo stove. Paul brought a big rucksack to carry back his potential haul as well as the cakes and drinks, and Matthew brought along his canvas and leather shoulder bag with some other bits and bobs in it. Not sure what he brought but he looked the part as some Gentleman explorer. He's really into Steampunk and thought he'd go in character. We did chuckle about it and he doesn't take himself too seriously either so it was done with tongue firmly in cheek.
So on with the show:
First tree we found had some lovely lumps and bumps on it but there was no way we'd have any plans on carving that tree up. Vandals we are not. So I set the self timer and we posed. I looked like I've just had an accident in my pants.
Matthew soon found a walking stick and adopted the Gentry about his country estate pose.
While Paul found some interesting fungi and snapped away trying out his camera's macro settings.
Lunch time soon rolled around and the burls must have heard us coming as they were well hid. So we took a rest break. I set up the field canteen on a handy tree. I also found a sawn log which made an ideal base for the hobo stove. No, I didn't cut it, the woods had been harvested for logs recently and there were a lot of short ends kicking about.
Bacon sarnies for din dins. nom nom nom. (insert sound of the master chef whistling contentedly to himself)
Paul, meantime spotted some more fungi, these were really tiny too, barely an inch tall.
I found the hobo stove with the Lynx can burner worked OK, but using a frying pan didn't really work so well as the flame inside the hobo stove was too fierce. So I set aside the hobo brazier and used the pan directly on the lynx stove. The fuel didn't burn away so quickly this way. Matthew was well impressed with the lynx burner. Just as well I had that stump to use as a base as well.
Hmmm lovely! Bacon sarnies and Dr pepper. Food of the gods!
We found a big clearing in the wood and set about again beating the undergrowth for the illusive burls and we finally flushed out a couple of likely candidates from downed trees. Paul got his wish for a decent sized one too, it filled his rucksack. The bow saw I made worked a treat. No I didn't get any pictures of that moment actually sawing. But Paul did get a pic of me taking some suitably atmospheric shots of my lovely Hill Bill knife. See details of that here:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85199&highlight=
Matthew looks on enviously, he did like my knife but as a consolation he did find himself a nicely spiralled walking staff amongst the thicket so he didn't go home empty-handed.
Closing pose. The three intrepid hunters exhausted from a days beating of the undergrowth but with bellies filled with bacon butties and Mr Kiplings best cakes, had a really good time enjoying each others company and getting some fresh air in Kent. Nice simple day out, no pressures, no agenda, just walked the way the paths led us in relaxing company and appreciating the natural beauty that's around us.
Thanks for viewing. Thanks to Paul and Matthew for a really nice day. Overnighter next time I think?
Biker
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