I was able to christen my basha and bivi bag on Saturday night. It's first time I've ever slept outside without a tent, but it was just great.
There is a scout owned woodland near me which is happy to let me stay by prior arrangement, only £3 per night. The missus and kids came with me on Saturday afternoon while I set up and we all sat around the fire for a while, they buggered off to watch Doctor Who and I stayed on my own. My son really wanted to stay, but his mum wouldn't let him. Next time!
Fresh water is available on site and there are some toilets and wash basins. You are not allowed to cut any wood but they supply more than you could ever need. The only problem is that the majority is felled pine trees that have been sliced up by chainsaw, I need a larger axe so I can split them. I did manage to find some smaller silver birch and pine logs I could use though.
Managed to get the basha up successfully first time as shown to me on the Greenhorn course I did recently. Didn't really do much bushcrafty type stuff, practiced my firelighting with a selection of tinders and whittled some sticks. Cooked up my tea and breakfast on my swiss army trangia and used the fire for boiling water.
Just sitting next to the fire and waking up under the basha to a fresh new morning was pleasure enough. The family came back around ten o'clock on sunday and we all sat around the fire a while again.
Great fun and I can't wait to do it again. The missus wants to join in next time too.
There is a scout owned woodland near me which is happy to let me stay by prior arrangement, only £3 per night. The missus and kids came with me on Saturday afternoon while I set up and we all sat around the fire for a while, they buggered off to watch Doctor Who and I stayed on my own. My son really wanted to stay, but his mum wouldn't let him. Next time!
Fresh water is available on site and there are some toilets and wash basins. You are not allowed to cut any wood but they supply more than you could ever need. The only problem is that the majority is felled pine trees that have been sliced up by chainsaw, I need a larger axe so I can split them. I did manage to find some smaller silver birch and pine logs I could use though.
Managed to get the basha up successfully first time as shown to me on the Greenhorn course I did recently. Didn't really do much bushcrafty type stuff, practiced my firelighting with a selection of tinders and whittled some sticks. Cooked up my tea and breakfast on my swiss army trangia and used the fire for boiling water.
Just sitting next to the fire and waking up under the basha to a fresh new morning was pleasure enough. The family came back around ten o'clock on sunday and we all sat around the fire a while again.
Great fun and I can't wait to do it again. The missus wants to join in next time too.