I drive over to the car park and meet up with PDF, and get our packs out (this is sounding weird
, it’s gonna sound weirder yet 
) and compare the size of them, mine is too big still (hmm).After some brief discussion we decide to go to the new camp that I had found on my last trip with my favourite youngest son.
We hike to the stream (well dusty goup infested bed
) and I find the marking that I had made last time and off due east, quite pleased to find the twatting stick and bushcraft crappa still hidden away in place.This next bit shows my inexperience (or maybe I am lazy
) but by the time I had set up my tarp and hammock, PDF had tarp, hammock and collected most of the wood for the night.
We then go and have a mooch around looking at PDF’s old camp (and yes, it could be a widow maker), and I then show him where the camp Beef and I had set up (even I still cant get over how close it is to the path, but I think I will retain a soft spot for that place).
When we get back to camp its time to try something new (as is my want
), so lets try a bow drill, I begin to set things up, cutting wood and making the bow (with the guidance of PDF de (almost) Firestarter 
), who without his help would have taken me a lot longer to get smoke from sticks 
, and unfortunately after another hour not much more except knackered arms (will try again though 
).When it finally gets dark, I give up, and we eat, I have some mushroom rice (not good) and PDF does some bacon by the fire (was good).
I then am taught about Bushcraft Slippers and the use of talc for feet
(I have never had a use for this stuff before and have passes the same tub of it between my brother and I for the last 11 years on birthdays and Xmas).Then after all things bushcraft have been dealt with we have a beverage and I hope some of you may appreciate if we were playing Top Trumps I would have beaten PDF, (and after last time that can only be a good thing).
As the evening was wearing and the hammock began to call, we retired for the evening, (where trying some of my lightweight stuff ensured I had a cold bum
).14-05-11
When we got up in the morning it was about time to time the new hobo stove
(3 and half mins to boil a cup of water 
)
excellent, then we packed up and made our way back, this is getting easier with the lighter weight packs.................................................................................................................................................
14-05-11 Cont...
Back home again, and repack (again), and collect Leeith from school (he has been lookin forward to dis).
We listen to Hitchhikers again (bloody hell how am I going to work my digital watch now?)
(sorry distracted) er, while on our way we are chatting and I explain to Leeith that one of the challenges is not to be seen by anyone and my personal challenge is to start a fire using a bow drill.As we walk I suggest to Leeith that we look for signs of where to come off the trail, he noticed 3 things that were not normal and the third one was our marker (I have to say I was impressed
).I explained to him how to use his compass to find the site and he got very close missing it by yards (again impressed) (this is his first time out).
Setting up was straight forward with Leeith watching me tie a knot just once or twice and then doing it, he had also spent the last 3 days learning various knots from the Collins Gem book and used all the ones I had told him to learn.
We had a coffee
, then went out for a scout and collected some (well I say some)
lots of wood, and as it was getting late started a fire (damn did not use the bow drill)
(maybe it was an excuse).We had a spicy dinner of Couscous and Choziro sausage
Mmm, before the evening wore on too far, I then showed Leeith how to look after your feet Bushcraft style (he thinks its as awesome as I do) especially using his Bushcraft slippers.An hour chatting and then we turned in for the night.
15-05-11
I awoke early hearing noises from around the camp, I call out for Leeith and receive no answer, by the time I manage to look all I see is signs of branches waving like mad as a squirrel must have legged it.
I just lay in the hammock for the next hour listening
to the birds and the life of the woods 
(and Leeith snoring)
.We get up and have a drop of coffee before collecting and processing more wood
, and then pack up camp (I seem to be getting a routine for this, although still not very quick, (evidently more practice needed)).Another scout
, and Leeith finds himself a staff (PDF had noticed it the day before), some brunch of soup and trail mix (fruit only, Leeith is allergic to nuts) (actually nearly everything).Then we leave for home (pleased to see Leeith forgot about the road as well
).
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