Cringe

A pic and caption from one of Ray Mears books.
Lovers move in pace with the seasons. Lol
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What on earth befell this poor critter.

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Some interesting wildlife signs

Hi,

I was out for a dander and following some tracks and I decided to photograph some sign.

Stromeng Leuku

All in one fire kit.

With a good Leuku you and chop, split and feather wood to make a fire. No need for a smaller knife or axe. A very usefull tool indeed.
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25 feathersticks with the sypderco bushcrafter.

Really Excellent knife except for hole. Well balanced and easy to sharpen.
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The Fianna

I love old lore and found this info about a warrior sect in ancient ireland.

The warriors were known as the Fianna and were the days elite. From the tests below you can see why.

Interesting to see that they valued intelligence as much as martial skill.

Membership was subject to rigorous tests. In one such test the applicant would stand in a waist-deep hole armed with a shield while nine warriors threw spears at him; if he was wounded, he failed. In another his hair would be braided, and he would be pursued through the forest; he would fail if he was caught, if a branch cracked under his feet, or if the braids in his hair were disturbed. He would have to be able to leap over a branch the height of his forehead, pass under one as low as his knee, and pull a thorn from his foot without slowing down. He also needed to be a skilled poet.

Mora 2000 review update observation

Hi,

I have been using my Moras a lot and decided to skin a squirrel with the Mora 2000.

I must admit it is not as good a plain clipper shape for small game. The wide obtuse belly of the blade at the tip makes it awkward to pierce the skin and work close to the meat etc.

I also found it poor for piercing holes to put the skin on a rack for drying.

I still managed to do it neatly but not as easily as it would be with a a more pointed knife.

To me the knife is slightly let down by the tip. I notice the new Moras are also strangely shaped at the tip.

What is the reason for this? Anyone know?
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Pine wood

I am sitting in a large private Scots pine wood relaxing and watching squirrels playing in the trees.

Life is good.
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20,000 Visitors competition

Hi all,

I just wanted to give something back as way of thanks for your support over the past year or so. My blog has had 20,000 visitors which I am amazed at. Thanks!

The question for the competition is as follows.

On the recent beachcomber survival course I attended in Scotland how many Cockles did me and my fellow students collect from the beach for eating.

If it helps there were 6 of us.

The prize will be a Mora Classic knife and a Mora topQ all rounder stainless steel.

Please post your answer in the comments section of this post. One entry per person and you must be a follower to enter and over 18

Beachcomber course Pictures

This course is highly recommended indeed. Patrick is thee man when it comes to primitive living.

Some of the lads with Patrick

Enough meat to feed 6 hungry boys!

The white strip is sinew

The hooves can be used and the sinue is also good for things

Happy camper

Meat ready for thinning down into jerky

Getting tips from an expert in hunting and butchering Deer!

Checking the crab trap

6 Big shore crabs

Making the willow and tarp canoe

An outrigger was added

The camp

I did not get very far

Lesson what what not to do. Evan is up for it

Testing her out

We tested her out with two people. 23 stone of weigh no problem

Cooking freshly gathered shell fish on the beach

Smoker chimney

Raised pit oven. The Mcglinchey Volcano

Our stone smoker

Common shore crab after cooking

Drying jerky

Netting needle which was carved and used on the course to make a net!!

Beachcomber course

Hi,

I am just heading home from doing a weekend course with Patrick McGlinchey at backwoods survival school.

The weekend was packed full of skills and banter.

We skinned and butchered a Roe deer then cooked some in a raised pit oven. We also smoked some into jerky in a stone smoker we built on the beach.

Other project included making nets, making hooks and line from bone and lime cordage. Building a canoe which we took out to sea and supported 23 stone.

We also gathered lots of crabs and shellfish, which we cooked on the beach.

Pics soon......
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A stroll round castle Ward

What a scene!

Sloe