Preparing for Gilwell24

Posted on 02/06/2010 by Ray-H

I’m currently preparing for Gilwell24 2010 is a 24 hour Explorer Scout camp that starts at 9am on Saturday morning until 9am the next day, I went last year while sick only because Bear Grylls was being invested as the new chief Scout and actually met him later in the day. So a quick handshake and autograph later I was very happy with my first Gilwell24, I even met Peter Duncan later that day too.

Activities that I am interested in this year are fire lighting if the Bushcraft and survival magazine team are back and Geocaching. I will update you after the event.

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Climbing for caches

Posted on 01/06/2010 by Ray-H

I have recently seen a few caches that require a head for heights and safety equipment, then as luck would have it I was approached by a person local to my Scout unit who wanted to help with getting some groups climbing to help with his single pitch award so I have had a few climbing lessons. So once I get to grips with the skills required for climbing and control over my fear of heights I hope to get some 4* and 5* geocaches.

Yes I can hang on pretty well for a big guy

Just Hanging about

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50 cache haul

Posted on 25/04/2010 by Ray-H

Yesterday I had a good days geocahing in Surrey, with Bluestu meeting me from the train station we found a few on the way and then hit a route of 33 over 8.7 miles before lunch at the Well Inn. On the way back we stopped off at every cache and then went out-of-the-way to one that had eluded Stu on his previous two visits. A whole 3 minutes later we were back in the car, that’s how it goes some days you can search everywhere and not find one then the next time it’s as plain as the nose on your face.

If anyone likes puzzles can you solve this as it has been driving me nuts T is for Therapie

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Spoon Carving

Posted on 08/04/2010 by Ray-H

A great way of spending time around a camp fire is to carve a spoon out of wood, it’s a thing of beauty that is also practical. The grain, knots and shape make each one an individual piece of art.

I enjoy finding a piece of wood and seeing the finished product trapped inside it, all it requires if freeing with tools and imagination. To get from a lump of tree to a spoon I use an axe, two or three knives and a crook knife to make the bowl. It can take a few hours to complete, once the shape is carved and any details have been added such as initials etc it is time to sand and seal it. This I do with various sand papers until its smooth, then to seal it I use sunflower oil. Several coats over a few days and then all that’s left to do is enjoy using it.

wooden spoon and crook knife

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Easy Fire Lighting

Posted on 08/04/2010 by Ray-H

Nothing beats the feeling of making fire, it rewards your efforts with heat and a mesmerizing visual display of dancing flames. With fire you are warm, can boil water, cook food and signal for rescue if needed. Around your house you should be able to find two items that make a very good fire lighter, cotton wool and vaseline. Everyone who is interested in bushcraft should have a firesteel, I have four knocking about in various boxes and bags for camping or scouts.

the 3 itemsstep 2ready to go

It’s so easy to start a fire this way, take the cotton wool and rub it in the vaseline. Then strike the firesteel, then add thin sticks gradually adding bigger wood and your done. I even taught My manager to light a fire using this method just without the vaseline, she said it was as easy as it looks.

alightfire in the handswhat its all about

More methods coming soon..

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