I’d just like pay tribute to a good friend who will be retiring shortly. Stan has been a constant companion on my Bushcraft excursions. He’s carried my kit, provided me shelter on occasions and has endured everything I’ve thrown at him. He assisted me on the first tentative steps into the Bushcraft world, and although we consider each other wordly-wise, (we’ve both been around a bit and both done a few miles – round the clock as they say) we stepped off together into the unknown world of Bushcraft. But he’s not getting any younger. In fact he’s falling apart. After a number of operations it’s no longer viable to keep him going.

Yes… Stan the van is retiring to the great Ford Transit care home in the sky. But who will be my new companion? Can I introduce to you – Doris. Doris the Land Rover Discovery. At a youthful 90,000 miles, Doris will now take Stan’s place and our adventures will continue to new reaches were Stan would never dare to tread. Doris’ Four-wheel drive and HI-Lo gear capability will surely surpass Stan’s slipping clutch. Her superb all round vision will far exceed Stan’s damp and dark interior and her rear collapsible in-built side seats will exude luxury compared to Stan’s folding camp chair.

But it gets better. No longer will my colleagues snigger at the sight of me driving a 19 year old rusty van. No longer will they have to cover their ears way before I drive into view. No longer will they make detrimental comments and refer to travelling folk and gentlemen who drive white vans (all this to the back of their hands I hasten to add).

“Ah!” I hear you cry. “What about your kit? You know the stuff that you don’t bring in the house and store within Stan’s capacious interior.” Well, yes it’s true that I use Stan as a kind of kit storage container. The bulky stuff I don’t need day-to-day. The additional Trangia stove, the odd extendable bivi pole, the folding chairs, the folding table, the larger meths container, the walking stick collection, the bow, the folding shovel, the spare water container, the odd ration pack, the collapsible fire bowl and other stuff for a more permanent camp.

Yes, this could be a problem. I’ve managed to put most of the stuff in a plastic container and the folding chair and bow is stuffed behind this. There’ just enough room for a rucksack and dirty walking boots. Extended excursions will require the rear seats folding forward. Then we’re talking space.

So how does she perform? Obviously I’ve not done too much so far. I’ve taken her around the edge of the local field and over a couple of pretty steep and muddy embankment. No problem. Didn’t even break into a sweat. The Disco that is… I did.

Naturally this weekend, it’s been a matter of local ‘safaris’ and little bushcrafting. But hey. What would you do? Doris the Discovery. The ultimate bushcraft toy! Still, spare a thought for Stan.

See you soon.

Pablo.