Sep 24
Moving Pictures
Mushrooms, cooking, craft, excursions, fire, food, meets, tracking, video, woods 4 Comments »As promised, some moving pictures from the weekend’s meet at Mark’s wood.
Sep 22
Three Days In Mark’s Wood
Mushrooms, cooking, craft, dragonflies, excursions, meets, tracking, woods 5 Comments »The weekend’s weather couldn’t have been more perfect. I arrived at about 1.30pm at Mark’s wood in Reading. The mile walk in was really pleasant and I stopped off to admire the still lake, which was on the way. I was pleased to reach the cool of the woods after a sweaty hike across the field leading from the lake.
The usual camp set up took place as the parachute was hoisted and King John’s base-camp equipment was unloaded. We might laugh about the stuff he brings, but we’re always grateful for the facilities and of course the camp kitchen producing the culinary delights of Saturday evening’s meal. Did I imagine seeing a portable oven? No. There’s definitely one sitting next to the washing up bowl!
As usual I set up the hammock and tarp on the slopes. The only change on this excursion was the choice of the heavier Nanock sleeping bag for the chillier nights. Later, we had a good chat about these bags and came to the conclusion they are bulky, heavy and not particularly efficient. I think a couple of us will be knocking on Alpkit’s door before the winter sets in.
It was surprising how much quicker the darkness fell compared to the last time I was here. You have to work that much quicker to prepare the fire prior to dusk falling. The evening went racing past as we caught up, shared stories and drank a few (ahem) beers and brandies.
Despite a late start the next morning, there was still a slight mist, which gave a wonderful atmosphere to the wood. After a well needed fry up, Mark took us ’shrooming for a couple of hours where we identified a number of edible mushrooms - Amethyst deceiver, Spiny puffball, Bovine bolete, Penny bun and the excellent Chanterelle (pictured below).
At a rest stop near a small pond we spotted a pair of Emperor dragonflies and this Banded-demoiselle.
The afternoon was spent carrying up and chopping the fire wood collected from the Forestry yard, prepping the evening’s meal and foraging in the small valley for willow to make Andy’s bow drill hearth board. On the way I came across some Roe tracks and found a large Common frog.
The meal was, as usual, an excellent and extravagant affair created by Rich and John. A leg of Roe was cubed and fried up in red wine and onions with celery and carrots added later to make a venison stew. Potatoes were mashed up with cream, butter and garlic. This was finished off by Strawberry trifle for desert. Strawberry trifle?! Oh yes indeed. Base camp catering at its best! Well, anyone can be uncomfortable!
While the meal was cooking, Andy successfully tried out his new bow drill set up. The willow hearth worked well, but only when a lot more downward pressure had been applied on the thicker than normal spindle. The result was a fine glowing ember.
Estelle, who joined the group as John’s guest, tried out flint and steel on charcloth. She was delighted with her success as some dried bracken burst into flames (Picture is a still from the video)
Bob built an interesting chair to follow in the mould of the other crafted chairs, which have become the trademark of Mark’s site. He followed the design of putting two Roycroft pack frames together and added a number of horizontal branches to make a seat. His recent attendance on a Mors Kochanski course taught him how to do the lashings. The result was an ingenious, comfortable and stable seat.
And what did yours truly do? Well, I was slaving behind the video camera recording what went on of course. A full high definition account of this will be available next week once I’ve edited the two hours of footage down to fifteen minutes! Tough job, but someone had to do it!
Again dusk fell and another fine evening was spent around the fire; the conversation and banter was inter-dispersed with Mark’s haunting Native American flute melodies.
The morning found Andy, Steve and I looking over the fields to some Roe deer browsing by the wood edge that Steve had spotted. We decided to stalk up to them and managed to get quite close at about 30 yards. I might have got even closer but I wanted some video shots that stopped me getting down to a crawl. I don’t often see Roe and it was great to get this close even though I was inevitably spotted. (Picture is a still from the video)
Time went around quickly and all too soon it was time to pack up. The camp kitchen was loaded up onto John’s truck as was our rucksacks and we walked out of the site across the fields and back to the Forestry yard with the warm sun on our backs.
This was a fantastic weekend and thanks to everyone there who made it like it was.
Pablo.
Sep 14
Last of the Summer Wine
dragonflies, insects, woods 1 Comment »Despite a couple of quite sunny days, the temperature dropped and the wind turned a little chilly. I could just feel a slight coolness on my fingers as the wind turned to blow from the north. Some say Autumn has started but I still say it’s late summer. (Ever the optimist.)
I went out to Poor Park Woods yesterday and unsuccessfully tracked the Fallow deer around the woods for a few hours. They led me on a hilarious merry dance which I’ll talk about another time. I ended up exhausted and, after a rest, decided to gather the last of the blackberries for my special Christmas brew. I had to be selective as many had passed their sell by date.
The landscape looked decidedly weary. Fields have been ploughed and the foliage looks decidedly tired and droopy. An occasional yellow leaf fluttered gently earthward on the breeze. No. It won’t be long, but it’s not here yet.
To prove a point I went to Broaks Wood today. It was actually warmer and the wind was again coming from the south west .
I concentrated my efforts on the ponds and the dragonflies. I’ve not taken many photos of dragonflies this year and there wouldn’t be too many chances left.
The bright morning sunshine brought out the larger ones first. An Emperor was hawking the main pond. Despite the 45 degree angled stick trick, he wouldn’t land for love nor money.
The male Common darter didn’t disappoint when I tried to get it on my finger.
The female’s were a little more shy and tended to stay in the higher branches.
The Southern hawker preferred to “hang” on the gorse waiting until a little later for his flight.
This Forest bug clung to my trousers as if to hide from the aerial battles although with all that armour, I’m sure he would be fine.
This unidentified spider spun it’s web quickly in the hopes of catching one of the dragonflies.
You find strange things in Broaks Wood ponds (after a design by Fenlander - cheers mate) much to the delight of the young naturalists in the area, who didn’t see me put it in the pond!
Yes, it will soon be Autumn by my calculations. This weekend was definitely the Last of the Summer Wine.
Thanks for the visit.
Pablo.
Sep 07
…And Then It Rained.
clothing, fire, woods 4 Comments »I made a bit of a boo boo today. I completely misread the weather.
I spent all of yesterday indoors, nursing a cold. As the electric was off for heavy duty maintenance (the joys of rural living) I settled down with a good book. Needless to say, by today I was itching to get out of the house. The charts said that the worst of the rain would pass by early morning, so at 11 o’clock I set out into Outfield woods.
As soon as I got inside the woods, the downpour started. And it didn’t stop for 4 hours! I had brought the minimum of kit (food, flask and knife) and thankfully I had man’s best friend with me - I don’t mean a dog either. I mean a poncho!
Many people say that the poncho is versatile because you can make it into a shelter. This may be true, but believe me, when you’re caught in a downpour like I was today, you haven’t got time to mess about stringing it up between some trees (even if you had some cordage) you use it for what it was designed for! Stick it over your head, pull up the hood, cover your kit and wait…. and wait.
I even managed to have my lunch under the poncho; munching on a banana, apple, cheese and cereal bar. Luckily I had a flask of tea so I didn’t need to boil up water. Despite the fact there was nothing to see except rain, I was enjoying myself listening to the the never ending thump thump of it on the material.
When at last the rain subsided, I debated whether to make a run for it. There was no movement in the wood and it wasn’t really worth staying. I was cold and the woods were damp. Aha! A perfect chance to practice fire lighting!
As I said, I had minimal kit with me. I had some tinder in my possible pouch but I also remembered I had some fat wood (maya stick) in my rucksack. Every one of my ruckies has a stick of this in the lid pocket. I decided that I’d have a go lighting a fire using this and a firesteel only.
I scratched off some extra fine shavings with the back of my new Snody Activator neck knife (the serrated thumb grip on the back of the knife was ideal for this - I’ll show you the knife mid week.) I also shaved off some shavings and split the wood in two. All the wood I collected was sodden, but I split some larger sections in half to expose the drier parts. I should really have made a few feather sticks, but I was too eager to get warm.
After spending a while getting the angle of the knife to spark against the new firesteel I was soon producing some spectacular sparks, but it still took a while before one fell just right on a shaving. Soon a moderate fire was on the go.
As I supped the remains of my tea, I thought how quickly a fire restored moral, gave someone warmth and took the dampness away. With a little more thought in collecting and preparing the wood and I could have stayed out for a few more hours quite comfortably despite the rain.
As it was, I let the fire dwindle to nothing, cleared it away and wandered out of the wood. On the way out I noticed what I think are variations on parasols mushrooms Macrolepiota rhacodes bohemica (please check yourself as I’m not an expert.) I’m sure they weren’t there 6 hours ago when I walked in! That’s what downpours do I suppose.
Until next time,
Pablo.
Aug 25
Horror of Horrors
general, woods 3 Comments »
Yesterday, I bounced out of bed and headed straight to the outdoor clothes side of the wardrobe and started to pull on my trousers. Suddenly, I had a sinking feeling. You know that feeling of trepidation; the feeling of impending doom. I struggled to find out why I had that feeling. And then I realised! It was decorating day! Horror of horrors! No woods today! All day! NO! It’s a nightmare! I’ll wake up in a minute! Pleeeease, NO!”
I looked out of the window. At least it was raining as promised on the weather forecast and the reason I selected this day of the Bank Holiday.
“I don’t feel well!” I shouted to Mrs P.
“Really? I wonder why that is?”
” Perhaps a bacon sandwich will…” Before I finished the sentence with “help” a bacon sandwich was thrust into my hands.
I peered over the balcony and noticed that all the furniture had magically rearranged itself into the centre of the room.
“I do believe you thought of everything!” I grumbled.
“If it’s any consolation,” said Mrs P, “I do feel sorry for you. But you’ve got to admit, the cave does need decorating.” I nodded in disconsolate agreement.
Mrs P hovered around. “Don’t worry, I won’t escape,” I said. “Just please go away and stop mithering me.” I thrust my hand into my pocket and brought out some money for hair products.
This did the trick and I was left alone with my paint brush and roller. How can life be so cruel?
Yesterday’s miserable trip to the woods did nothing to lift the spirits. I saw very little in the way of wildlife. I contented myself sitting by the edge of the field and watched the harvesters at work. A field full of stubble was the only evidence of the wheat and barley that once waved gently in the wind. I did find what I think is Fuligo septica, going by the glorious common name of Dog’s vomit slime mould.
I thought about next week’s Wilderness Gathering in Wiltshire. Ah! This was doing the trick. It would be my first trip there and I wondered what it would be like.
Before I knew it, I was half way through decorating. I had put a huge amount of paint on the roller in the hopes that it would only take one coat of paint. Unfortunately, even I realised that it needed two, so off I went around again.
What should I take? I went through a kit list in my mind. No point taking too much. After all, it’s only one day more than my usual three day excursions. More to the point, how much beer should I take? My mind wandered and wandered as the arm automatically glided across the walls. I was actually beginning to enjoy myself. Well, as much as you can be imprisoned within four walls and only a paint brush and a roller for company!
Then suddenly it was over. Finished. I put all the furniture back and was tidying up when Mrs P came in.
“Wow! That’s great! And so quick.”
“It was easy,” I said. “I don’t know what all the fuss was about”. A big grin appeared as a I realised I had another day off tomorrow.
Thanks for the visit.
Pablo.
Jul 13
Fields of Gold
mammals, wildflowers, woods 4 Comments »
On Friday, I took my first walk in the woods since getting back from holiday. The first thing I noticed was how quiet everything was. There was very little birdsong; the constant squawking of the rooks had ceased. All the youngsters had obviously fled the nests.
Although there has been quite a bit of rain, there wasn’t enough to keep “the swamp” full and many of the shallower puddles had dried out. There’s usually a bit of dragonfly activity, but even they seemed to be elsewhere.
Despite lack of bird and mammal activity, there are a number of plants still in flower. Great and Rosebay willowherb are the prominant flowers on the wasteland areas while poppies are making their striking red appearance in scattered areas. Nettles are now drooping but I noticed something I’d never seen before. The miniscule seeds were being scattered like little puffs of smoke. It didn’t seem to be the wind that was causing it, nor insects landing on the stem. It just appeared to be a random expulsion of tiny seeds that looked like a miniature cloud of smoke drifting away from the nettle flowers.
It was very difficult to capture on camera and the best I could do was the pic below. If you look closely to the right and above the diamond caused by the sun on the lens, you might be able to see what looks like a swirling orb type shape.
I wandered out of the woods with spirits a little low, feeling disappointed at the lack of activity.
This morning, my mate Paul W and I went for a wander in Lowt’s wood. The air was humid and we were soon sweating in an attempt to battle through the overgrown footpath. I can’t believe that so few people walk along the long public footpath and into the wonderful woods.
On the walk in we caught a fleeting glimpse of a fox and tracked it back to its earth a few yards away on a bankside and caught sight of some fallow deer at a distance. They had already spotted us and we could only get a blurred long range shot. A shame we couln’t get closer for at least two had magnificent antlers.
We continued into the wood noticing recent badger activity at a sett. We walked the length of the wood and then climbed up the steep hill over looking the paths, battling our way through nettles and stringy brambles. Paul made me laugh by saying that I always chose routes off the beaten track. Well, yes. That’s what I do.
We made it to the clearing at the top and settled down for a coffee. Only the occasional aircraft spoilt the silence and we chatted sparingly - as old friends do.
On the way back, we stopped to listen to the wheat growing. Well it seemed like it. The phenomenon, a popping sound almost like popcorn, is probably caused by the seed expanding in the sudden warmth of the sun.
The golden fields spread out before us as we made our way back along the side of the hedgerow. It had been a good few hours since we left the car. A pleasing walk where we identified a few tracks and identified a few plants on the way but more than anything else we lifted the spirits somewhat.
Pablo.
