View Full Version : Just got back from the Wilderness Gathering...
brucemacdonald
06-09-2004, 09:58
...and had a great time.
My thanks to Neil1 for his patience in jump-starting my car in the car park yesterday afternoon.
My thanks also to those kind people who helped me out of the ditch in the wooded area when I was trying to back out of it.
Those two small mishaps did not take the shine off what was a lovely weekend of learning and relaxation for myself, my wife Liz and our daughter.
Bruce
Blimey Bruce - lucky you only had to get back to Devizes - or who knows what else could have ahppened :shock:
It was a good weekend - I do seem to have sore hands from the hand drill class.
Good to meet up with some of you - hope to see you again soon.
great weekend, i was late as usual..... got there saturday.
didn't get many classes in, too busy chatting!
cheers, and.
Paganwolf
06-09-2004, 18:51
Got back sunday 11.15 pm had a superb time hats off to Roger H and his gang they did a fantastic job I can see this reaching grand proportions soon! And to all the BCUK guys and Girls i met all i can say is i never met a nicer bunch of people and i thank you all for making mine and my little cub connors weekend one of the best we have ever spent together, two guys in particular made my sons weekend, Martin and Jim he didn't stop talking about you guys all the way home (well till he fell asleep ) you guys are two of the best blokes i've ever met,Connor called me today and told me to say hi and thanks for everything, and Stuart i think connor had a bit of a crush on cindy :o): say hi and thanks to her and your self of course also from connor, And to me old mate and drinking partner Gary its a long time since i met someone who from the first moment i met it seemed as if id known them all my life your a top guy and ill chat to you soon about things(thanks for the kettle :wink: ) and keep practicing the Didge :-P . As i say its great chatting to you all on here but its lovely to put a face to a name, and buy of the weekend was my fire piston its the mutts nuts :You_Rock_ :biggthump cheers again Jon-Paul
Sounds like a great time had by all then. I just wished I could have come..
Now stop saying how much you enjoyed it :cry:
Paganwolf
06-09-2004, 19:07
you will be more than welcome to get a lift from me next year :-)
you will be more than welcome to get a lift from me next year :-)
Can you pick up me too :o):
TheViking
06-09-2004, 19:35
Can you pick up me too :o):
And me!! :D
Johan you'll have to fly over for it - you'd be very impressed with it all I think!
And to echo Paganwolf a big thanks you to Martin and Jim for not noticing how drunk I was ...... tooo often!! :rolmao:
And a big thank you to Paganwolf as well, for without his additional 2 bottles of JB and one bottle of gin my little bottle of Whisky mac wouldnt have had much effect! :nana:
Oh ya and a sorry to Jamie, Dave and Feathers who had to suffer (briefly) my didgaridoo playing, or lack of it!
Fantastic fun! :biggthump
Paganwolf
06-09-2004, 21:23
ha ha i've got a landy not a lear jet !! ha ha :rolmao: but if i win the lottery ill fly over n pick you guys up!! :You_Rock_
So you don't have the exceedingly rare amphib LR? ;)
Most amusing point:
Some geezer shouting "Shut the f up!" at about 2:30 Sunday morn.
Some people camping in the woods having a little too much fun!
Missed quite a few folks I think, not much good with people me!
Well where to start, what a great weekend, met some old friends and made some new ones (which is even better).
Firstly I'd like to thank JP (Paganwolf) for the JD, I had a brilliant time with you guys (was even made an Honorary Essex Boy :yikes: ) and your young 'un Connor, what a great kid.
This is Connor and Jim with the pothanger Connor made.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/500/120DSCI0015-med.JPG
Secondly Gary for introducing me to Whisky Mac (which I'm drinking at the moment :shock: hic).
I saw loads more folks from this forum over the weekend, Roving Rich, Buckshot, Jamie, Jack, Stuart, Cindy, Chris, Tony, Sargey, Kath, Leon and his wife, Leon1, Neil1, Raz, Rhoda and many more.....
Spent loads of dosh on some great new kit, Moskoselkatan Arran 7cp so next year we can get ever so slightly tiddly in a miny Tipi.
I was talking to Roger and he told me that he is thinking about doing two Gatherings next year, one in the spring and one the same time as this year.
Most amusing point:
Some geezer shouting "Shut the f up!" at about 2:30 Sunday morn.
Some people camping in the woods having a little too much fun!
Missed quite a few folks I think, not much good with people me!
Never heard Him, we were in the woods being noisy :yikes: :roll:
I did see a bloke crawling of into the woods though, can't remember who it was....... :super:
........Or was that Saturday morn..... I forget :shock:
Paganwolf
07-09-2004, 12:34
I know who it was Martin :rolmao: was he crawling like a Bear carying a length of drain pipe PMSL! :rolmao: :rolmao: :rolmao: my lips are sealed :shock: :rolmao:
Buckshot
07-09-2004, 13:53
I had a great time at WG, it was my first one and was exactly what I expected. My only regret is I couldn’t be there on the Saturday, who ever heard of getting married on WG weekend :banghead: .
It was great to reaffirm friendships made at MM and also to meet loads of new and interesting people from within BCUK and beyond (I’m told there is a world outside BCUK :yikes: )
Specific mentions from me are:
Thanks to Dave, Feathers, Rich (Stalking Bunny), Jamie, Gary, Tony and Dave (again) for letting me share their camp. I hope the morning tea was OK (for those that managed to get up anyway) :super: .
Hardy and Fred – thanks for letting me into your inner sanctum behind your stand when the sun was at it’s worst. I did buy some kit off you (another billhook goes to a good home) but I also helped serve some customers… good thing – bad thing :?: ?
It was a privilege to meet Max, I enjoyed his talk and was inspired enough to buy a couple of Tom Brown books ! :You_Rock_
Rhoda – great to see you again, thanks for your compliment, it means a lot coming from someone as skilled as yourself :notworthy . I’m definitely coming on a course as soon as I sort things out.
Stuart and Cindy – good to see you again, thanks for the lesson in hot weather management and the knife. :super:
Last but not least Kath – a true bushcrafter to the end, conservation of energy and all that. I would never have thought of combining my car with an oven for the 9 hour journey back ! :rolmao: It was 120o in there when I looked at the thermometer. :shock:
Appologies if I've missed anyone, there were loads of people I would liked to have talked to as well but didn't get round to.
All in all I had a great time and came home with my sac heavier and my wallet lighter… :o):
Now all I need to do is get SWMBO - sorry Lorraine - talking to me again after my late arrival home on both Friday and Sunday nights so I can tell her I've spent loads of money on 'really esstential' stuff :naughty:
Cheers
Mark
Right, next Gathering, I'M GONNA BE THERE NO MATTER WHAT!!!
Sounds like you lot had a bloody good time.
Mind you, not sure about the 'Dodgey-ridoo'. Think I'll have to start packing ear plugs or ear defenders...
My didgeridooing was better than my snoring eh Jamie! :wink:
My didgeridooing was better than my snoring eh Jamie! :wink:
didgerido - daylight hours
didgerdont - 2 am
not one to comment on snoring - allegedly although I have never heard it so dont believe any of you! :nana:
Hardy and Fred – thanks for letting me into your inner sanctum behind your stand when the sun was at it’s worst. I did buy some kit off you (another billhook goes to a good home) but I also helped serve some customers… good thing – bad thing :?: ?
I am assuming you are referring to my dancing and singing abilities by calling me Fred, coz OBVIOUSLY I cant be Hardy????!!!!
not one to comment on snoring - allegedly although I have never heard it so dont believe any of you! :nana:
Question: "Do you snore when you sleep?"
Answer: "How the hell would I know! I'm asleep when I sleep..."
ok guys.. soo i was wonderin what was the best thing there? seeing as i didnt get to go :cry:
1) Admireing Roving Rich's new S410 tdr as Roger makes a B-Line across the site to politely remind him of the rules
2) Meeting Gary on Saturday morning, now I know what a bear with a sore head looks like.
3) meeting some mates from 3 Para, one of which was on his stag weekend
4) Chilling with like minded people
5) some good talks
6)Bison steak and Elk bangers on the BBQ
7) Downside, spent too much money
8) Fantastic weather
Could go on, but I'm sure others will have their say, see you next year.
I agree with steve a - the best thing about the gathering was meeting up with so many people - that to my mind is what it should be all about and not so much the commercial side of things.
Bear with a sore head - :?: me :rolmao:
It is also a great treat to meet ex-students and hear how well they have done, what adventures they have had and how you have influenced their lives in a positive way - but it is an even greater treat to meet them at the gathering and be able to call them friends.
I'm sat here lamenting the fact that I'm spending Sunday at work instead of at a Wilderness Gathering, of which there should be at least one a month. My employers won't let me build a fire in reception which I think is a tad unfair, and I haven't eaten a leaf from a forest floor in over a whole week.
Woe is me.
Last weekend's Wilderness Gathering was extraordinary and it was a pleasure to meet so many lovely people. I can't wait for the next one.
I no longer consider myself slightly mad, strange or even a little unhinged for loving trees, wanting to light fires everywhere, and eat nettles...because there are TONS OF OTHERS OUT THERE who are interested in/doing exactly the same thing.
Hurray...(what a relief).
I hope the next one is in the holidays. I'm really gutted I missed it :cry:
Fuzzy Duck
13-10-2004, 12:25
Hiya people, anyone got the web site address of wilderness gatherings.
ive wiped it off this god damn machine....give me a knive and a peice of wood any day.
Cheers Fuzzy Duck
http://wildernessgathering.co.uk/