View Full Version : Rays new series 1st prog on the Birch bark canoe
Celtic Dragon
17-04-2005, 21:09
Just seen in the TV guide that he has a new series starting on Thursday at 8pm
Apparently this programme is on the Birch Bark canoe :D Hope its not like its last series and actually focuses on how their made and what goes into them as I like them.
Simon
(and yes I'm stuck in work and bored)
Squidders
17-04-2005, 21:25
I liked the last part of the series... and really... how much tuition of building a canoe can you get into a 1 hour show? ;)
There is an interview of Ray Mears on Radio 5 live site where he talks a little of birch bark canoes and how he built one for new series.
Hope that's of some use.
I liked the last part of the series... and really... how much tuition of building a canoe can you get into a 1 hour show? ;)
if the new book is anything to go by joe a lot :)
Celtic Dragon
17-04-2005, 21:33
I'll go have a look, cheers Sodajoe.
Probably not alot Squidders, but it will hopefully show who the ribs of the canoe are built, I've only ever helped corricles to be made, never a conoe and I fancy having a go :D
There is an interview of Ray Mears on Radio 5 live site where he talks a little of birch bark canoes and how he built one for new series.
Hope that's of some use.
got a link?
Go here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/listen/audioarchive.shtml) and scroll down a bit. Hope you've got a spare 30 minutes.
Spamel
Just finished listening to the radio programme, I thought there were some very funny bits in there, both my wife and myself laughed at the bit were a guy emailed about his son, Joseph, and how he was upset they couldn't hunt a deer with a bow, whereupon his dad said they'd probably be better off trying to run it over in the car!!!
Spamel
I had a flick through the new book in Borders on Saturday (after escaping from IKEA) and while no so much bushcraft manual (it does state to accompany the series) I think the second half of the series will be much better than the first.
A lot of critism was raised of the first part of the series labelling it more travelog and than bushcraft but I dont see this coming to the fore on the second half, maybe this is due to the fact the new stuff will seem more pertinant to us in the uk maybe (imo) I just find things to do with North American and europe more interesting than Africa - i dont know but either way it does look good.
Roving Rich
18-04-2005, 10:12
Yup hopefully this is the one we've been waiting for. I was talking to an Archeologist last year who made a dugout canoe with Ray in the UK, I think he then goes on to make the birch bark one. I hope there is alot more Bushcraft in this one too.
Cheers
Rich
Looking forward to it.........will be watching from my hotel room :(
Great Pebble
18-04-2005, 15:33
One of our local TV critics, who has obviously gotten an advance showing seemed rather unimpressed. Basically stating that the program was extremely boring for anyone who wasn't actually interested in building a canoe, as there's very little else in it except canoe building.
If it's an accurate review all I can say is YAY!!! finally a program for and by outdoor loonies.
If you listen to his radio broadcast, Ray said that it took him and one other 9 days to make the canoe. Granted, they had to do stuff for the camera, but they worked flat out and apparently had very sore hands afterwards. An indian was supposed to be able to make one in a week by himself, god knows how!!
Spamel
For those of you who liked the Ray Mears interview you might be interested in this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/insideldn/dannybaker/archive1_clipoftheday_2005.sht ml
Just scroll down a bit.
I found this when I went a-lookin for the recent Radio 5 broadcast. It's a couple of years old and more irreverant than the recent interview.
See what you think.
.will be watching from my hotel room :(
where ya going? :)
Moonraker
21-04-2005, 08:35
2nd part of series starts this evening for 5 weeks.
BBC2 Thursday 21st April. 8.00pm - 9.00pm BST. 1/5 episodes.
Today's episode:
Ray Mears' Bushcraft
Thu 21 Apr, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm 60mins
Birch Bark Canoe
Ray Mears builds a traditional canoe made from birchbark, cedar and spruce roots. It's time consuming, requiring skill, judgement and patience - a true bushcraft experience. Everything is judged by hand and eye using only traditional tools and natural materials.
As far as Ray is concerned these are the finest crafts people have ever created, making one is the realisation of a life long ambition.
General second series info from the BBC Web Site:
"From hands-on Indian canoe craftsmanship,to running with dogs in the silence of Arctic Sweden,Ray Mears demonstrates his unique abilities to survive in the wild while learning new skills on the way. In Canada,a quarter of which is water,Ray learns the ancient Indian craft of creating a canoe from birch bark.Every log has to be split by hand and every cut judged by eye.It’s held together entirely by roots and resin.Experienced Algonquin canoe maker Pinock Smith – one of the few traditional craftsmen left – allies his experience with Ray’s skills to create the perfect natural vessel.
Throughout the series,Ray follows in the footsteps of the Canadian fur traders,American mountain men and the Sámi people of Lapland,telling incredible stories of hardship and endurance. Whether he’s on the American prairies making boats from buffalo skin and willow trees with mountain men,or travelling with the Sámi people,who line their boots with grass to keep them warm, Ray is always at one with nature,reading the landscape to provide for his every need.
In the final episode,Ray comes home to Britain and shows how bushcraft brings a new perspective to our countryside and its changing seasons.From foraging pig nuts to a salad made with lime leaves,he points out the foods and plants that are available and explains why he loves to be out all year round.He says:“If I think about one lifetime,maybe we have 80 years if we’re lucky.That’s not many seasons to be out.If we only come out in the summer, we’ve missed out on three-quarters of a lifetime.” So don't forget to grab the TV controls just before 8pm or set the recorder :)
MagiKelly
21-04-2005, 09:24
2nd part of series starts this evening for 5 weeks.
BBC2 Thursday 21st April. 8.00pm - 9.00pm BST. 1/5 episodes.
For some reason it is not getting shown in Scotland for another month :(
Now that's got to be a pain :( You'll know all about it before you get to see it!
It sounds like it's going to be a good episode tonight, something that will inspire people which is great, I wonder who's going to be the first person to try and copy him! :D
Celtic Dragon
21-04-2005, 21:14
Wow. For me, that was his best programme yet. For the first time, I sat there motionless for an hour just watching. Maybe it was of more interest to me, I'm not sure, but I throughly enjoyed it. :D :D
Just hoping that the rest of the series is as good.
Celtic Dragon
21-04-2005, 21:15
I wonder who's going to be the first person to try and copy him! :D
I don't know who, but I certainly have enough birch bark at home to make a sizable model :D
Motorbike Man
21-04-2005, 21:22
That has to be one of the better programs he's done for a while, I even let my coffee get cold watching it :D It does make me want to go out and build a canoe, probably a good job I can't get hold of enough bark :rolleyes:
SquirrelBoy
21-04-2005, 21:24
Thats much more like it, really enjoyed that one. At first I thought umm wouldnt mind a go at that.... then thought perhaps not :o
Beautifull work of art.
Well I totally enjoyed that.
I thought it was absolutely amazing that a pile of wood could be turned into something that was just so beautiful.
What a cool programme that was tonight - best bit was when he put the very first space in between the gunwales - suddenly the three bits of wood leapt into life and just had that special shape.
Excellent, and really looking forward to the next episode - I hope it's the canoe trip down a Canadian River.
Graham.
That was an excellent programme. Different from his previous fair (which I still really like) but better for it.
I feel very inspired, although having built a coracle myself, I feel that a birch bark canoe is in a different league. You would be very chuffed if you took it on and completed it to the same standard that Ray did in this programme.
It was nice to see him as the pupil rather than the teacher. I felt it made for a very personal touch to the programme. Well done Ray, lets hope the rest live up to this one, I can't wait until next Thursday :D .
RJP.
I only caught the last 10 minutes but it looked like it was a very good programme. It was a real core skill thing, hands on and a spectacular result. Well done Ray for a good programme, keep it up :D
Wow,
really enjoyed that show, even let the kids up to watch it (6 + 3) little beggars wouldn't stay in bed - my daughter said "why did you not tell me Ray Mears was on the telly".
Bummer it was not shown on BBC2 Scotland - had to search through the listings to find some foreign channel (BBC2 En) to watch it on Sky, managed to record it as well........I hope.
My kids now want to build a canoe.....
Looking forward to the rest of the shows if they are anything like this.
Cheers
JFW
Hi everyone, I'm new to this website, looks like a good one, hope I'll get a lot of knowledge from you all!!
Just saw the new Ray Mears. Thought it was best one for a while, it really went into the skills and techniques! I've never really had much interest in canoes or canoe building, but after watching that I just want to get into one and paddle off somewhere...
Was there an episode recently, or one coming up about making a dugout canoe..? I saw Ray in Tunbridge Wells last week, and he gave some 'backstage' information, that when they made the dugout they actually made it too thick, and so had to lower the canoe into the water with a JCB... thought that was a laugh!
Looking forward to the next episode!
p.s. Anyone know of a good native canoeing type website
Daniel,
sorry can't help you with any canoeing links, but I'm sure someone on the site will. It is a wonderful resource with lots of knowledgeable and friendly folk.
Just wanted to say welcome to the campfire.
There is an introduction section where you might want to tell us all a little about yourself.
Cheers and welcome
JFW
Bagheera
22-04-2005, 12:03
Hello guys,
I had an First Aid training, didn't see the tV guide on time because of to much work not enough time :( so I missed Ray's Birch Barck Canoe building show.
Does anybody know if the BBC does a rerun on another time like during the day?
Also, is there a way to save the BBC radio program where Ray Mears spoke?
I just want to be able to listen to it on my own time without being on the Web.
Best Scouting wishes from Holland,
Bagheera
bambodoggy
22-04-2005, 12:21
p.s. Anyone know of a good native canoeing type website
Go take a looksy at the links I've posted on this thread Matey....might be what you wanted to see:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=5648
very enjoyable programe
but I think I missed somthing, did they show how they fixed those huge splits in the bark?....... I must have been distracted when they showed it
Hi Stuart.
I think they put another layer of bark at crossways to the grain on the inside, and gummed it into place before putting down the thin planking.
It wasn't shown - I think, but the old man suggested it and Ray indicated that it was the solution that made the most sense.
Ace Rimmer
22-04-2005, 14:41
I don't believe it, I thought it was on Sunday! ARGH! :eek:
Oh well. But Thursday night I am always out!
Grrrrrr. Oh well I look forward to the next episode!
Hi Stuart.
I think they put another layer of bark at crossways to the grain on the inside, and gummed it into place before putting down the thin planking.
It wasn't shown - I think, but the old man suggested it and Ray indicated that it was the solution that made the most sense.
That was pretty much it. They didn't actually show it being done.
arctic hobo
22-04-2005, 17:26
Hello guys,
I had an First Aid training, didn't see the tV guide on time because of to much work not enough time :( so I missed Ray's Birch Barck Canoe building show.
Does anybody know if the BBC does a rerun on another time like during the day?
Also, is there a way to save the BBC radio program where Ray Mears spoke?
I just want to be able to listen to it on my own time without being on the Web.
Best Scouting wishes from Holland,
Bagheera
I am afraid you have to be online to listen - it's a rights issue, so they will only give you a streaming link not an actual file.
You could probably record the audio coming out of your computer with a jack line into a Minidisc player or tape recorder. I don't know if you can record onto another PC or not. Anyone have any ideas?
Spamel
Just tried a cable going from my line out to mic. I am now able to record audio using Nero. Are there any legal issues with me doing this, as it is basically the same as recording off of the radio.
Motorbike Man
22-04-2005, 18:58
You could probably record the audio coming out of your computer with a jack line into a Minidisc player or tape recorder. I don't know if you can record onto another PC or not. Anyone have any ideas?
Spamel
Just tried a cable going from my line out to mic. I am now able to record audio using Nero. Are there any legal issues with me doing this, as it is basically the same as recording off of the radio.
Which is technically illegal ;)
Was there an episode recently, or one coming up about making a dugout canoe..? I saw Ray in Tunbridge Wells last week, and he gave some 'backstage' information, that when they made the dugout they actually made it too thick, and so had to lower the canoe into the water with a JCB... thought that was a laugh!
Looking forward to the next episode!
p.s. Anyone know of a good native canoeing type website
There were a couple of shots of Ray paddling a dugout in the aboriginal Britain episode. They probably filmed it's construction but it was edited out as they were devoting a whole episode to birchbark canoes.
Which is technically illegal ;)
Thought it might be :(
You can't do anything these days.
Spamel
JonathanD
22-04-2005, 23:22
I set my DVD to record RM's new programme, not only did the DVD player fail to record, my Sky box displayed technical fault 5 mins after the programme started and froze till I returned home, and my girlfriend recorded the wrong channel on video at her place. AAAAAAAAaaaaaaarrrgh :(
Motorbike Man
23-04-2005, 00:26
Thought it might be :(
You can't do anything these days.
Spamel
Mind you, technically it's illegal to video a programme off the telly ;)
Ho hum, my folks' forgot to tape it for me :( I'll just have to wait for the DVD.
arctic hobo
24-04-2005, 14:09
Mind you, technically it's illegal to video a programme off the telly ;)
I thought that it was legal so long as it was for your own viewing..?
i cant imagine it is illegal since the tv channels broadcast electronic information so that those modern videos can record automatically.
Motorbike Man
24-04-2005, 14:27
technically it's illegal as you have to ask permission from the owner of the rights to the program. In theory, even if you record it for your own use, you have to pay a replay fee to all of the actors involved and the owners of the rights to whatever it is, and whoever wrote the theme tune every time you watch it. Of course, this is all in theory as it's impossible to enforce.
Thinking about it, I'm sure I heard somewhere that a recording from television is OK as long as it is recorded over in a certain amount of time, so you can't tape a film and keep it forever, you have a certain time that you can keep it before it must be recorded over. But, as you say, who will enforce it?
Spamel
it looks like this weeks program will be a good one. I wonder if he will use his new birch bark canoe? :cool:
bbc 2 listings:
Ray Mears' Bushcraft
Thu 28 Apr, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm 60mins
Travel by canoe is the ultimate Bushcraft journey. It offers the chance to move at the pace of the river, to surrender your life to the rhythm of the water. A canoe makes no noise, leaves no trace and creates no pollution, it's the perfect way to get close to the natural world.
Ray paddles through the Canadian wilderness down a river that was once an arterial route for the fur trade. He encounters moose and beaver and shares his bushcraft knowledge on the journey with canoe expert Ray Goodwin.
Moonraker
24-04-2005, 15:01
Nice info Hootchie :)
I saw a trailer for the programme late last night and it showed him travelling down some white water and slower river all set in beautiful pin fringed locations in Canada. It also had a shot of him whittling a new wooden paddle with his knife ;) Looks another good programme!
innocent bystander
24-04-2005, 15:12
'cording to the book, he didn't trust the birch bark - something to do with the quality caused by acid rain, global warming etc, so he used a cedar/canvas canoe instead. Shame really.
innocent bystander
24-04-2005, 15:15
Thinking about it, I'm sure I heard somewhere that a recording from television is OK as long as it is recorded over in a certain amount of time, so you can't tape a film and keep it forever, you have a certain time that you can keep it before it must be recorded over. But, as you say, who will enforce it?
Spamel
I thought it'd be okay as long as you dont use it for public performance , charge for it plagiarise it etc ?