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Tony
16-05-2011, 12:56
Then away to the heart of the deep unknown, where the trout and the wild moose are. Where the fire burns bright, and the tents gleam white, under the northern star.
--
 Albert Bigelow Paine, Tobeatic, 1908

INTRODUCTION

The Bushcraft UK, Canadian canoe expedition is a 8 day wilderness canoe trip led by certified UK guides and canoe instructors into one of Canada's many pristine wilderness reserves – The Tobeatic wilderness area of Nova Scotia. The expedition is a "no frills" low cost opportunity to experience top of the range instruction, deep in this unspoilt environment.

During the expedition, students will be expected to participate in routine tasks around the camp such as firewood collection, water collection, and general camp duties. Accommodation will be in tents or under tarps, wild camping on the banks of the rivers and lakes.

COURSE DETAILS:

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A BOOKING.

Course provider: Bushcraft Expeditions/Truenorthoutdoors
Minimum numbers: 12
Maximum numbers: 16
Minimum age: 18 (16 if accompanied by an adult)

Date of Expedition: Thursday 17th – 24th May 2012

Expedition go/no go date: 15th February 2012

Duration: 8-day itinerary. Arriving day one/departing day eight.

Timings and pick-up/drop off:

RV time 20:00hr on the 17th May at the Goodwin hotel, Weymouth, NS.

Drop off for travel home 12:00hr on the 24th at the Goodwin Hotel, Weymouth, NS.
(Details and best means of getting to the RV will be emailed to signed up members of the expedition. The cost to get from the airport to Weymouth is approximately £38 at the time of writing.)

Accommodation and catering:

Accommodation: Students provide own tents.

Catering: The Expedition is on a self-catering basis. Rations can be purchased locally on day one but it is recommended that students bring dehydrated or similar rations from UK. Rations will be cooked over open fires or on student provided cookers.

Expedition Cost and payment details:

Expedition Cost: £720.00 (Fully inclusive of VAT)

A Non refundable deposit of £120.00 is required on booking – THIS DEPOSIT WILL BE REFUNDED IN FULL IF THE EXPEDITION DOES NOT GO AHEAD

Final payments: payable immediately from the 15th February 2012 if expedition takes place and by no later than 15th March. (any one failing to pay their final payment by the 15th March 2012 will lose their deposit and forfeit their place to a reserve)

All bookings and payments should be made directly to Bushcraft Expeditions by the following means:

To pay by credit/debit card:
Contact Becky in the Bushcraft Expeditions office on 01432 356700. You will need to provide your full name, address, bank/card and contact (email and phone) details and BCUK user name.

To pay by Paypal:
Contact Becky in the Bushcraft Expeditions office on 01432 356700 or on the email address below. You will need to provide your full name, address, contact (email and phone) details, and BCUK user name. Do not make any payment until you have confirmed your booking with Bushcraft Expeditions office.

inforequest@bushcraftexpeditio ns.com (use this email address for Paypal payments)

To pay by bank transfer:
If paying directly into the bank by bank transfer etc please phone the number above for the account details. You will need to provide your full name, address, bank/card and contact (email and phone) details and BCUK user name.

All payments are by secure means.

On receipt of your booking and clearance of your deposit, all paper work will be sent via email.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NO STUDENTS BOOK FLIGHTS OR PURCHASE EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT OR FOOD UNTIL THE EXPEDITION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED TO BE TAKING PLACE. NIETHER BUSHCRAFT UK OR BUSHCRAFT EXPEDITIONS WILL BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY EXPENSE AS A RESULT OF STUDENTS NOT COMPLYING WITH THE ABOVE STATEMENT

Subjects covered:

1. Outfitting, kit and equipment for a canoe expedition.
2. Tandem Canoe skills on open still and moving water.
3. Daily routine and considerations for canoe travel.
4. Expedition medical procedures.
5. Fire lighting and fire husbandry.
6. Tracking and stalking.
7. Traps and trapping.
8. Fishing.
9. water safety.
10. Field cookery.
11. Riverine Navigation.

Included in the price:

1. Full instruction in Bushcraft and Survival from certified UK/English speaking Guides.
2. Full instruction in open Canadian canoeing and canoe expeditionary skills.
3. All internal transfers from/to the meeting point to the put in point.
4. Camping fees and permits throughout.
5. Local site fees on day one.
6. Fully trained on site expedition medical cover.
7. Canoe transport fees and pick up fees
8. Nova Scotia Fishing licence.
9. Canoe, paddles, PFD's and ancillary canoe safety equipment.

Not included in the cost:

1. International flights/transport to designated meeting point.
2. Any additional activities other than those stated.
3. Clothing and equipment hire other than that stated
4. Meals during the expedition.
5. Trip/cancellation insurance.

Optional equipment hire available:

1. Small, medium and large waterproof canoe bags @ £TBC per day
2. 2 man Tents @ £TBC

Kit and Equipment requirements:

Clothing you will need to bring:


Light weight quick drying "Cargo" type trousers (1 pair)
Long sleeve shirt (1)
Walking socks (3 pairs)
Underwear
Large brimmed sun hat or similar
Light weight Wellington boots
Belt
Evening/relaxation wear
Shorts/swimming trunks
Towel
lightweight boots (for when ashore)
Warm fleece or similar. (for evenings)
Rain wear (Trousers and jacket)

Equipment you will need to bring:


Rucksack or Holdall (65-70 ltr) with waterproof liner if not hiring canoe bag (No hard cases)
3 season sleeping bag
Small travel pillow (optional, but recommended)
Water bottle (1 ltr min) and mug and plate/bowl
Cooking utensils and cooker
Fixed blade sheath type knife
Small pocket knife
Small Axe (Optional)
Whistle
Orienteering Compass
Lighter
10 metres of strong nylon cord
Note book and pencil
Wash bag and toiletries (Including toilet paper)
Head torch and spare batteries
Personal Medications
Small personal medical kit containing plasters, aspirin etc
Sun block
Mosquito repellent
Water purification tablets or Iodine (Sufficient for 8 litres a day x 8 days)



Passport.

DavidJT
16-05-2011, 13:27
Oooh! Tempted!

Shewie
16-05-2011, 13:36
Which airport would we fly into Tony, just so i can get an idea of flight costs.

DavidJT
16-05-2011, 13:37
Halifax I think. Just checked Opodo, best I could get was about £1500

Tony
16-05-2011, 14:27
Yeah, it will be halifax, £1500 seems very steep :( I was looking at £460 a little while ago...

DavidJT
16-05-2011, 14:31
£460 would be great! Mine was only a very quick search, so don't want to put anyone off.
Course seems really good value.

Tony
16-05-2011, 14:38
I've found a few sub £600 but the dates aren't set due to them not projecting past April in some cases...

Woody
16-05-2011, 18:45
Halifax I think. Just checked Opodo, best I could get was about £1500

Gatwick to Halifax with Canadian Affair (http://www.canadianaffair.com/)

about £200 each way

Woody

Shewie
16-05-2011, 18:48
That's seriously tempting if we can get them around that price

Wayne
16-05-2011, 19:09
Looks like a great trip. I have not paddled in that part of Canada and a really good price. I have flown air transat to Toronto a couple of times. They are the budget airline of Air France and are truely awful. Think Ryan air only worse. I would invest a few extra pennies and fly air canada.

DavidJT
16-05-2011, 21:44
Gatwick to Halifax with Canadian Affair (http://www.canadianaffair.com/)

about £200 each way

Woody
Now I'm seriously interested at that price!

coln18
20-05-2011, 18:35
If i see enough interest in this trip, i'm definitely in for this trip.

Just dont want to pay a deposit of £150 just now and have it sitting with Bushcraft Expeditions for over a year for it just to be cancelled due to lack of numbers.

How about we start a wee list and try to drum up some definite interest in this canoe trip.

I will start it off.



1. Coln18 (Not just interest, but a definite)

Totumpole
20-05-2011, 23:58
Sounds amazing, I'm well game but will have to check Wight th better half. Hope places don't go too quick!

carlcmss
21-05-2011, 08:07
Hi,
Is this still going on??? If so Air Transat are an awesome airline, flown with them over 50 times and only had 1 bad flight, flown air canada back from Japan once and it was BAD! Budget means budget, from blighty to Canada Transat is the best there is for the price. 720 pounds for a week canoe trip seems steep to me, we do it for $500 including food! www.schoolinthewoods.ca But looking at the list they cover a lot.

dancan
21-05-2011, 10:25
Wow , that's in my back yard so to speak !
If anyone needs any info that they can't seem to find out on Nova Scotia send me a pm and I'll try to help .

RonW
21-05-2011, 11:03
Now that sounds like a trip I would just love to make!
is there any way I can be kept up to date on this or do I have to check here?

catch
22-05-2011, 19:26
I am up for this trip and happy to put a deposit down to make it happen. EDIT... Too excited to read properly hehe... Saw the phone number on closer inspection!

Cheers,

C

Becky
01-07-2011, 09:21
Hi All

The following is an official list of all those that have paid their deposits for this expedition and consequently represent the numbers so far:

1.Bighead
2.ShaunRoberts
3.FluffyERug
4.gan_pi
5.clubduvet

malente
01-07-2011, 11:23
oh tempting! i need to think about this (and I could fly for € around 600 round trip from Frankfurt...)

Becky
06-07-2011, 15:05
Hi All

The following is an official list of all those that have paid their deposits for this expedition and consequently represent the numbers so far:

1.Bighead
2.ShaunRoberts
3.FluffyERug
4.gan_pi
5.clubduvet

gan_pi
14-08-2011, 09:01
Hello All,

I'm new to this bushcraft lark, but since FluffyRug talked me into a little trip to the Lake District I've gotten the (expensive) bug ;)

anyway I was checking through the kit list and wondered about packing some of these bits. I thought the knives and axes may be an issue at Halifax, but they don't seem to be bothered about that provided its in the hold (still need to check UK side, but I'm betting it'll be the same).

They do care about the cooker bit. The list of things you can/can't take via the hold (link below) forbids any compressed gas fuels, and only fuel containers where 'adequate measures have been taken to nullify any hazard' I take this to imply that we're gonna have to travel with these filled with water or similar and then fuel them in CA, is this everyone else's opinion?

I'm really looking forward to the trip, hoping BushMoot gets the numbers up to make it a goer, otherwise I can see a more local trip getting sorted ;)

cheers
-Gan_pi

http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/page.aspx?id=58&pname=CompleteItemList_ListeCo mpleteArticles&lang=en

silentpaddler
14-08-2011, 17:52
Are there any Canadian expeditions held in Ontario? If so, I'd be keen to try one out.

Imagedude
22-08-2011, 22:12
What sort of fitness level is required?

Totumpole
12-09-2011, 19:27
Im most definately game. Will have to wait until next payday to put up the deposit thoug.

Becky
14-09-2011, 10:19
Hi All

The following is an official list of all those that have paid their deposits for this expedition and consequently represent the numbers so far:

1.Bighead
2.ShaunRoberts
3.FluffyERug
4.gan_pi
5.clubduvet
6.neumo

Becky
14-09-2011, 10:29
Hello.Average fitness is required. Most portages are done in pairs and you only carry what you can manage and the majority of the portages are only a few hundred meters long. Other than that you are on the water.
Becky

Neumo
14-09-2011, 13:14
Well I could not resist this one so have signed up for it.

Neumo
18-09-2011, 17:40
How much white water will be involved with this trip? I am getting some more lessons in preperation for the trip but it would be good to know. I have done it in the past but have not done any for a while. Thanks

nuggets
18-09-2011, 18:01
who taking care of the bears on the trip ??

DavidJT
18-09-2011, 22:52
who taking care of the bears on the trip ??
http://manhattaninfidel.com/__oneclick_uploads/2010/09/rangersmith.jpg

hertsboy
15-12-2011, 16:56
Is this expedition still taking place, and are there any places left, as I am interested in coming and have only just discovered it.

It just seems a bit odd to me that there have been no postings since September!

clubduvet
15-12-2011, 23:05
Aye hertsboy, I was wondering the same myself, but the list has been updated regularly (adding and subtracting people, just nobody added recently) so looks like 6 people so far, but need a minimum of 12.

Therefore, yes I 'assume' there are still places (Becky should be able to confirm), but I guess we won't know about go ahead until Feb 2012 depending on numbers.

hertsboy
16-12-2011, 16:33
only 6 signed up? That's disappointing, as 12 needed to go ahead.

Well I'm in to that's 7.

Just gotta find my credit card to make the deposit.

clubduvet
16-12-2011, 23:56
Excellent hertsboy, lets hope we get the numbers.

I see from your location we're neighbours, making me bedsboy I guess.......lol.

Becky
20-12-2011, 16:55
Hi All

The following is an official list of all those that have paid their deposits for this expedition and consequently represent the numbers so far:

1.Bighead
2.ShaunRoberts
3.FluffyERug
4.gan_pi
5.clubduvet
6.neumo
7.hertsboy

Merry Christmas to everyone!!

gan_pi
21-12-2011, 22:54
i certainly hope this is still going on. I can see me heading over that way if it doesn't go ahead and just go camp somewhere suitably wild. won't be able to do as much and would still need to sort out passes for some bits, but I've relatives over there who may be able to help...and I think there was someone on here who was local?...

till then I'll just book a week up in scotland I think

clubduvet
16-01-2012, 10:06
Are there any more people interested in this trip, but holding out until nearer the cut off point to confirm with deposits...???

Just so there is an indication of whether the trip will go ahead or not, otherwise I guess I'll need to start making arrangements to take the Jeep across Corsica or the Pyrenees for a couple of weeks later in the year.

Cheers

Becky
18-01-2012, 14:36
Hi clubduvet

We still have just under a month until the go/no go date so thats stil plenty of time for more people to join on, fingers crossed!!
Becky
Bushcraft Expeditions

clubduvet
18-01-2012, 18:49
Thanks for the reply Becky and you're absolutely right (of course), but having seen the Arctic trip cancelled (which I also fancied) it made me a little antsy......lol.

Just takes a fair amount of organisation here for me with work and care for my Autistic 7yr old etc that I just like to plan as far ahead as possible should I need to arrange a contingency plan.

As you say........fingers crossed...!!

Broomstickize
18-01-2012, 21:36
Only just came across this but it looks really interesting - just a shame I'm all planned up for boys trips this year... Don't think the marriage would last a year if I signed up!

hertsboy
19-01-2012, 17:58
Are there any more people interested in this trip, but holding out until nearer the cut off point to confirm with deposits...???

Just so there is an indication of whether the trip will go ahead or not, otherwise I guess I'll need to start making arrangements to take the Jeep across Corsica or the Pyrenees for a couple of weeks later in the year.

Cheers

That sounds good - perhaps you could do with a co-driver/bag-carrier/someone to help pay the diesel bills?

clubduvet
19-01-2012, 20:10
@hertsboy

Diesel is for whimps (and Land Rovers..........:p)

I only drive a HIGH OCTANE YANKEE GAS GUZZLING BEAST...!!! (surprised it even accepts Unleaded)

So yes, fuel contributors may be an essential requisite.......lol

....... maybe something to discuss after the 15th.

Neumo
23-01-2012, 10:00
We need another 5 people for this to happen and we have less than a month left..... lets hope we can get some more takers

Jaymzflood
24-01-2012, 11:00
If i had see this a year ago Id be on this!!!!!!! Bit too late for me now tho, especially with going to Austria late April.

Neumo
04-02-2012, 21:29
Looks like this may not be happening as we have a week & a half to get 5 more people to commit to this, which is a real shame as I had high hopes for this one.

clubduvet
05-02-2012, 17:11
Aye, you and me both Neumo, but sadly it's looking bleak as there isn't much chatter beyond those of us who have signed up already.

It will be a real shame if it's cancelled, as I was really looking forward to it (sounded like a terrific opportunity).



Looks like this may not be happening as we have a week & a half to get 5 more people to commit to this, which is a real shame as I had high hopes for this one.

hertsboy
05-02-2012, 18:34
Aye, real shame if it doesn't take place. Chance in a lifetime trip if you ask me.

Mind you, I can understand people thinking twice about sigining up as, taking the flights into account, it's a good £1,500 that has to be found.

Not all of us are fortunate enought to have that kind of money to spare.

Neumo
05-02-2012, 19:39
We will have to see, as we may get a rush of takers at the end but probably not. Shame as I was really looking forward to this one.

clubduvet
06-02-2012, 14:12
Your sentiment is very true hertsboy, as I asked a couple of people I know in my village (knowing it was right up their street - or should that be river.....lol) and they just couldn't justify the money at the moment.

Not that I believe it to be an expensive trip for what it is but trip + flights + additional gear + possibly staying additional nights if flights don't tally, soon adds up and sadly these are mediocre times financially for many.



Aye, real shame if it doesn't take place. Chance in a lifetime trip if you ask me.

Mind you, I can understand people thinking twice about sigining up as, taking the flights into account, it's a good £1,500 that has to be found.

Not all of us are fortunate enought to have that kind of money to spare.

clubduvet
14-02-2012, 14:51
Just bumping the thread in the vague hope that it attracts 5 recruits.

You've got to try..............:p

Neumo
14-02-2012, 21:05
Yes it looks like it is a goner but at least we will find out tomorrow.

Neumo
15-02-2012, 15:14
No news is bad news? We were supposed to find out today if this is going ahead or not. Will PM Becky

** PM Sent **

clubduvet
15-02-2012, 15:18
Thanks Neumo, please put me out of my misery.............



No news is bad news? We were supposed to find out today if this is going ahead or not. Will PM Becky

** PM Sent **

Becky
15-02-2012, 17:15
Dear All
We regret to say that the above expedition is cancelled due to insufficient numbers as today is the go/no go date. I will email all students who paid a deposit with details of your refund

Regards
Becky

clubduvet
15-02-2012, 18:06
Thanks Becky.

Appreciate you guys putting the expedition together and hope it doesn't put you off trying again (as I would definitely sign up for another chance).

Neumo
15-02-2012, 18:34
Yes, same here. Times is tough, so many can't afford this. Thanks for letting us know & will hope there is another one at some time in the future.

gan_pi
15-02-2012, 18:55
plan b - scotland & dartmoor it is then.

thanks for trying Becky, please do let us know if there's a reschedule.

ps I am buying a lottery ticket for the weekend. if I win big its back on! :D

Becky
16-02-2012, 10:21
Hi All

Once again many apologies that the course did not go ahead. I have emailed you all regards your refund. Please check your emails.

Regards
Becky

Neumo
17-02-2012, 18:46
Becky: I have had no email yet. will send PM