I'm really starting to like my camp now. I'm getting used to crawl out of my hammock, go out to collect firewood, start a fire, cook porridge and make coffee each morning. The last two days the weather was really fine so after I did the dishes I could take a dip in the sea to get clean(er). Today I also experimented with birch leaf soap. It's a real tender soap and you smell rather nice afterwords. It's also real easy to make. You can watch my vlog to see how I did it: youtube.com/oldskoolscout

I also put some small movies there about the carving grips I learned and some other tricks to get started.

Today I managed to finish my spoon. It became rather big but it looks rather nice. I first practiced my carving grips on some easier things like a Swedish butter knive and a spatula. When I felt sure enough I started with the spoon. However I messed up my first spoon by using the carving axe to much. I broke the spoon in two. But as the scouts say " Learning by doing", so I immediatly started on a second one. That only took my an hour and a half and as I said turned out really nice. I'm considering to buy me a carving axe soon! It's a wonderfull tool. Now I "only" have a Gränfors Small Forest Axe. It's a wonderfool axe but the carving axe is even better for carving. Again you can buy it on www.slojd-detaljer.se.

After I finished my spoon it was time for supper. I filmed my proces of starting a fire. It was all done in one take and looked really nice ... only ... I found out that I hadn't pressed hard enough on the button cause of my gloves! So no film on starting a fire. Since my batteries ran flat I'll have to do it when I get back.

IF I get back ... because tomorrow after lunch I will test my skills and set of with a canoo to a nearby deserted island. I will take a radio with me so I can call the camp office in case of an emergency. Which I'm sure wont be necessary, but still "Be Prepared!"

I'm only taking with me the bare necessities. I will scout the island for next year. I would like to go back next year with some friends and do the same I did now but on the uninhabited island.

I will be looking for all the plants and mosses on the top 20 list the Swedish army devised. ("Överlevnad", you can download it from bushcraftuk.com) That way I will know which possibilities the island has to offer. I will also look for some source of water. The map says there isn't one but one never knows.

I finished this day by attempting to make some birch bark containers. This wasn't as easy as it seemed. But as always ... I will figure it out.

Wish me luck!