Another Blanket Camp (aka. Basic Kit Trip)

scruffuk

scruffuk

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Jan 14, 2010
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***WARNING: This post contains gingers...and lots of pics!***

So, Spam and I decided it was high time we ventured out for a basic kit trip...well any trip really, as it had been a while.

Spam and Ratty had already recce'd a mighty fine camping spot, a few days earlier, but unfortunately Ratbag wasn't there to share the burden of Spam's constant jabbering

The site was a mix of broad leaf and young Spruce, we were pretty much camped under a fine Beech.

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We took along Spam's bro's US Army WWII repro Pup Tents*. They are excellent!! I don't think he'll be getting em back!
*Please notice my superior pitching technique on the left!! Although Spam had to help with the knots

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As he is such an overwhelming cabbage he decided to camp on top of a small ant nest....so he decided to 'remove' them....

.....MURDERER!
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This Anti-cide got Spam very excited!
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Obviously I didn't want to watch anymore of that thank you very much...so I took this lovely picture of my tidy admin.
Features my new Buchanan Autumn Tartan blanket....which I think is rather nice:
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Can you guess what cliched cooking technique we were about to embark on??
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Continued....
 
Good colour!
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Spam Stoker - Just after he had to re-adjust his fish....as he is such a cabbage he didn't prop it properly.
This of course he refuted and went and cried to his mum about!
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My lovely Fiddleback Nessmuk
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This performed well...however it wasn't brilliant. When I initially sharpened this I think I made the angle of convex too 'rounded'.
Since returning I have made it much more acute and its now MUCH sharper than it was.

Its probably the first time its had a REAL bushwhacking use though, and it served me well.
Despite taking me a while to setup properly, I've really fallen in love with this knife. Its definitely a keeper!

Pudding came in the form of (dried) mixed fruit Johnny Cake, which would have been improved with rum...but hey.
I think I prefer Johnny cake to bannock actually. I'm going off the taste of suet....this is great cos there's less ingredients too it!

The night was great, it got a little chilly under my one blanket at around 3am, so another layer would have been nice.
At 5am we both arose, and the weather was glorious. We had a bite to eat (Hungarian Guylai Bannock) and a cup of Joe.
Then we just lay back and snoozed for a while.

I lay out, on my kip mat and watched tens of birds; Wrens, Robins, Longtailed Tits, Nuthatches(?)...it was excellent.
Several times some bold Robins were inches away from us.....faaaaantastic!

I drifted off and woke up a bit later on. Carved a wee spoon whilst the cabbage lay comatosed.
Not that I was complaining about that mind....it was so peaceful.

Such a great trip out :)

Cheers Spam :thumbup:
 
Looks like a great time. Nice set up. Never had a Johnny cake...off to google it.
 
Nice pics, thanks for sharing I love the taste of fish cooked over an open fire and coals.
 
Looks like a good time! Thanks for sharing your pics and commentary. I wondered what Johnny cakes were too and had to google them. Sounds familiar, never made it though, loved seeing the fish racked up and propped, what kind of fish was it? Oh, and could you please shoot me over a message on where one can find those tents? Nice set ups!!
 
I love seeing my knives get some use!!!
 
Cheers for the kind words dudes.

Just to answer your questions.

The fish is Brown Trout. I'm a terrible fisherman and there's nowhere to catch it near me so this came fresh from the Fish Market that morning (Europe's Largest Indoor Market to be precise :)).

misty - You're so right. Its just the best way to enjoy the fish, pure and unadulterated.

Johnny Cakes are a VERY simple recipe. I got this one from the Ray Mears 'Rogers Rangers' Episode.

The ingredients are as follows:

1 cup of Plain flour (I think you guys call this 'All Purpose flour'??)
1 tsp Baking Powder (not Soda!)
Water

That's it!

Just add enough water to make a firm dough. Ray advises 'airiating' the settled flour before hand.

You can basically add owt you want to this basic dough and you're away.
For a sweet version I'd advise adding a couple of heaped tablespoons of sugar, or honey (will require less water).

Its cooked in a (frying) pan or similar, on some scrapped embers until its risen, then propped up, about 3-4 inches away from a good bed of coals.
It could be cooked and flipped on a hot stone or skillet though.
 
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looks like a great trip man! thanks for sharing. love the fiddleback nessie! i got one too and love it.
 
Great trip, pics and narrative!

Wondering about the "Buchanan Autumn"? I own articles in the old and new setts, symmetrical and asymmetrical, hunting, ancient and weathered. I had never seen nor heard of an "autumn"- but I like it! Might one inquire what fine woolery purveys such items?
 
Cheers again guys.

MacHete said:
Great trip, pics and narrative!

Wondering about the "Buchanan Autumn"? I own articles in the old and new setts, symmetrical and asymmetrical, hunting, ancient and weathered. I had never seen nor heard of an "autumn"- but I like it! Might one inquire what fine woolery purveys such items?
Click to expand...

Indeed there's a fair few Buchanan's (16+). This may well be a 'reproduction shade' rather than an 'official'. It is how ever the name I bought it under.

The blanket is available from several stores here in the UK (mostly based in Scotland), some of whom trade on eBay.

It is also easily Googled ;)
 
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