Birthday Woods Knife Fun

[stabman]

Went to the woods for a friend's birthday a few months back.
I was too lazy to arrange the pics...till today.

We start with the greatest knife ever, one of those cheap survival knives from the 1980s.

Looks more epic with fire:

Behind the scenes shot of what goes into documenting the amazing greatness of such moments...

Friend whose birthday it is has a TOPS SXB...

...but doesn't really like using it, as you can tell from lack of wear patterns.
So he switched to another knife:

Time for lobster fun.

 

[stabman]

Not everyone wanted to lug a live lobster into the woods, so they brought lobster tails:

As you can see, the Spyderco Police is a wonderful lobster tool.

Night fire:

Someone had the great drunken idea to put a length of wood along the bottom of the upright support of the shelter extension, to make a place to stand and lean like an old-timey saloon scene. I figured that it would break probably, due to the supports being a few years old and needing to be replaced.

It broke right after this picture.

Time for coffee:

Fire went through the night...

As did my carving of a new walking stick using the ZT 0392PURBLKWC

A few coals:

We cooked up breakfast. Sausages, and other things I forget what. I think there was oatmeal too. No pics...sleepy people stumbling into consciousness. One of the last things done was using the residual coals' heat to boil up some water for something...might have been coffee.

And that's what it's all about.
Good times with family and friends, and enjoying nature (I sure heard lots of nature around me in the woods while the others slept, and saw plenty more once the sun rose in the morning).

 

[stabman]

Adding these pictures at the request of my friend whose birthday it was.
He was using the fire to dry his shirt that was all sweaty.
I was not going to post it, but it's his belated birthday wish.
So here it is:

 

[eveled]

With nothing to gauge your friends actual height. He looks like a hobbit.

sounds like he had a good birthday indeed.

 

[stabman]

With nothing to gauge your friends actual height. He looks like a hobbit.

sounds like he had a good birthday indeed.

Party like a Hobbit.

He is actually of normal human proportions, but we all ate like we'd originated in the Shire.

Weird day for temperature; started hot like summer, ended off cool like fall.
Was good for relaxing as the day progressed.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't think I would like that TOPS knife either. Looks like a fun day. It struck me as odd that I actually was thinking about the lobster suffering...... stupid I know. Great post and topless to boot!

What were the sleeping accommodations? Didn't see any adult beverages.

 

[stabman]

I don't think I would like that TOPS knife either. Looks like a fun day. It struck me as odd that I actually was thinking about the lobster suffering...... stupid I know. Great post and topless to boot!

That's actually why I got the smallest one they had...I'd researched what amount of boiling water required to humanely cook lobsters of various weights.
For a larger lobster, would have needed a bigger pot, and had to carry out even more water into the woods.

 

[22-rimfire]

How far back in the woods do you have to hike to get to your "spot"?

 

[stabman]

How far back in the woods do you have to hike to get to your "spot"?

About a kilometer into the woods itself.
You walk down a hiking/bike/horse trail, then when the right spot is reached, it's about a kilometer through the brush and into the woods (no paths there).

Not the "Deep Woods" to be sure, but far enough that you have privacy, and get to see neat animals.
Seen deer in there, and wild turkeys a few times.
You hear the coyotes, but they never come into view.

Far enough that when you carry too much stuff it lets you know, but close enough that you can bring luxury items like lobsters if you want.

What were the sleeping accommodations? Didn't see any adult beverages.

One friend had a tent set up.
My brother used his camping hammock.
My step-brother headed off to the far side past the creek, to an area he's checking out as an alternate site.
My other friend packed up his stuff around 2:00AM and hiked back to his car.
I sat in my folding chair and worked on a walking stick while the others slept.

The adult beverages were out of the pictures, but were around.

 

[CanadaKnifeGuy]

Where in Canada was this held??

 

[stabman]

Where in Canada was this held??

Southern Ontario.
Due to centuries of agriculture, it takes some searching to find wooded areas around here.
Credit for this find goes to my step-brother, who did the legwork about a decade ago to find an area.

Since then, it has become an area that multiple people use for camping; we find evidence of others using the site most every time we head out there.
Most people have been good about cleaning up after themselves, but we also bring garbage bags to cart out any trash that gets left by the occasional slob.

 

[CanadaKnifeGuy]

Southern Ontario.
Due to centuries of agriculture, it takes some searching to find wooded areas around here.
Credit for this find goes to my step-brother, who did the legwork about a decade ago to find an area.

Since then, it has become an area that multiple people use for camping; we find evidence of others using the site most every time we head out there.
Most people have been good about cleaning up after themselves, but we also bring garbage bags to cart out any trash that gets left by the occasional slob.

It reminds me of places near me, just barely into the rural areas around the GTA.

 

[upnorth]

It reminds me of places near me, just barely into the rural areas around the GTA.

I ran around with a .22 and fishing rods growing up in the Oshawa, Bowmanville, Newcastle areas. It's probably all one big slab of asphalt now.........
Good for you Stabby. I get out where and when I can also. Time for me to take some gear and make a fire

 

[Don W]

looks like a great way to spend a birthday.

 

[cbach8tw]

Nice getaway, spend time with friends.

 

[stabman]

It reminds me of places near me, just barely into the rural areas around the GTA.

Similar climate...just a bit more south.

I ran around with a .22 and fishing rods growing up in the Oshawa, Bowmanville, Newcastle areas. It's probably all one big slab of asphalt now.........
Good for you Stabby. I get out where and when I can also. Time for me to take some gear and make a fire

It sure does happen.
Good to get out there and enjoy places before they disappear.

looks like a great way to spend a birthday.

Nice getaway, spend time with friends.

For sure.

 

[IanC]

I was actually the birthday boy! It had been a while since i was last in the bush so I had Stabman set me up a small party among a friends. By the way I am not a Hobbit my feet are to small. Damn it was hot that day and who likes a wet shirt? Nobody thats who!

Like I said it was really nice getting into the bush with friends. Family, work etc are holding me back so to speak. Since it had been a while I tried to think of some good knives to bring out so decided on the SXB, my fathers Mora and the Spyderco Police.
Since lobster was on the menu, thanks again Mark and Matthew I found the police to be the perfect blade for cracking and picking the meat out of the shell.....mmm.... so tasty. I really didnt have much use for the other knives they were just for the photos. With guys like Matthew and Mark around I really didn't need to do a lot of woodsing so instead I offered to help out with the cooking. Brought some rice, beans and other eats and a moka pot along too. Its really not camping without good coffee. Along with a tent, lobster water, drink, mix, lantern, knives, I feel I brought way too much stuff out but was a short walk so worth it. I like gear and being comfortable. As for this being a blade forum I thought i would give my SXB a try as Stabman brought one out on a winter camp and I just loved it, thought I needed one for sure. Having a Junglas first I have to say prefer it and have very little use for the SXB. Its big, bulky and just not something I actually want to use. Although figure if i had to hack out of something or somebody it would be very useful....lol.

Thanks for a great weekend!

 

[stabman]

I was actually the birthday boy! It had been a while since i was last in the bush so I had Stabman set me up a small party among a friends. By the way I am not a Hobbit my feet are to small. Damn it was hot that day and who likes a wet shirt? Nobody thats who!

Like I said it was really nice getting into the bush with friends. Family, work etc are holding me back so to speak. Since it had been a while I tried to think of some good knives to bring out so decided on the SXB, my fathers Mora and the Spyderco Police.
Since lobster was on the menu, thanks again Mark and Matthew I found the police to be the perfect blade for cracking and picking the meat out of the shell.....mmm.... so tasty. I really didnt have much use for the other knives they were just for the photos. With guys like Matthew and Mark around I really didn't need to do a lot of woodsing so instead I offered to help out with the cooking. Brought some rice, beans and other eats and a moka pot along too. Its really not camping without good coffee. Along with a tent, lobster water, drink, mix, lantern, knives, I feel I brought way too much stuff out but was a short walk so worth it. I like gear and being comfortable. As for this being a blade forum I thought i would give my SXB a try as Stabman brought one out on a winter camp and I just loved it, thought I needed one for sure. Having a Junglas first I have to say prefer it and have very little use for the SXB. Its big, bulky and just not something I actually want to use. Although figure if i had to hack out of something or somebody it would be very useful....lol.

Thanks for a great weekend!

You're welcome.

SXB is one of those kind of love it or hate it for using.
Junglas is pretty awesome too, and better for some things.
SXB works a bit better for some other things...always good to have both.

 

[jstn]

Stabman, haven't seen a thread from you in awhile. I enjoyed this one. Glad you're back.

 

[IanC]

I hear ya, never liked it!