- Joined
- Jan 1, 2009
- Messages
- 3,431
Well, last week I decided to rejoin the Fiddleback family. After a warm welcome back and a few hours of research. I decided to start fresh with a new model, the Leuku.
The excellent descriptions of weight, size and balance, made it sound appropriate for my needs.
This one popped up in the Fiddleback Friday sale frenzy. I let it sit there overnight. But when it was still there in the morning. I pulled the trigger.
Shop Photo,
Normal stuff, I ordered it, a tracking number showed up, and I waited patiently for it to arrive.
Then it struck! Fiddleback Fear!
When I went to the mailbox I was alarmed to see the box had a sizable hole torn in it.
Upon further investigation, I determined someone else wanted my Leuku as much, or perhaps even more than I did. Oh the Horror,
I could tell there was something still in the box, but I had no idea what? I hate drama.
This was drama. I hate drama!
But all was well, this is what was in the box. Phew, that was scary. Better calm down, big afternoon on tap, and lots to do. Some muscle relaxer to help calm the nerves,
While many of you folks were down at Blade enjoying those hot days, and long lines, large crowds, and the associated traffic snarls. No rest for me. No sir. I had work to do. Life in the woods can be grueling.
First my new partner and I went off to the wood pile to split some wood,
Then we went after the kindling pile,
I don't know how it was at Blade. But it was beastly hot up here. Reaching well into the upper 60s. Stacking all the wood we split was brutal.
I was running out of time. So I just piled the kindling on top of the wood pile.
After all that work out in this brutal heat. I remembered the words of my S.O.L.O. Wilderness First Responder instructors. Hydrate or Die!
So I took their advice and selected a woods appropriate beverage to replace my lost electrolytes. Feeling better already.
No rest for the weary. It was my turn to cook dinner. So off to light the grill. Fortunately for me, my wood pile is also my grill. So, I fluffed up some twine, then added some Swamp Napalm.
The piezoelectric starter on my grill hasn't worked for a while, so I just use a Ferro rod. I have never been able to get a picture of the swamp fuzz going up, because it just explodes with a short hot burst, then it is gone. But it did its job and got the twine rocking.
The kindling caught quick and we were off and running.
The middle part of this fire, was like the middle part of my golf game. It sucked.
Some wet wood with two dry pieces sandwiched in between them. It struggled for a bit. You can see the water running down the front. But I knew if some heat reached the dry cherry stacked below. We would have a nice fire.
The middle section did its job, the cherry took off like gang busters.
My back was really starting to tighten up from all this hard work and stress. Better have another muscle relaxer!
Some days nothing seems to go right. While I was having the muscle relaxer (or two) all my wood burned up. Or more accurately burned down. More stress! Now what?
To avoid further stress, I just tossed the meat in there. And headed for more relaxer.
What could possibly go wrong?
I'm sure you folks have heard of Kobi Beef. Well meet Chernobyl Steak. I yanked what was left of it off the coals. And let it rest a bit. I'm telling ya, the stress level is up there.
While the steak was resting, I threw on the grill and a hunk of bread so we would at least have something to eat. The bride shredded some cheddar cheese. Who doesn't like grilled cheese sandwiches, right?
The bread came out good, and the cheese was fine. So I took a few more sips of relaxer, knocked off the remaining coals, and cut into the Chernobyl Beef.
Huh, turns out, it looks pretty good.
Might as well toss some on with the bread and cheese and have a go,
It all came together rather nicely. My Adirondack Steak and Cheese sandwich. Not as greasy as those bad boys from Philly, but doable.
Did I mention my custom Bush Roamer Dangler Sheath from Sharp 1 Leather Works came today too. The Leuku fits like a glove in there.
url=https://lv1.smugmug.com/Fiddleback/n-m58Vjt/i-kkm9WPM/A]
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With a full belly, and relaxed muscles, why not try a feather stick,
All in all, a great first day with my new Fiddleback Leuku. I think we're going to be pals.
Thanks Andy and everyone else at Fiddleback Forge for getting me such a nice knife. I am more than pleased to be back on board.
The excellent descriptions of weight, size and balance, made it sound appropriate for my needs.
This one popped up in the Fiddleback Friday sale frenzy. I let it sit there overnight. But when it was still there in the morning. I pulled the trigger.
Shop Photo,
Normal stuff, I ordered it, a tracking number showed up, and I waited patiently for it to arrive.
Then it struck! Fiddleback Fear!
When I went to the mailbox I was alarmed to see the box had a sizable hole torn in it.
Upon further investigation, I determined someone else wanted my Leuku as much, or perhaps even more than I did. Oh the Horror,
I could tell there was something still in the box, but I had no idea what? I hate drama.
This was drama. I hate drama!
But all was well, this is what was in the box. Phew, that was scary. Better calm down, big afternoon on tap, and lots to do. Some muscle relaxer to help calm the nerves,
While many of you folks were down at Blade enjoying those hot days, and long lines, large crowds, and the associated traffic snarls. No rest for me. No sir. I had work to do. Life in the woods can be grueling.
First my new partner and I went off to the wood pile to split some wood,
Then we went after the kindling pile,
I don't know how it was at Blade. But it was beastly hot up here. Reaching well into the upper 60s. Stacking all the wood we split was brutal.
I was running out of time. So I just piled the kindling on top of the wood pile.
After all that work out in this brutal heat. I remembered the words of my S.O.L.O. Wilderness First Responder instructors. Hydrate or Die!
So I took their advice and selected a woods appropriate beverage to replace my lost electrolytes. Feeling better already.
No rest for the weary. It was my turn to cook dinner. So off to light the grill. Fortunately for me, my wood pile is also my grill. So, I fluffed up some twine, then added some Swamp Napalm.
The piezoelectric starter on my grill hasn't worked for a while, so I just use a Ferro rod. I have never been able to get a picture of the swamp fuzz going up, because it just explodes with a short hot burst, then it is gone. But it did its job and got the twine rocking.
The kindling caught quick and we were off and running.
The middle part of this fire, was like the middle part of my golf game. It sucked.
Some wet wood with two dry pieces sandwiched in between them. It struggled for a bit. You can see the water running down the front. But I knew if some heat reached the dry cherry stacked below. We would have a nice fire.
The middle section did its job, the cherry took off like gang busters.
My back was really starting to tighten up from all this hard work and stress. Better have another muscle relaxer!
Some days nothing seems to go right. While I was having the muscle relaxer (or two) all my wood burned up. Or more accurately burned down. More stress! Now what?
To avoid further stress, I just tossed the meat in there. And headed for more relaxer.
What could possibly go wrong?
I'm sure you folks have heard of Kobi Beef. Well meet Chernobyl Steak. I yanked what was left of it off the coals. And let it rest a bit. I'm telling ya, the stress level is up there.
While the steak was resting, I threw on the grill and a hunk of bread so we would at least have something to eat. The bride shredded some cheddar cheese. Who doesn't like grilled cheese sandwiches, right?
The bread came out good, and the cheese was fine. So I took a few more sips of relaxer, knocked off the remaining coals, and cut into the Chernobyl Beef.
Huh, turns out, it looks pretty good.
Might as well toss some on with the bread and cheese and have a go,
It all came together rather nicely. My Adirondack Steak and Cheese sandwich. Not as greasy as those bad boys from Philly, but doable.
Did I mention my custom Bush Roamer Dangler Sheath from Sharp 1 Leather Works came today too. The Leuku fits like a glove in there.
url=https://lv1.smugmug.com/Fiddleback/n-m58Vjt/i-kkm9WPM/A]
With a full belly, and relaxed muscles, why not try a feather stick,
All in all, a great first day with my new Fiddleback Leuku. I think we're going to be pals.
Thanks Andy and everyone else at Fiddleback Forge for getting me such a nice knife. I am more than pleased to be back on board.
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