Masonboro Island Survival Trip

joe i've got to get outside w u next time im up in nc to vist the folks.... u guys have too much fun up there....
 
Yeah, I'm most interested in how the water gathering activities worked. Food on the island probably isn't a worry, but water!?! I was wondering how you guys were going to collect enough water.
 
how did the still work in the sand... been planning on trying on my intercoastal island, but spent too much time working on my bow to set it up last time out....
 
The solar still didnt produce a lot of water. However, the "base" for it to draw on was damp sand. And, we didnt leave it for several hours, which is the way to do it. It could have been greatly improved by pouring seawater into the hole (a hefty amount) before covering, and leaving for -several hours-.

Again, this one was just for practice. We had fresh water that we packed along, so we didnt need to depend on one for hydration. However, they can, and do, work. Time is a key element in a solar still.
 
Water was the biggest problem on the island. No rocks to put into a vat of water to boil it (creating salt free steam), and the idea of digging behind a dune or two dunes doesn't work either.
 
Lee I'd have to slap you silly and kill you with your own flip flops if you came on my boat with those things......Ugh I hate flip flops. I'm walking through the airport and I see all these folks with flip flops. I go camping and I see all these dudes walking with flip flops and half the time with bloody toes. I don't get it with the flip flops! I think you guys should have at least had PFDs on board. Okay speech over.

Looked like a great time. Thanks for posting all those pics!
 
Hey Joe, (did anyone else just hear Jimi Hendrix in their head?)

Great pics, looks like a good times were had... AND I want to ask what kind of lid are you sporting in those pic?? Here in AZ I need shade but mesh top venting would be the cats meow.

Thanks
 
kgd said:
Lee I'd have to slap you silly and kill you with your own flip flops if you came on my boat with those things......Ugh I hate flip flops. I'm walking through the airport and I see all these folks with flip flops. I go camping and I see all these dudes walking with flip flops and half the time with bloody toes. I don't get it with the flip flops! I think you guys should have at least had PFDs on board. Okay speech over.

Looked like a great time. Thanks for posting all those pics!
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Jeez, Ken. Tell me how you really feel? :p

Yeah, I'm normally a safety nut, and PFD's would have been good. But, we didnt have them, so... nothing to do about it, you know?

As for flip-flops, I dont really like them, either. But! I didnt have any boat shoes (even though I found a pair on the beach (3 sizes too big) and I wore them on the way back) so I had to make do with what I did have. Actually, I paid a pretty hefty price for the flops. I'm not used to wearing them, for starters, and they are leather. So, when we got stuck in the mud and had to pull the boats, the wet, gritty leather rubbed my feet something awful. I've still got pretty nasty sores on the tops of my feet from them. Lesson learned. Notice in most of the pics, once we were on land, I had my boots back on.
 
No PFD is a Bozo No-No especially in a WSS thread! Think of the possibilities where you would have needed these. There are many!
Ok, scolding is over.
Great pictures and thanks for shasring!
 
EMT_Lee said:
As for flip-flops, I dont really like them, either. But! I didnt have any boat shoes (even though I found a pair on the beach (3 sizes too big) and I wore them on the way back) so I had to make do with what I did have. Actually, I paid a pretty hefty price for the flops. I'm not used to wearing them, for starters, and they are leather. So, when we got stuck in the mud and had to pull the boats, the wet, gritty leather rubbed my feet something awful. I've still got pretty nasty sores on the tops of my feet from them. Lesson learned. Notice in most of the pics, once we were on land, I had my boots back on.
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Glad you hate them flip flops - I think we're on the same page :D
I think I remember you saying in the chat that you don't really like boats so I can't begrudge you not having boat shoes. Personally in that kind of water craft or canoe, I really like wearing scuba booties, the kind that have a full running shoe sole at the bottom. The reason these things are so great is they sip up tight and seal around your angle. This prevents shells and small stones from washing into them and settling under your foot when you start walking on solid ground again. Here in the Great Lakes, filling up your shoes with zebra mussel shells can be like stepping on razor blades. In a pinch running shoes with socks (yes get the socks wet) work pretty good.

So did you eat BBQ mussels for three days straight? What else did you guys forage?
 
Didnt joe mention another get together like this sometime like in oct or something?
 
kgd said:
Glad you hate them flip flops - I think we're on the same page :D
I think I remember you saying in the chat that you don't really like boats so I can't begrudge you not having boat shoes. Personally in that kind of water craft or canoe, I really like wearing scuba booties, the kind that have a full running shoe sole at the bottom. The reason these things are so great is they sip up tight and seal around your angle. This prevents shells and small stones from washing into them and settling under your foot when you start walking on solid ground again. Here in the Great Lakes, filling up your shoes with zebra mussel shells can be like stepping on razor blades. In a pinch running shoes with socks (yes get the socks wet) work pretty good.

So did you eat BBQ mussels for three days straight? What else did you guys forage?
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We also had blue crabs, that we cooked on the fire. The crab claws were really, really good. I also had a small shrimp, that I ate raw. It was salty, but not all-together horrible. Clams and crabs mostly, though. Both of those are abundant, and easily obtained (so, not much energy burn for a high payoff).

As for the peaceful part: It was nice, but it was also really rough in parts. Hot, direct sunlight, little food, lukewarm or hot water... not always fun. Also, you see the pictures of the mud? We had to drag the boats through that, and the abrasive marsh-grass, for close to a mile. It was pretty harsh. I'm not telling you not to go, but I'm telling you to be prepared to work pretty hard and be uncomfortable. Also, be prepared to sleep rough. If you've never done a lot of minimal/primitive camping, it might be an eye-opening experience for you.
 
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