I have been unable to go out for lunch the last couple of days because of meetings and a storm yesterday, but today it is nice and sunny and hot.
I ate my lunch quickly at my desk (leftover spaghetti) and headed out. My plan was to head back to the same spot I was in before to play around. It had a nice fairly open area and the big rock to sit on. As I went that way though my plan was foiled, there was a huge loader truck on the gravel road. I am not 100% sure I am supposed to be meandering through the scrap yard to the spot I like so I didn’t want to risk walking by them.
Instead I turned around and headed the opposite direction down the gravel road along the wood line. The spot where I normally cross the railroad tracks is just a single line of trees along the bank of the creek. However if I keep traveling the other way the creek curves so it actually gives a little bit of area between the tree line and the creek.
I eventually found a spot that looked good to enter.
It slopped down a hill, and was about 20 feet to the creek. I wasn’t the first person to ever step here, there was a pretty large tree that looked like it had but taken down long ago.
And there was an old metal trashcan (I think it was anyway) that had eroded over the years.
I checked around making sure the area was clear of snakes (in particular under the rotting tree) and plopped down on the ground. I had brought two empty cans to try and make a pop can stove with my trusty Wenger.
I was able to cut the cans easy enough
I stuck the two parts together and punched holes along the top with the awl on my SAK. However I brought no fuel along (I need to get some HEET) I did stuff some dead leaves in it and tried to hold a lighter to the top but no luck. I have always made hobo stoves and never did a pop can stove before so I’m not sure if I did it wrong or if I have to have an alcohol based fuel. I’ll be sure to try again when I get some HEET.
I spent about 40 minutes messing around and decided to do a bit more walking (the skeeters were bad today, I may need to start bringing some bug repellent). I can to one of the spots where the drains empty into the creek and decide to stick around and just enjoy the scene.
I brought with me as always my PSK and canteen. I wish I could head out for 1 or 2 days with nothing but this setup, I swear I think I would get by fine with it (as long as I managed to snare something or catch some fish if longer than 1 night)
The creek was pretty high and was running hard from the storm the day before.
I have done some batoning, push cutting, carving, etc. with my BK13 since I got it, and I wanted to test and make sure it was still sharp. It curled up sme thin slices real easy.
I had just sharpened my Wenger yesterday and decided to try it out as well. I cut off the feathers from the Becker and went to work, they were paper thin curls.
It had been an hour so I headed back, crossing the railroad tracks something caught my eye.
Looks like a railroad spike or something. I picked it up and took it with me. Maybe I can sharpen it up and do something with it. I am hoping tomorrow the way will be clear to go back to my favorite spot and try to do some more fishing.
Stay tuned for updates.
)
Very nice
