What other skills should I play with while bored at the beach?

X

xxguitarist

Joined
Jun 12, 2007
Messages
330
I'm looking for some more survival stuff to practice while bored..
Today, I built a figure 4 trap while lifeguarding- it was a cool day here, the beach was practically empty.
Other days, i've played with my magnesium fire starter.
my available supplies are the usual for a beach- assorted sticks/ driftwood, rocks, etc.
of course, i've also got my knives.
I can bring cord or other stuff with me also.
Anyone have suggestions to keep me amused & busy?
 
I like to practice with a sling on the beach, if its relativly empty theres less chance of it flying off course and hitting someone, that and theres usually a bunch of rocks at the beack to sling.:thumbup:
 
Since You Said You Could Bring Cord How About Practicing Knots Or Net Making? It`s Not Difficult, Just Takes Practice. The Cords Inside A Length Of Paracord Are Great. And The Net Can Be Used For Fish, Birds, Bags,hammoks ( In Principle, But I`d Used The Whole Paracord There) Etc.
 
How about a solar still. I understand that when salt water evaporates it leave the salt behind, and condenses to fresh water. It would be interesting to see how much water you can collect in a day.
 
Hey, I'm all for practicing. But maybe NOT while you're LIFEGUARDING?? No offense, but I'd be pretty miffed if the guy who was supposed to be watching my kids and I while we were at the beach was busy building a figure 4 trap. Maybe it's just me.
Please practice whatever you want to, but after your no longer on duty??
 
Yea sling is a great idea. I just started myself and was practicing with a superball outside so I wouldnt break a window or something. Id love to have an open beach to practice on.

Or make a sand castle! You know, for shelter and stuff :D.
 
If you are both bored and adventeurous, you could go out to a sandbar and dig fro clams and scallops.....or see what kind of fish you can get from net casting..
 
Timblade said:
Hey, I'm all for practicing. But maybe NOT while you're LIFEGUARDING?? No offense, but I'd be pretty miffed if the guy who was supposed to be watching my kids and I while we were at the beach was busy building a figure 4 trap. Maybe it's just me.
Please practice whatever you want to, but after your no longer on duty??
Click to expand...

you missed the second half of the second line of my post, aparently.

I'm not one to pick fights online, but someone accusing me of incompetency/ negligence warrants a reply.
"the beach was practically empty" translates to aproximately 5 groups on the beach, and while I was building this trap, there was noone in the water.
when one or two of the few kids on the beach had warmed up enough to boogieboard in knee deep water, on 2 foot waves, I looked up and watched them until they got out.
Also, a figure 4 trap is not the kind of task where you have to concentrate on it for an extended period of time. It is easy to look down, mark where you need to make a notch with your finger, glance around, start the notch, glance again etc.
Oh yeah, there was also a second lifeguard on duty, sitting next to me.

Hopefuly thats adequate to resolve your concerns for my attentiveness.:rolleyes:
 
To the others:
a solar still sounds fun, but a bit involved to rig up at the beach, and difficult to make work in waves.
not too much in the way of fish or scallops etc to collect.. but throwing a cast net is fun!

I'll probably try out this whole slinging thing, with a tennis ball or similar so in the event it goes significantly wayward, its no worse than the kids playing baseball/frisbee/football.
Thanks:thumbup:
 
what i like to do while strolling local beaches is take a guide book on identifying marine animals. different types of clams, mussels, crabs, etc etc..

its a fun way to pass the time

also try scavenging the beach for materials you might consider useful in a survival situation?

how about looking for large clam shells (the ones bigger then your fist) and finding a place to catch fresh water?

or... getting to work early and setting some tidal traps.. in that way before you leave work you can look at all the things caught in the tide pool and release them one by one... a journal is a nice thing to have.. you can make observations, sketches and notes which help you memorize what they might be.

whittling is one of my favorite past times on a beach.. although i'm not sure if the sheeple in your area will appreciate the knife being out... i like to take a small opinel #7 to do some whittling and keep a fixed blade in a pack if i need a bit more blade.

hope these ideas give you something to do in your spare time

cheers
 
jca21 said:
whittling is one of my favorite past times on a beach.. although i'm not sure if the sheeple in your area will appreciate the knife being out... i like to take a small opinel #7 to do some whittling and keep a fixed blade in a pack if i need a bit more blade.
Click to expand...

I enjoy whittling too, and occasionally some of the driftwood is even decently tight grained.
my usual knife for it is a CRKT B.U.L.L.
I got it cheap, it doesnt mind sand, and its good for the sheeple(small).
It seems that as long as i've got some sort of reason for having it out, nobody minds.
whittling, slicing fruit, etc seem to be adequate reasons.
 
How about look for tracks, these were some Raccoon tracks I found at the beach....

TrayandPaul166.jpg


TrayandPaul165.jpg
 
Why don't you try to light a fire using the polished bottom of a coke can? That's something I haven't tried more than once.....and I wasn't successful the first time.

D
 
How about making one "outdoor project" a day and have a whiteboard nearby explaining what you are doing. Nothing extremely fancy but things how to find North with your watch and stuff. You dont have to explain things but it is there if kids want to learn.
One day you could show your PSK and such. Maybe have a talk with someone from the rescue service or civil defence or whatever for information on this and that like Hug a Tree.

Or you could just start braiding paracord, soon all the kids on the beach will braid paracord and you will be very popular.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top