Stealth mission in my local jungle

[Roadkillphil]

Well I set out yesterday afternoon with a bag of kit to a snug little secluded spot with the intention of testing out my new DD MC Tarp and Travel Hammock, and also to sample the delights of lonesome camping.

Heres a few pics.

I parked my camp 15' from here, and used the hammocks mosi-net as a result!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5665193176_c17d5dded5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5665193176/)
pretty river (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5665193176/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

My setup

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5109/5664606705_be87458e93.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664606705/)
My camp (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664606705/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

Got me a fire going to get a brew on and get some sausages cooked. I used firesteel and crampballs to get all my fires going on this trip.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5665165206_496ffe93d2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5665165206/)
Campfire (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5665165206/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

There were a few squirrels knocking about, scrapping and barking at each other. I had a regular visitor to the oak I was hanging off, quite bold and always seeing off intruders, quite noisily and didn't seem bothered by my presence.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5664442235_04487afede.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664442235/)
Noisy visitor (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664442235/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

After messing about loads with the tarp and hammock, and once the light started to dim I settled down with my pipe and a coupla Rattlers and cooked some sausages on Grandpa's toasting fork that Em got me for Xmas.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5664569741_561d83ecd0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664569741/)
Sausages, Rattler, fire and a pipe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664569741/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

At this point, all the pheasants in the world decided to have a Shindig in the trees around me!! Once they'd got comfy and roosted though there was silence for a few minutes, then a couple of Tawnies started hooting at each other, something I enjoy listening to.
Once I'd run out of sausages and rattler, a settled in my hammock and fell asleep instantly.
I felt a bit stiff this morn, I'm gonna have to play more with the ridgeline length on the hammock to get the diagonal lay wired.
Once up, got the fire going again and set to making breakfast.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5181/5664604643_446838832c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664604643/)
Breakfast (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664604643/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

Which was Bleddy 'Ansome BTW! :D

Once fed, I packed away and had a little vetting of all the junk I wont be taking on my next stealth mish and hopefully lighten the load.
I then headed upstream for a poke around and found this little pool in a bend in the river... teeming with fish :D

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5665175534_74ffd15a49.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5665175534/)
Trout pool (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5665175534/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

Had I have been a naughty boy, I'd have had a go with the handreel I made 2 days ago. But because I'm a good boy I didn't spend a couple of hours trying to get it in the river, and I didnt get a few knocks that whipped the bait off the hook, and I didnt have a fish dancing round the pool on the end of the line before it got off and away!! ;)

Some pics of the local wildlife

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5664597591_e83e6a6725.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664597591/)
Flutterby (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5664597591/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5665037522_5f8cf0bef3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5665037522/)
Damsel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5665037522/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

I sat next to the pool for my lunch waiting (Not Fishing) for the return of a sparrowhawk. While sitting (Not Fishing!) there, a sparrowhawk came flying in, landed on a branch not 5 metres from me. it did not seem to be aware of me and as it landed a chorus of squeaking clattered out from a nest hidden in the trees at about head height. it flew into the thickets and a few minutes later came tearing out right in front of me with a pellet in its talons! I was absolutely stoked and sat there waiting for an age for its return so i could snap a photo. It never came, however a gert big heron come flapping in, almost landed, saw me and did an about turn in mid air and was off again.

One of the best things about going out alone is the lack of chatter (as some of you know I talk.... Lots!) and how quiet you are in the presence of nature. This means that nature tends to reveal its secrets more readily, almost to the point that I feel welcomed by it. A feeling most human beings would benefit from experiencing more.

It was a short walk home this afternoon, and I felt a little sad for having to go, but also happy in my experience, happy for the welcome I'd be receiving when I get home and happy for the many days of hanging out with nature in the future. :D

Thanks for looking

Phil

[Ben Casey]

It sounds like you had a great time :)

[fish]

phil you and i have to get out in the stix this summer for a mooch and some beer fueled natter by a fire.

[Johnny Begood]

Cool stuff.

[JonnyP]

Good one Phil, I enjoyed reading that, but did you really have to go and tell us about getting stiff in your hammock and having to play more..?

[jus_young]

Good one Phil, I enjoyed reading that, but did you really have to go and tell us about getting stiff in your hammock and having to play more..?

LOL Theres always one :D

A moving story that would instill the feeling of a wander in anyone. Nice one Phil

[Martin]

Nice story Phil. What a contrast from the RV last weekend. Here's to many more solo camps mate. :)

Martin

[Roadkillphil]

phil you and i have to get out in the stix this summer for a mooch and some beer fueled natter by a fire.

We should be heading up to Abingdon at some point in the summer. We'll have to sort summit out, maybe spend a coupla days over your way afore heading home :)

Cheers

Phil

[Roadkillphil]

Originally Posted by JonnyP
Good one Phil, I enjoyed reading that, but did you really have to go and tell us about getting stiff in your hammock and having to play more..?


LOL Theres always one :D

A moving story that would instill the feeling of a wander in anyone. Nice one Phil

Cheers Justin :D

Having re read my post, I can see where Jonny's coming from :D

All the best

Phil

[fish]

We should be heading up to Abingdon at some point in the summer. We'll have to sort summit out, maybe spend a coupla days over your way afore heading home :)

Cheers

Phil

ille offer e my caravan to use for a couple of nights if you want.

[kINGPIN]

Great pics, looks like you had a good time. Breakfast looks amazing.

[Edwin]

Great mini expedition, the atmospherics reminded me again that some secluded spots up the Helford await me and my bivvy bag. fishing legal!

[Metal mug]

Always nice to see someone using a metal mug. :)

[Lukeyp23]

Fantastic photographs Phil, looks like you had a nice mission out!

[OKBushcraft]

Too bad you weren't fishing, and too bad you were not able to tell us how those fresh fish would have tasted on a small fire.
Looked fun.

[Roadkillphil]

Thanks to all for your comments.

I've managed to pack everything I need for an overnight stealth camp in a 33L highlander rucsac. Only my brewkit pouch on a strap and my homemade rollmat are on the outside. The rollmat packs up real small anyhows. Some kit is in my pockets or on my belt, but thats where it usually is anyway. Well chuffed with this new lighter arrangement.

Cheers

Phil

[Ashley Cawley]

Great photos, great story mate thanks for sharing. Mmm that Breakfast shot has made me hungry!

Looks like your getting a tidy pack together, what sleeping-kit are you using in this new setup? DD Hammock, sleeping bag, roll-mat, anything else? What bag are you using?

[Roadkillphil]

Great photos, great story mate thanks for sharing. Mmm that Breakfast shot has made me hungry!

Looks like your getting a tidy pack together, what sleeping-kit are you using in this new setup? DD Hammock, sleeping bag, roll-mat, anything else? What bag are you using?

Cheers Ash :D

Thats all the sleeping kit I have/need, although I use my fleece as a pillow. The sleeping bag is Emma's Kodiak from like 1978, it packs up smallish and does the job....for now :D I'd like a Softie 9 really. I have a 5 season Vango sleeping bag that I bought years ago, it is ridiculously warm (thats why me and Em swapped bags!) too hot for me, and also it doesn't pack down small enough for my liking. I'll probably only nick it back off her for the winter.
The rollmat is made from 3 layers of laminate floor insulation stuck together with duct tape. I found the 1m wide roll of insulation in my garage, I used to tear it up and spray it brown for my Kebab suit!!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5181/5684602336_51569d816f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5684602336/)
kkebab (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5684602336/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

I've passed my issued bivibag and dpm poncho to Corey now and got him a DD scout hammock as he will be joining me on some of my future outings.

Cheese :D

Phil

[bivouac jack]

Excellent Phil,
I really enjoyed the pix and reading about your adventure.As you may know,all my wildcamping is solitary and it doesn't take long for me to feel part of nature and at one with my surroundings!
Like you I am also a "good boy"....!
Keep smokin that pipe
Sandy aka Bivouac Jack

[ElementOwl]

Certainly agree with Sandy. Another fine tale Phil, yet again I have had a stressful day brightened by your photos and words.
Very good of you to take the time to add the images and write it up.