Wilderness Gathering

[Tony1948]

:happy-clapping:Hi all I'm just about to book my place at the Wilderness Gathering at Bush Farm Center Wiltshire just off the A303:camping::campfire:It's from the 18th--21st August,I'v got room for 3 other guys if any one wants a lift.I live next to the Dartford Bridge Essex side.I'v got 3 car parking outside my house:DI'll be going M25-M3-A303 so if any one on that rout wants picking up and I'v got room let me now:happy-clapping:Bring what ever kit you need there's loads of room,:happy-clapping:I'v got a 4 door pickup;)Let us now,only 3 thow:camping::campfire:T^

[paul standley]

Hi Tony,

Don't need a lift thanks but hope to see you there... Haven't booked yet, looking to book soon.

Paul.

[mark]

id love to come but the wife would go ape. 18th wedding anniversary

[ocean1975]

Might just take you up on your kind offer for a lift,i have never been to the wilderness gathering.Not sure wot work has in store for me tho so will let you know nearer the time.Cheers Andy.

[jus_young]

id love to come but the wife would go ape. 18th wedding anniversary

if its your 18th then surely she should be thankful of the other 17 and let you go. As long as you don't forget like I did on my last anniversary :ashamed:

[J_P]

Ill be there as always (part of the furniture lol) please come and say hi at the woodlife (http://www.woodlife.co.uk/woodlife-trails/) and BCL stands. Tony i sent you a message as to catching up buddy gimme a shout bud...

[Tony1948]

Hi Andy welcome to the forum,you,ll be welcome if I'v got room by the time you sort you'r work out.

[Ben Casey]

Hi I'm going to pencil it in my diary and hope to be able to go :)

[Tony1948]

Hi Ben,hope you can make it,it's a long way to come.......atb......dont get eaten by the bears LOL.........TONY

[Ben Casey]

Distance isnt the question when I drive mate just the hike to my pitch :)

[J_P]

its next WEEK!!!!!!!!! whos there?? look forward to seeing you there TOny

[Tony1948]

Hi J_P, I will be there,Iv got some bit for sale and I will be brining some of my sharps to show the guys,mite make a sheath there as well..........See you there.

[paul standley]

I am now confirmed for spending the Friday at the Wilderness Gathering (can't do the whole weekend)

Hope to catch up with those of you who will be there - PM me if you fancy cathing up.

Paul

[Realearner]

Hi there to all, I am hoping to get to the gathering on the saturday. Still in process of convincing the other half so that I can get there. Never been to one so really eager to see all the stands and gather info, love knowledge.
I don't know anyone one the forum, only from faces on the links, so if a strange guy walks up and starts chatting it could be me.
Cheers in anticipation Damon Clark alias realearner.

[jus_young]

...I don't know anyone one the forum, only from faces on the links, so if a strange guy walks up and starts chatting it could be me.
Cheers in anticipation Damon Clark alias realearner.

Your going to have real problems recognising me then... I think.

As normal I will be flying the Devon flag and a skull and crossbones, possibly with a funny twirler thing from a 5 metre pole so finding me shouldn't be a problem (its a family camping thing)

[dave budd]

and for me I think we all know where to find me most of the time. I rarely get very far from my forge at these things :rolleys:

[Realearner]

You could be right, I might be looking for a meerkat and a funny looking greyhound!!!!!!
Still if I di find them, I hope they can hold a good conversation.

[jus_young]

and for me I think we all know where to find me most of the time. I rarely get very far from my forge at these things :rolleys:

Catch you there Dave, it looks like I might struggle to get to your place before the Gathering as it snuck up on me while I wasn't looking (bad time keeping). SWMBO wants me to have a bit of time off to make sure everything is sorted at home before leaving Thursday.

[dave budd]

that's OK mate, its snuck up on me too! I'm used to shouting and swearing at the power supply and then patting the generator and praying it carries on working :rolleyes:

[jus_young]

Does anyone have a team of sherpas I can borrow? I have just read the confirmation letter from the organisers and it states that there is no vehicular access to the woods and everything has to be carried from the car park. You should see the amount of stuff I've got!

[Steve A]

Thats when you grab one of the Scouts with a trolly, tip them a couple of quid for their troop funds, job done.

[Tony1948]

Hi jus_young I was thinking the same thing about the truck, it abe well loaded for the 4 day stay.I was even thinking of camping up at the top rite side camping field above the weekend visitors parking.But if there are some dip dip dobers there with trollis I dont mind giving one of them a shilling to run my gear down to where I wont to camp.Mind you I think Fish is going to be up around the pond some wear ,I'll have a look then I get there.Hope to meet up with you and the other forum members that are going.Atb..........DONT GET EATEN BY THE BEARS..............TONY

[jus_young]

I am going to have to stay in the woods as thats the only place that camp fires are allowed (dutch oven cooking for this trip). I don't think it will be a problem as I am having a good sort out of the stuff and reduced it down drastically anyway. I don't know if any scouts are present, if they are I could wear my leaders uniform and get it carried for free!

[Steve A]

The Scouts are there every year, helping out with the car parking, kit unloading etc. Good bunch of lads.

[Tony1948]

Ha ray for the dib dib dobers and there woggales LoL.They can help me I'v got loads of stuff to get out of the Truck.

[dave budd]

Once again I'm in awe of the bushcraft addage : "know more, carry less". Always lots of folk with a car full of stuff to carry :happy-clapping:

dutch ovens are great, but they are heavy. I bet most of the people with the heaviest cooking kit on site will also be the ones with the lightweight sleeping arrangements. I'm normally the other way around, my cooking kit is normally a single bronze pan and a small kettle; where as I bring a stufred estate car with me for the rest of my gear (but it is my stall at the show!)

[J_P]

primus folding pan job done!

[jus_young]

If it was me alone its definately a case of as little as possible but when the family is going it becomes a whole different game. Everything multiplied by four, air beds, bigger tent, portable kitchen...

[J_P]

stay in the field camping area..

[Tony1948]

Hi J_P,can you have a fire in the comping field as long as it's off the ground.............See you tomorrow.........TONY

[J_P]

raised fires in fire boxes or bbqs only i tink

[Realearner]

Well got it sorted so going tomorrow, nice early start.
So will hopefully meet some of the fellow bushcrafters.

[paul standley]

I spent Friday at the gathering, it was my first visit and I was like a kid in a sweetshop...!

I was only able to do the one day and in the end I took my daughter and two of my small grandchildren which was great as I am trying to help my daughter introduce them to the outdoors and country crafts etc.

We camped at a small place 3 miles from the Bison Farm on the Thursday night so we could get there at a reasonable time on Friday as it's 2.5 hrs drive from where we live in Wales. Took 4.5 hrs on the return trip home due to delays with 3 separate traffic incidents/accidents ...!

2259

The weather on Thur was pretty wet but on Friday the weather was good, perfect for an event like this and a great time was had by all.

Didn't manage to catch up with anyone else whilst I was there this time but hoping to do the whole 3 day weekend next year and camp in the woods so I can get some social time.

Paul.

[jus_young]

Not a bad event all things considered. The weather turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag with good downpours for setting up and some glorious sunshine with the odd bid of rain just to make sure that the mud didn't get chance to dry up over the weekend! Good to meet some familiar faces and put some new faces to familiar names. Dave was doing his best as usual with his assistant Chris the Cat (good to see them both but the 2am cider session was badly timed with driving home today).
The setting up part wasn't too bad. From the car park to the woods was a short walk and a trolley that I bought on the way turned out to be a good investment in helping to get the heavier items to the pitch, 3 trips was all that was needed :ashamed: but being realistic I don't think I could take anything less with the family trips. All that was taken was used and needed a little thought for getting over problems where kit left at home could have helped, but thats part of the fun with these outings. The Ronnie Sunshines dutch oven kit was well used and all meals were cooked with this over the fire using the tripod that the kids made at the Cornwall RV earlier in the year. It all worked a treat and will certainly continue to cook this way when out and about with the family again.
There were a good selection of traders at the Gathering and money certainly seemed to be passing hands well enough (did from my wallet anyway). The Bison burgers were definately worth a try with food and drink on the whole being pretty good.
Any gripes? Well, if I was being picky, some of the organised events were a little disorganised at times with last minute changes to the times or a lack of info on numbers, costs etc. but due to the size of the event there are bound to be some problems. The only other problem really was the rain, all timber was soaked and any wood to be had was mostly green and took some persuation to get burning. We did take a net of logs as a 'just in case' but these turned out to be just as wet as the scavenged timber! But persistence meant we still ate when we needed to and is certainly something I will plan for next time round.
Best bit - the new DD 3x3 tarp as without it we would have been wet and hungry! It made the ideal shelter to cook, sit and eat under.

Definately recommend to anyone else who may be considering it next year but just watch the cider!

[Realearner]

Well got back on saturday evening after a very long and eventful day at the gathering. First time and thought it was fantastic. Wandered round all the stalls several times chatted to some great people and just relaxed.
Spent a little bit of money, and controlled myself.
I would have loved to have camped but alas not possible this time so maybe next year.

[paul standley]

Here's a link to a 4 pt video summary of the wilderness gathering by Sean M. (AKA Silverfox)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJY1Tt_sAoc&feature=feedu

I met Sean briefly on Friday but the vids were taken on the Sunday so I missed my 15 seconds of fame...!

Paul.

[Lurch]

Just been looking at the pics over at Woodlife, nice to see my old pal Boss made it.