Spirit of the Woods.

[saxonaxe]

Time to stow away the winter weight sleeping bag and thermals I think..:) Just back from 7 very mild nights in the wood.
Camped above the stream as I like to hear the water music at night.

http://i.imgur.com/nRyr00yl.jpg

There is a Deer crossing close by and on the third night I heard them cross the stream, so my presence doesn't seem to alarm them at all.

http://i.imgur.com/IzAavwil.jpg

The wood is coming to life and I'm pleased that new tenants are moving into the bird boxes I put up.

http://i.imgur.com/3H0vpLUl.jpg

I took a weeks supplies in with me and spent a while the first morning re-jigging the cache as some of the stuff at the bottom needed hauling to the top and using first. I have a rough idea of what's in there, but don't keep a list. I have some very strange meals as a result on occasion...;)

http://i.imgur.com/gO1FTNSl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/xWS5s2Tl.jpg

Spent time wandering as usual, and noticed some of the Ash trees suffer from a problem that perhaps one of our tree experts will know the name of?

http://i.imgur.com/yJPq4fXl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sySpnkbl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/prk9DUyl.jpg

The Ash trees in the wood play host to a whole range of fungi, this is all on one tree..I count three types.

http://i.imgur.com/aZ39M9pl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/4nEgJM0l.jpg

Trees have an ability to survive though I know. This Hornbeam is virtually uprooted and broken but stems still grow upright.

http://i.imgur.com/LStdK0cl.jpg

Strange branches growing from a trunk and then combining into one.

http://i.imgur.com/kTq4LZpl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/iLquKoUl.jpg

The days were warm and sunny and at night Lady Moon lit the wood.
Smoke in the sunshine.
http://i.imgur.com/i5dQqVjl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sAVi4Kkl.jpg


As a very small kid I was taught that there is nothing natural in an English wood that would intentionally harm me..
Warned of the pale and delicate sometimes colourful fungi that could kill, the Nightshade, Lords and Ladies fruits and pretty Yew berries and others too that would harm me. Deep ponds, falling branches and the sunny heathy woodland edges where the Adders sleep and don't take kindly to being accidently trodden on, but nothing of evil intent, so I feel totally at ease alone in the woods at whatever time of day or night.

And yet, since coming to this wood there has been something that I couldn't quite fit into the woodland life around me.I first saw it three years ago on a bitter January night when the tent fabric was shiney with ice and the woodland floor crackled with Hoare frost. Just a pale shape across the clearing that had gone when I blinked, unsure if I had imagined something. I've seen it on warm summer nights too, a fleeting glimpse through the leaves and it moved without a sound. Daytime searches for tracks failed to prove there had been anything there. I had a fair idea of what it was but could never be certain.
Until last Saturday. I sat by the late afternoon fire, the sun had dipped below the treeline across the clearing and I looked up.

http://i.imgur.com/Qy5U6J8l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/X30nClul.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9bvHMAcl.jpg

The subject of many " Did I just see something?" moments, or waking on a frosty night and thinking " Did I see it or was that a dream ?" is now known to me. :D
It seems that at last the white Deer has found a place with the herd and my woodland spirit is alone no longer.

Hello to those folk who have joined us while I was away in the woods..:)

[f0rm4t]

Very nice indeed!!

*SEVEN* nights? :shocked:
You're single, right? ha!

Great snaps by the way.

Can I ask...
Would you give us a kind of trip report by day? I'm intrigued with what you fill a full week doing?


Cheers bud.

[TheDogsSlave]

Seven nights, sounds peaceful. Great pics btw. I'd also be interested in a day by day report.

BTW, do you just keep that food cache there all year round?

[Bernie]

What a brilliant story and photographs. Thank you so much. :)

[Fraxinus]

The white deer from an "is it my imagination" to photographically proven... how fantastic is that ? ... thank you for sharing your story. T^

Rob.

[OakAshandThorn]

T^ Good to hear the news of your outing, mo chara :).
There's a white deer in my area, as well - all white except for a brown head, and he visits every now and then. The only problem is that poachers are out for his hide...I keep picking up 12 gauge shotgun slug shells :(.
I've always thought about making a cache in my local woods, though I'm not sure it would last long since I have Pooh Bears to worry about. If everything was air-tight, I guess it could work...anyone in bear country have suggestions?

[saxonaxe]

" *SEVEN* nights?
You're single, right? ha"

Yep, widowed since 1995, kids long long gone...:D

The food cache is there permanently and never contains less than 3 days supplies..No, I'm not a 'prepper' it's just that it's a 45minute trek to the wood from the nearest point that I can use transport. So without a cache it's a yomp with a bergan full of stores and a return journey to ferry my camping gear, tent etc: into the wood, so I keep the cache fairly full. It gets used quickly anyway as I normally spend at least one week a month in the wood, usually a lot more, winter and summer. I first used a dry bag hanging up as a cache..Ha! The Wood Meeces and Squirrels scoffed it..and the bag..;)

As far as day reports are concerned, yes of course. Ostara is near and I'll be gone again then. BUT...:D I am not a 'Bushcrafter' like many forum members. I don't make things or wittle woodigami projects and most of my kit is old and non shiney, so it could get pretty boring.
I just try to 'live in the wood' not intruding in any way on the life around me. I spend a lot of time just watching and listening or wandering and being nosey. I'm really seeking the isolation and freedom that the wood gives me. Leave it at that.. .:D

For example, I spent ages tracking the tale behind this..

http://i.imgur.com/DtE342Ql.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/xodHO7Gl.jpg

A little early perhaps for a summer moult I think but who knows? Not Sarcoptic Mange I hope for Brer's sake.

So, if you want boring to tears I'll do a...10.00 to 11.15 watching Tree Creeper on Oak tree...
Or..Nooo! Not another fire...Oh! Please not Porridge again?? or 'You're not going to eat that surely??...

http://i.imgur.com/cqvnGr1l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/I6wxndDl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fq9y4pHl.jpg....:jumping-joy:

[Thumbcrusher]

:happy-clapping:T^

[saxonaxe]

T^ Good to hear the news of your outing, mo chara :).
There's a white deer in my area, as well - all white except for a brown head, and he visits every now and then. The only problem is that poachers are out for his hide...I keep picking up 12 gauge shotgun slug shells :(.
I've always thought about making a cache in my local woods, though I'm not sure it would last long since I have Pooh Bears to worry about. If everything was air-tight, I guess it could work...anyone in bear country have suggestions?

:D I think a Badger had a little dig around out of interest but even he couldn't get into the heavyweight plastic barrel.
If I thought there was anything bigger than a Badger in the wood...I'd buy a television and stay at home..:D :D

[headshot]

i totally get you...i could happily live with my own company as you do in the woods..maybe one day when the kids finally leave me alone.
is that rabbit fur...if so then its because they are nesting,they pull fur of their belly to line the nest and i suppose to expose the teats for the kits,we often find it in the fields this time of year and not to far away there will be a single hole breeding tube....crackin thread,thanks for sharing...kev

[TheDogsSlave]

Sounds awesome, bet it's really relaxing T^

[FishyFolk]

Nice area you have to play in there Saxonaxe. Around here we don't have deer, unless you count the herds of Reindeer up in the hills. Plenty of moose, but they are seldom seen, except when they come down do feast in peoples gardens :-)

[luresalive]

great write up, I really enjoyed that and im very envious that you get to spend so much time in the woods..

[ratcatcher]

I have the same blue barrels, and had the same idea of burying them, that was until I started digging, our woodland floor is clay, and at about 12" I was knackered, so the tubs just got hidden in the bushes, thankfully our woods are not visited by those that shouldn't be there and nothing so far has ever been touched, you can tell we are getting older, as we started with hammocks, moved onto a bell tent, and a few weeks ago, dragged a caravan in, now that really is glamping, but it gives me a great place to sit and take pictures of the birds, last week I saw a nuthatch for the first time, before that I had only ever seen them in books, love your pictures

[f0rm4t]

and a few weeks ago, dragged a caravan in, now that really is glamping, but it gives me a great place to sit and take pictures of the birds, last week I saw a nuthatch for the first time, before that I had only ever seen them in books, love your pictures


Now that's a thread worthy of starting! :D

[midas]

Great reading,been adaptable is what life is all about!!Anything is acceptable if it allows you to be "at one with nature"etc.
May you continue for many years!!!

[OakAshandThorn]

:D I think a Badger had a little dig around out of interest but even he couldn't get into the heavyweight plastic barrel.
If I thought there was anything bigger than a Badger in the wood...I'd buy a television and stay at home..:D :D
LOL :D. The bears around here seem to be very shy and afraid of people, though they are notorious for being overly curious. They would only cause harm if they were cornered or if cubs were threatened (Momma Bear rage to be unleashed). We did have reports a few years back of a mountain lion roaming in the area...:D
I'm just afraid Yogi Bear and Booboo dig up the cache and have a grand 'ol time feasting. I'm temped to try something like the old 50 cal mg cases, which are solid metal. Only downside then is that they'll rust eventually...if Yogi doesn't open it first ;).

[jbrown14]

Great story, and lovely pictures, especially the white deer!

About an hour west of my home there's an old army base where a large population of white deer thrive. They're not albino, but just a recessive gene naturally occurring in whitetail deer. http://senecawhitedeer.org/ for anyone interested.

Thanks for sharing your time out with those of us stuck indoors far too much!

All the best,

Josh

[Midge_Fodder]

Actually it's more common than people think to get white deer, I remember in Dumfries when I was a kid there was deer in a park in the town, and there was a white stag there. It's pretty common in fallow deer. I think it's because all the fallow deer were brought over by the Normans and white Stags were prized by them ie white harts. So a few of the species' ancestors being sired by white stags the gene is around. Essentially the Normans engineered the species a bit for ornamental quality.

[Paul De Fitter]

So, if you want boring to tears I'll do a...10.00 to 11.15 watching Tree Creeper on Oak tree...
Or..Nooo! Not another fire...Oh! Please not Porridge again?? or 'You're not going to eat that surely??...


:jumping-joy:

Genius, I must also do this........
00.00 to 02.34 snoring, 02.34 to 02 40 go for a pee, 02.40 to 02 56 faf about with sleepingbag, 02.56 to 05.00 snoring, 05.00 to 05.00.2 fart in bag, 05.00.2 to 05.00.3 get out of bag & take deep breath........

[jus_young]

Thanks Saxonaxe, I do like a little interesting reading when the kids have their rubbish on TV.

Deer can be somewhat tolerant of us woodland folk, I once had one playing with my tarp during the night on our local Scout camp site. Scared the hell out of me at the time and really should have been more careful about where I pitched the hammock.

[Bernie]

Did someone ask for a boring video? :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvTbsNRnOUY

[-Tim-]

Nice tale, thanks for posting :)

Cheers
Tim

[biker-bri]

Now that vid of the of the fire had me riveted to the screen for a full two minutes :happy-clapping: the last four seconds were a bit boring tho :campfire:
ATB Bri T^

[midas]

Used to know someone who had an old tv in his fireplace n played a video tape of a fire thro it!

[Bernie]

Like this? :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFPfeuiLAWU

[JonnyP]

Lovely.. I enjoy your exploits Saxonaxe.
I was in my favourite forest cycling once (St Leonards forest in Sussex) n saw what I thought was a load of sheep through the trees, so I tootled over to the foresters lodge n told the old boy about a load of sheep that had escaped. He then told me about all the white deer in the forest. I saw them many times after..
Seven days in the woods..! Nice :0)

[midas]

Like this? :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFPfeuiLAWU

Yes Bernie,but without the sound track.very realistic!!found myself warming my hands!!lol.