Samhain in the wood (pic heavy)

[saxonaxe]

After spending last weekend in the Welsh Marches, riding on steam trains and doing a recce in the Forest of Dean, I was home to spend the time of Samhain in a Sussex wood.

5 days rations..not shown is the essentials of the brew kit and 5 of those instant packet breakfast oat/cereals which I had to collect on the way to the wood. Only 4 main meals, but the last day for me is always " eat what's left day"...That way I never return with uneaten supplies and because I know the next day I'll be back on proper grub..:D

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

Not too heavy, there's everything I need and it's only just under an hour walk from where I leave my transport

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

Nature has laid her seasonal carpet again..

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

There's still a lot of leaves on the trees, and except for the last day when it rained, generally it was 'T' shirt weather for 90% of the time I was in the wood..

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

http://i.imgur.com/Mtg9NWjl.jpg

From my Northern boundry I have a view of the English countryside in all it's beauty. In the last photo, if you look closely you'll see two Fallow Deer helping themselves to the cows grazing pasture..:D

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

http://i.imgur.com/7tlM94ll.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/LUmm7EHl.jpg

First job..a trip to my well and get the filtered water supply rigged up..

http://i.imgur.com/gSn6lkcl.jpg

This is home, I'm not a hammock fan..unless it's a jungly environment..:p

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

Day three and still amazingly warm. The mist closed in and the wood became a silent magic place. Occasionally just the distant sound of an aeroplane far away. At night the continual sound of leaf fall sounded like rain on the tent fabric.

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

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

But the Samhain fire burned bright late into the night.

http://i.imgur.com/mpwtgS0l.jpg

Some sights in the wood...

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

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

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

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

Drying Silver Birch bark for my tinder haul..

http://i.imgur.com/PHWSro9l.jpg

And cooking..?? Lamb casserole...I think.. :D

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

Squirrels getting fat on the Sweet Chesnuts..

http://i.imgur.com/6mpL6AYl.jpg

Smoke in the wood..

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

http://i.imgur.com/BC8EnMll.jpg

And a Queen of the woods, one of the beautiful Beeches which grace the wood.

http://i.imgur.com/F8ROqWnl.jpg

I say Holmes, Saxonaxe was here I swear it..Look

http://i.imgur.com/24sPa7fl.jpg

Where? He seems to have left no trace Dr Watson...;)

http://i.imgur.com/UI7pj7sl.jpg

[bopdude]

Nice location, pictures and write up, thanks again.

[midas]

Peace n tranquility.....loks like you picked a good spot n had a good time.

[-Tim-]

Nice woodland tale, makes me want to sit out in the woods for a while.

Cheers
Tim

[Thumbcrusher]

Looks a great trip. Thanks for sharing!

[Pootle]

lovely write up as per usual. Thank you.

[LoneWalker]

Great report. Looks a nice trip. Never slept in the woods alone. This makes me want to.

[OakAshandThorn]

T^ LOL Loved the Sherlock Holmes part at the end xD. Man do I miss Jeremy Brett...
Fantastic write-up, great to see other parts of the world immersed in shades and cloaks of Autumn :).

[Ken]

Great piccies! I particularly like the "Smoke in the Woods" photo's. The composition of the first picture is awesome. I'll be honest and say that I was hoping the picture was bigger as I wanted to right-click it and set it as the wallpaper on my little notebook computer :)

[saxonaxe]

Ken, it is possible to record my total knowledge of photos/computers on a pin head, so this may be a very dumb question...:ashamed:
When I post the photos from Imgur, I have the choice of small-medium-large thumbnails or full size. It so happens medium thumbnail fits and shows as posted, would it help you if I try maximum size Imgur allow?

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

If this doesn't work, apologies for re-posting the same photo Folks..:o