Wilderness Gathering 10

My weekend at the Wilderness Gathering 'X' started with thick cloud and rain.

I spent my time at the Wilderness Gathering with Kevin Endicott.

Kev needed help with his stock and putting the big old canvas 12x12 together.

We were there for four days overall. Kevin's stall was quickly filled with folk buying equipment which might keep the liquid sunshine at bay.

The weather soon took a turn for the better and we started dealing with a rush for sun hats and shorts.

Stuart and Emma were already well prepared.

Kev had a bumper year sales wise and I managed to sit, carve and chat with some friends old and new.

Here's Paul from Bushcraft magazine, a very keen carver.

Jon Mac, Terry Longhurst ( Ilford East Activity Team ) and Ray Hutchinson ( Urban Bushcraft ) .

Terry and Ray tracked me down during the weekend, they are both involved with the Scout movement here in the UK and are pro active in teaching the Scouts some advanced carving techniques.
Terry and some other chaps will be visiting us here in Devon soon for a carving brush up course, some good food and possibly a tipple or two.
Looking forward to it.
I also managed to have a good chin wag with Nic Westermann about some designs we are planning to produce.
More on that at a later date.

Kevin had a fine selection of equipment at the show.

Even something that will  keep a fox dry and warm....

I have a feeling that next time Sean the Silver Fox pays us a visit, he will spend his time sneaking up on me wearing his new jacket.
I also spent some quality time with Patrick McGlinchey who runs Backwood survival.

Patrick is a very knowledgeable man who has spent many many years learning craft skills from indigenous folk around the world. He passes on his knowledge with passion and integrity.

I sat with him for a couple of hours shooting the breeze. I wanted to know if he had an idea of what local materials I could use in the manufacture of an African mouth bow.
He gave me some information that I will experiment with as soon as I have some spare time.
Nice one Patrick, thank you and your great crew.

Now here's a guy I can't thank enough.
For years now I have been meaning to replace my modern nylon over the shoulder knife belt. There is probably a name for this type of belt but I can't for the life of me think what it is.

I asked Tibor, who owns Tibor leather crafts, if he could make up a leather sash that would match my knife sheath, after some time he had made just the thing I was looking for.

I have used it for a couple of weeks now, very comfortable and much better than my old belt.

Now, for those of you interested in old school equipment I would like to mention that Endicotts has managed to stock up on a good amount of first class Polish poncho/Lavvu.
These ponchos are made of good quality O/G canvas material.
Here is our friend Michaela sporting one of the ponchos....

They have button closure arm holes.

And are just the job for keeping the draught at bay on a chilly night round the camp fire.

 Here's the best bit though....

Button two together and you have a spacious two person Lavvu.

I stand at 6 foot 4 inches and I can easily lay down inside and get comfy.
I'll definitely be using mine in the cooling coming months.
The best bit about the whole event, in my opinion, was catching up with JJJ, a superb carver, tool maker and friend...

He had a busy time of it carving and making new edge tools.

Well, my thanks go to all who made this event such an interesting time for me, and to Roger Harrington who organised the Wilderness Gathering.
I'll be back...
J.