Thursday, August 15, 2024

Adapt

 Adapt: "To make or become suitable. To change so as to fit a new or specific use or situation."

It's that time of year again, or rather, it's finally that time of year again! It's me and Ruhan's hunting trip to Victoria West. Last year we opted to camp in the field rather than staying in the old farm house and this year we are doing the same. Again Ruhan is taking all the camping gear and food in the bakkie.

My first stop with the bike is in Joubertina for coffee and a muffin.




We met up in Uniondale as always, where my bike stays behind at the Schulteheim Hotel.
Small gift of appreciation for the favor of keeping the bike safe for the next few days at the hotel.



Now the trip has officially kicked off!



Just outside Rietbron, stopping for a lunch- braai next to the road.





On the road again:



We quickly set up the campsite, because we knew exactly where everything should go. I added a 10m led string light, running from three AA batteries, for the kitchen tree. Nice lighting for the kitchen table area, but also adding to the Karoo starry-sky ambiance.




Ready for the hunt the next morning. New camp (1400 Ha) to explore and endend up walking 13km for the day.


Wind picked up badly, which made conditions difficult to hunt. No succes to be had on this day.


Having some tee and food out of the wind under a tree- bush.






When we returned to camp late that afternoon, everything was blown all over the place and covered with dust and dirt. Weather predictions were also that the windspeed would actually increase during that night. We took an important decision that would influence the rest of our week. We broke up camp and moved to the braai area of the farm house. Here we regrouped, sorted and cleaned our gear, still enjoying starry nights, but well sheltered from the wind.

The next day we had to adapt even more, because now the wind was properly pumping. We drove slowly through the camp with the bakkie, hoping to somehow get a decent shot on a springbuck.

Ruhan made a well calculated clean shot for our first springbuck of the trip. (360m)


Today, even the tee had to be prepared inside the bakkie.




That evening it was time for a fresh baked bread, one of my favorite things on any of our trips !






We woke up Saturday morning (the last day set out for hunting) and we were both just dailed-in for the hunt, wind or no wind. We started with our favorite way of hunting: on foot.

We returned to a familiar camp with some new plans on how to manage in the wind. (adapt)

It was not long before Ruhan made the first succesful kill of day. 


Time for tee and snacks after some grueling kilometres on foot.



Taking a "powernap" with the wind picking up again. This is how you hide from the wind behind a Karoo-bossie.



Working our way back to the bakkie, I was presented with a 260m shot with the wind at an angle from behind. This was doable with my little 6mm rifle.


Ruhan wanted another buck and with the wind blowing horribly, we opted for a drive around with the bakkie again. 

Driving into the wind, we surprised a small herd of springbuck going over a blind hill. Ruhan had to act fast, but was spot on with his shot, taken over the side-mirror of the bakkie.


That evening we found a pack of cards (actually 2 packs merged as one) and played some Rummy. The little gas lamp supplied a great atmosphere for playing cards.


We also found Super Trumps cards (Cars) that were very popular in our youth. Nice memories and a long game that just could not produce a clear winner.


Back home and the best Biltong were made by ourselves.





 






Sunday, August 11, 2024

Camp Figtree

About a year ago, I won a voucher for a one night bed and breakfast for two at Camp Figtree. Me and the wife finally got an opportunity to use the voucher.






 
















Monday, March 4, 2024

Favourite Outdoor Gear Owned

I decided to do a post on all my favourite outdoor gear (owned). There are a few pieces I crafted myself and others that I altered to fit my liking. For some gear, I have more than one option available, for instance camping stoves. I always use the option that is best suited for/to the trip or adventure.

So here goes, in no particular order:


1. EDC BAG:

A small canvas bag (180mm x 135mm x 60mm) with various items. The items can deal with everyday issues like picking your teeth or fixing something broken. This EDC bag can easily fit into any trip's carry option, even into a small overnight bag.






I made this nifty little container out of an old pen. It contains some Bicarbonate of Soda which is used with Superglue to make a powerful bonding where some material are needed to fill.



EDC Bag Item List:
Leatherman Charge TTi
SAK Victorinox Climber
Victorinox SwissCard Nailcare
Titanium Spork
Lumeo Headlight (Red)
Lighter Windproof
Elastic Bandage
Ducktape (50cm)
Paracord (14 meter)
Sunblock Spray SPF 50
AS - Water purifying drops
Salt (table)
Fire Starters (x3/DIY)
Pen (black)
Cabelties (x6)
Cabeltie rubber re-use (x1)
Dental Floss
Sunlight Liquad and Sponge
Earbuds (x4)
Increda Pegs (x4)
Micro Cord (1m)
Hot Glue Stick
Super Glue
Bicarbonate of Soda
Surgical Blade (x1)
Safety Pin Large (x1)
Safety Pins Medium (×2)
Safety Pins Small (x2)
Large Needle



2. WOODEN SPOON(S)

Carving spoons from driftwood is something I started doing to keep my hands busy when I quit smoking in 2017.

My friend Ruhan gave me the idea of carving a very useful longstem teaspoon. Finding the correct piece of driftwood is the hardest. It must be  well "seasoned" from the salt water, but far from weak and rotten.
This is the longstem teaspoon I did for myself:



Two other I carved from a piece of driftwood I got at the Murasie. This longstem teaspoon I did for Ruhan.



All three together:





3. BUSHCRAFT SHOVEL

This started off as a very yellow and green Lasher garden shovel. I stripped the paint, grinded the shape smaller and to my liking and also put a patina-stain on it. Furthermore I swopped the plastic handle for a "wild olive" handmade knob handle.





Nice, but the green plastic still bothered me, so to the piece of "Wild Olive" I went !


Aiming for something like this:






With some other beauties



4. SMALL AXE
 
First I must thank my friend Zac for helping me enormously with this axe. The sheath he did almost by himself as well. Thanks boet!

A normal hand axe head was cut and grinded smaller, with some definition on the back to form a primitive hammer shape.


.



Tried to get a nice patina stain on it with lemon.