Spring Day at the Range

Headed back to the in-laws this past weekend to play with a few toys. While congress gets set to argue gun laws, we thought we might just take some time to enjoy some 2nd Amendment freedoms.  First we had to stop by the toy store.

Chadillac's newest creation

The road to a friend's shooting range. It was a beautiful day in the live oak woodlands of the foothills.

Some of the toys for the day. From the top down:
Ruger 10/22
Bersa 380 Auto
Springfield Armory 9 mil
Colt 1911
Ruger Mini 14

Cousin Badass with a Plainfield Machine M1 Carbine World War II

Chadillac with the Carbine

Me with the Carbine

Papa Wayne with the 380

Al Bear with the Mini 14

Nicky B. and the New Frontier 50 caliber black powder rifle

With all this firepower, the mountain lions playing in the grass left us alone.

Easter at the In-Laws'

Enjoyed Easter at the in-laws' house in the foothill woodlands on the road towards Yosemite.

Gold Mine

Nicky B's latest creation

A bug's life

Fiddleneck and Popcorn Flower

Red Tail

Mate with lizard lunch



Playin' with the cousins

Another lizard eater

 

 

 

Thunderheads building over the High Sierras

Easter Bunny's house

















Cache Creek Rendezvous Part I

A few fellow Northern California Bushcrafters got together just downstream of Clear Lake last weekend. It was a great time had by all I believe. 3 mile hike in to the beautiful Baton Flat area alongside Cache Creek. We had a little bow drill action. A little fun with a manzanita buck saw and some axes. A bush chair turned trauma center after a sneaky ninja zombie attack! Spoon carvin’ and bannock bakin’. Bacon, bacon, and bacon. Spam and steaks. Smack talkin’ but mostly gear talk. And I seen what a bunch of new friends can accomplish when the time for need arises. It was awesome!

Cubby made a video of the trip. If you click on the movie title in the box down below, it will take you to youtube where you can see it better. Watch it in at least 360p for the quality. I know, technicalities.......

So on to the pics…..

Everyone was already at camp when FlyingLow and I met in the parking lot at the trailhead. The hike in.

We were greeted by smiles and this!

First night withstanding the winds.

Breakfast!

Didn’t get a pic of FlyingLow’s new ATACS tarp since he had to leave early, but it was a beaut!

Casa de Cubby

Mahaney’s gold and Loogaroo’s new rig

Rubicon Dave’s

Claimjumper’s

Justin Baker's. Though it's been said he just sets them up and then doesn't sleep under them. Preferring the stars for a roof.

Chert's

Crimescene's

Here’s mine. A BCUSA Gen 2 10x7. I’ve been trying to set it up using one pole. We were all in agreement the winds were gusting up to 35 mph that night. It was quite a show. Luckily the wind pretty much rolled right over the top of the tarps.

The camp from a distance

Cattails sure light up quick thanks to a Keyser Soze firesteel!

Spin It!

Continued......

Cache Creek Rendezvous Part II

Manzanita buck saw thanks to Mahaney and Rubicon. It's all about the Y

Council Tool boys axe and MP Knives/Alex Yerkes colaboration hatchet workin’ the wood pile

Set up a tripod for the center tab guy out for the second night.

The Rubicon Spoon

The adventure of Tip and the Golden Tarp

Cubby’s mini-Tracker. That thing is impressive! Might need to pick one of those up.

Bannock action

Reflector and fire

Loogaroo sporting the latest fashion in non-bloody pants leg diddy bag. Get em while their hot!

Can't say enough about the good times that were had at this rendezvous in the hills. If you have a chance to get together with others, it's a great way to learn and share ideas about bushcraft.

Some things I learned last weekend were that an improvised woods buck saw is gonna come apart on ya sometime during its use, and maybe often. So you've got to be willing to keep putting it back together

Just because you've gotten some smoke and embers from spinnin' the bowdrill, doesn't mean it's gonna produce a usable coal. Wind and moisture in the wood dust are things to factor.

The Tracker and Mini-Tracker are shavings machines!

No alcohol or neosporin on deep wounds. I figured they go hand in hand. But alcohol will kill the nerve endings in your skin and prohibit healing, while antibiotic ointments aren't meant to get into your bloodstream. Skin cuts and burns ok, not deep wounds. I definatly need to upgrade my skills on wound care. And maybe a few different sizes steri-strips in my FAK.

The never ending gathering of ideas and pros and cons of going ultralite.

Hammock setups. Amazing all the ideas. Consensus on the hammock tree strap thingys don't work as well as paracord.

Tarp configurations. All different kinds in camp. Just look at Claimjumper's poncho setup. Like a spiderweb!

Don't bring so much bacon! Yes you can bring too much.

And too much gear talk to list. Loved it.

Thanks again guys. Wonderful time.

Oh yea. Canadian Jam Knot. Best ratcheting tight knot in the business!