There was a team of `Just The 4 Of Us` who went down to take part in the Guide Dogs for the Blind event Offroad Bushcraft Wilderness Challenge. It all started on Thursday night with a trip to pick up David from Milnathort and onward to just outside Penicuik to meet up with our other 2 members, Bob and Steve. We hit the road just after 8.30pm and travelled all the way down to Ambleside. With both V8's needing a drink before we got there.We found the Hostel we were to stay in for the night after going to the wrong one first.....There was a Toga party going on. The next morning dawned and we headed to Windermere to meet the rest of the participants and sign in. The day started with a short ferry trip across the lake to our start point, briefing and photos calls. From there we were put into groups of 4 teams. We were team up with some great guys who were up for a good laugh like us so it was set to be a good weekend. We followed in convoy up through the woods and after a bit of offroading we met up with our Bushcraft Instructor Ben from Wood Smoke. The first challenge of the day was to build a shelter. After a quick instruction we set off and built a tepee style wooden shelter.
Once the Shelter was set up it was time for more demos. We were shown how to light a fire and the gut and fillet a Rainbow Trout. That was Dinner. So we set about starting a fire and carving the utensils we needed to prepare dinner. The fish was complimented by sweet potato, corn on the cob and rice. It was an excellent meal and enjoyed around the fire.
Saturday Morning it was time for the driving. We set off from camp just after 8am and were lead across some great Greenlanes. the routes were not difficult but very enjoyable. The mist had come down but we were sure there were views out there somewhere.
There was always time for a quick brew as we waited for the convoy to catch up or spread out to limit the numbers of vehicles on the trails at one time.
The afternoon of the Saturday was time for a Basher Boat Race. First we had to build it and the only materials we had was a large Tarp and a ball of string.... We had to make an oval shaped using branches and tie it all together. We then had to stiffen the whole boat using other pieces of wood and cover the whole thing with the Tarp being careful not to rip it. Our team made a great job of it and won the race to get the boat over to the other side of the Tarn (small Lochan) and back twice.
Saturday nights dinner was Pheasant and Duck with potatoes and an amazing plum sauce that was made from wild berries picked that day. Of course we had to gut the Pheasant and breast the Duck.
Sunday morning dawned and it was time to light fire with friction. This is a very hard skill to master but the instructors talked us through the process and it did all make sense so now it was our turn. We worked in pairs and you will be please to know the we both managed to make fire!!!!!
After the fire starting it was off for the final photo call some manifold cooking and some more greenlanes before we headed back home. We had our own stop before we left the Lake District to try our manifold cooked pasties and of course a brew.
It was an awesome weekend with a great team and this small write up doesn't do it justice but I hope you get the idea. I learnt loads and got really inspired to go out and play in the woods a little more. We even managed to raise some money for a good cause in doing so. As a team we have not got the final figure in but we will be very close to £2000.00 Thankyou everyone who sponsored me and the whole event raised over £26,000.00 for Guidedogs for the Blind. Their are planning to run it next year and I'll be there.
