Looting and pillaging hike with the mad basssstard Kai;-)

 Kai called and wanted to convince me I had to go for a hike with him. After some really tough discussion I decided, ere he beat me to pulp;-), I´d rather take him out a bit;-) on a looting and pillaging hike. And what did we find-garlic mustard getting there!

 Sweet clover´s coming too!

 Periwinkle herbs, too.

 We passed by a lost place, and there was an old dumpster place behind it. This bicycle wheel had grown into the tree. The tree died. Mind you, the wheel still turned;-)...

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 The place.

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 We found this piece of wrought iron. Unfortunately it was rusted through and was not useable anymore.

 Steel wire.

 ...more scenery...;-)

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 We then ventured to the grove, where there was birch sap waiting for us... yum, tasty and refreshing!

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 This is a folding knife I had with me, a traditional German and French form, known in America as "sodbuster". This kind of blade was popular with miners in France and as a butchering knife for small game like rabbits. It has an "á virole" back lock, stag scales and brass bolsters. It´s made by Otter knives in Solingen, courtesy of Mr. Morsbach himself! The blade, unlike newer versions is made from 1.4110 steel, which is similar to 440A. Now they come in 440C. A nice and thin blade, and a perfect backup.

 Then there was a rustling in the dry leaves, and what did we see? A toad and a frog came by on their stroll;-)... strange couple, but great to see them anyway...;-)

 oooooooaaaaaaaarrrkkkkkk;-)

 ...look into me eyes, babe;-)......

 I´mnotthereI´mnotthereI´mnotthere....not at all;-).

 Me not, either.....

 Another knife, one of my favourite production bushcraft knives... Otter knives again, damascus with oak scales, with a very sophisticated hollow grind.

 Collected some resin on the way home, too...

 ..and this is weird, eh? It´s spring!!!!

 Some more coltsfoot for tea...

..and then I found this treasure... Roe deer antler!












We did some 15 km, nothing big at all, and had a lot of nice chats, saw a lot of great things and came back with a loot... a perfect day in my book!

The day the world did not end at all;-)- Work in the garden with kai and Levin

On Saturday I got up early and made for the hills.

 At lunchtime, we were dated at Kai´s to go to the garden by car, so I figured it would be great to have a small hike beforehand. Packed my hatchets and all the stuff and some food and drink and went into the woods behind my flat.

The sun was shining ever so beautifully- and I took it in like someone starving would food. Strange, for in winter I coveted the dark and the twilight, but now that the sun´s out, I realize I missed it! Strange thing, we humans. (Did I mention that before? Forgot....;-)) 

Does anyone see the crow? There´s one in the picture, but I hid it thoroughly;-).

This is a pond I came across, full of toad´s and newt´s spawn already! Then I visited my mother, had a cuppa coffee with her and a chat and went on to Kai´s. There we talked a huge pile of rubbish while waiting for Levin to arrive and, when he arrived, some even more huge pile of garbage. Kai showed me his projects, some spoons, knives and stuff and showed me his first welds he did as a locksmith´s apprentice for Railion Corporation, too. Seems he is becoming a decent human being after all, I am disappointed (NOT!;-)). Toodled around  a bit on his guitar (kids will be kids, I guess), and then it was off to the garden. All a mess, as you can see... That´s Kai, looking for some work;-).

 We always bring along someone less brutish, makes people shy away from us a little less;-): This is Levin, the Kevin.;-). Levin is a highly talented poet writing on Weideland Blog, and no stranger to some real hard working either.

 Didn´t I say you should NEVER give edged tools to this guy? Did I not warn you? And what was it you did? Give edged tools to this lunatic?;-)

Was plain good fun bringing out my little beast. I enjoy it thoroughly, and I have to forge one size bigger. It made short terms with the apple wood.

 This is Levin cleaning up. Still quite a heap of sticks. Have to get some for incense, and the rest will be burned.

 The first ladybug, Levin discovered on this crocus flower. I like this picture quite a lot.

The  car crammed full with logs and sticks. We looked after the tools and had some rest in the sun, packed our things, locked up the garden, and went to Kai´s home again. There it was some chopping and preparing carving wood. Kai and myself made a spoon, and we had some real hard  time trying to remove the rotten handle from the hatchets. We found two for Kai and one for Levin and will restore them together and fit some new handles to them. 

After that, I made for the hills again and walked home content with a nice day with nice people.