First lite, Bloodline , One Planet. Brands up until this week I had never heard of. Ive gradually been updating my gear to a Merino layering system and have been researching brands available in Australia. Minus 33 not having a sales agent in this country. I came across the following products by shear luck on New Zealand hunting channels. Looks like great gear,I wanted to get their names out there.
With sleeping bags Ive usually gone with military brands with synthetic insulation but I’m also thinking of trying goose down with advances in treatments of the down material, with the One Planet Bush-lite series.
Well I finally took the plunge and brought a Mora. Id been given cheaper model Moras before and ended up passing them along to mates, I have a phobia about stick tangs but they love them for processing deer. Ive just owned better knives. What I DON’T like about Moras? Plastic handles, plastic sheaths, the same design being re marketed over and over again with slight differences. Put a 90 degree spine on the same model and resell it under a different name. For the price of a Garberg I can get a Nieto Yesca with a decent leather sheath and ferro rod, for another $50 a Joker Ember both having very nice timber handles. Thin blade stock on cheaper models, stick tangs, micro bevels. I think that about covers it.
What Id like to suggest to Mora. One, sharpen the clip point and do a military model with a decent molle compatible kydex sheath and Two, Sell the Garberg as a blank similar to what Spyderco do with the Mule blanks so people can put their own handles on them. Such as MICARTA or even better just do a version with a micarta grip.
Why then did I purchase a Garberg ? Good price, I used afterpay, I wanted to get the price up with an order to get free shipping and I really wanted to have one in my hand and see for myself and before you ask, I am planning on cutting off the plastic grip and replacing it with MICARTA ! Ill also be removing the micro bevel after seeing the cutting tests performed by Cedric. (See below).
What I like about the Garberg? At least it has a what they call a full tang. It goes all the way to the pommel.I class a full tang as being able to see it through the handle scales. I like the blade design and it has a thicker spine at 3.2mm compared to other models. They also have the tempering right.
I really like the look of the Stainless Garberg in Sandvik 14C28N however I went for the Carbon version after watching DBK compare the cutting ability between the two. (See below). I also wanted to try and use the carbon spine for striking against a shard of flint for fire lighting. The carbon being much easier to field sharpen. Id like to take this blade on Dave Canterbury’s Level one course, where minimal equipment is used ( no sharpening stones) and pack weight is going to be a consideration, along with a prerequisite of a carbon steel knife.
I also like the price compared to other blades Ive purchased, this probably being the cheapest blade Ive ever purchased. Sorry Im a knife snob I freely admit it.
I managed 15 kms yesterday and didn’t pull up very well. The legs seized up on me later in the day I had trouble getting in and out of the car. I did 25 kms today, so I’m not looking forward to a few hours time. I found another track the day before I really wanted to check out and the weather was too nice to turn back when I should have.
I started chatting to another cyclist and found another way to where the tracks meet up on either side of the river. Ive gone from doing one side of the river and having to use the electric motor to make it home to minimally using the motor for a boost for the knee and now doing a complete circuit of both sides .
That track has shown me where to get better pictures of the Grey Headed Fruit Bats. I thought I must have been loosing my touch. I wasn’t looking out for spots to stealth camp. I found some really pretty spots.
From Part 1: The rope project definitely works. I forgot to grab any tinder material and just kept blowing on the charred rope in the lid of the tin and it lasted for a good five minutes. Great idea. Had to order in the 100% cotton rope from Rope Galore.See pics below. The tin became that hot I couldn’t lift it up to arrange the char for the pictures.
It looks like I am living in Gunaikurnai Country. The Gunaikurnai or Gunai/Kurnai people, are an Aboriginal Australian nation of south-east Australia. They are the Traditional Custodians of most of present-day Gippsland and much of the southern slopes of the Victorian Alps. The Gunaikurnai nation is composed of five major clans. The five clans that make up the Gunaikurnai community: The Brabralung people of Central Gippsland The Brayakaulung people around the current site of Sale The Brataualung people in South Gippsland The Tatungalung people near Lakes Entrance on the coast The Krautungalung people near the Snowy river. The creation story of the Gunaikurnai features Borun the Pelican. The first Gunai was Borun the Pelican, who ventured down from the mountains and reached the flat country, carrying a bark canoe on his head. As he was walking, he heard a constant tapping sound and tried to find where it was coming from. When he finally reached the waters of the inlet (near what is now known as Port Albert), he put his canoe down and was surprised to find a woman sitting in it. She was Tuk the Musk Duck and they fell in love, becoming the parents of all the Gunai. In scientific terms, evidence of human occupation at Cloggs Cave near Buchan, has been dated at up to 17,000 years, while occupation at New Guinea Cave in the same area has been dated to over 20,000 years.
Ive now developed three separate sit spots. One in particular is just to watch the flying foxes or fruit bat colony near my home. It takes me a 4kms bike ride to reach it and I can only watch from the opposite side of the river. I’m hoping to try and find an alternative route to the other side to capture closer pictures. I’m finding them absolutely fascinating.Ive also found a burrow I believe belongs to a fox. Ive placed a stick over the entrance to see if its still being habitated. There are lots of signs in the area saying snakes live in this area. Particularly Tiger Snakes, so holes in the ground are no go zones. I wasn’t sure what species of fruit bat they were until looking up my area and found them to be an actual tourist attraction of the township. Pictures below.
5TH session of Bird Language, one week left. I haven’t written much on Navigation through out the blog. Compasses aren’t my specialty. I’m trying to learn Natural Navigation. I have a lot of Tristan Gooley books to make my way through. Tonight Andrew mentioned Bower Birds build their nests facing North to South with a ten degree margin of error to optimize lighting. I had never heard of this before and thought it would be worth mentioning.
“Lost in the bush with no idea where north is? No problem, look for a satin bower-bird’s dance platform (bower) and you’re off to the races. Well mostly. About 80% of the bowers I find are oriented due north, give or take 10 degrees. North is the side where the sun shines brightest in Spring, offering optimal dance floor lighting conditions. It’s also where he scatters his precious blue and yellow treasures to boost the raunchy performance. The fellow who owned this rather scatty bower i found even boasted shopping cards in his proud collection! Oh, how the ladies must swoon…”
If you don’t think this applies to bushcraft then try using a firebow for the first time! Amor fati = Acceptance + Patience + Action. Be present and check your perception. I probably read too much however I find things that I apply outside the box that I think others may find of interest. When your stuck in the bush for the first time and out of your comfort zone. Mindset is the key to making it an enjoyable experience!
