Shotgun At The Sacred Grove

originally posted by: CharlesT
You inadvertently hit on one of the problems with today's western society. Too many people tripping all over each other. Just about anywhere one goes now they are forced to interact with intolerant others. It's almost impossible to truly get away from PEOPLE now.

Spot-on, 👍

Not long after I first moved back home to Jersey, and got with my partner, we had our first argument (after about six months).

I'd never argued with a girlfriend before, didn't know how to take it, so planned on doing what I'd done for years when things weren't great; I packed my gear and a few days worth of supplies and set off.

I was living on the south coast of the island at the time, and set off north. After only a couple of hours or so I reached the north coast, then it hit me; 'where do I go from here?'

I knew that anywhere I set up camp, by the time the sun came up I'd be in someone's garden or on private land of some kind, so I just gave up and headed back down south.

To be fair, it was a good trek and let off some of that steam,

a reply to: MerkabaTribeEntity
Star for the story.
I can walk 10 minutes and feel like I'm the only person for miles. Clearings deep in woods, beaches that are a dangerous (ish) climb down cliffs which nobody goes to unless they want to escape like me, then it is cool as meeting other likeminded souls, lighting a fire, and talking about why we are escaping from our 4 stone walled boxes.
I am really lucky where I am and I don't take it for granted.

a reply to: CornishCeltGuy

It's easy for me to disappear now as I've been back long enough to find my way around, but I can't share those stories here, lol.

Let's just say that a 6:00am breakfast cooked over a hexi-burner on a beautiful summers morning, surrounded by nature and and things you love, utterly off the radar in a place that according to maps doesn't even exist, is the most calming, relaxing, soul-food I've ever had.

a reply to: MerkabaTribeEntity
I totally know what you mean!
I totally get the OP as well, I love being 'free' from my civilised box, away from everyone, alone in nature. Nothing like it as an experience. When I camp out I often leave my mobile phone at home, it feels even more free from society. Don't get me wrong, I love my local society, but escaping from it to nature from just a ten minute walk or whatever is fantastic.
EDIT
Some of the secluded beaches are treacherous to get to down dodgy cliffs, my close loved mate (and business partner) fell off a couple of years ago and died. It is something we do here, cliff jumping in the sea is another local pastime. In the summer there can be loads of separate cliff jumping/party type people in the beaches which are most difficult/dangerous to get down to, it becomes a communal party with likeminded people who you only know from that 'escape civilization' camping/escapist demographic lol
Escaping from 'normal' society is the thing everyone shares.

a reply to: CornishCeltGuy

Yes, it is.

If you ever get the chance, try the Alaskan wilderness, though I suppose there are still wild places up north in Scotland or the like...

Waking late at night, watching Denali back lit by the aurora borealis is a memory to cherish. I've camped in places that I like to think I'm the first person to ever do so, it's unlikely I am, but it's fun...high up in the Canadian rockies, or in Colorado.

There is something almost sacred about the real wild--to me, anyway--Nature as the Goddess intended, nothing but the sound of the wind, a blue jay or raven off in the distance. Or the sound of utter silence after a snowfall in late January, the sound of nature sleeping. Or the sound of the wind in the leaves of an aspen high up in the mountains.

a reply to: seagull
That is so true dude!
Lots of places I can camp here and feel like a million miles away from civilization.
The OP has inspired me to a winter night out in the next month or so. I love my home comforts, but I truly love the escape of camping on a beach which nobody goes to because it is a dangerous climb down a cliff to get to it. Driftwood fire, look out to sea at the horizon and feel like I'm on my own island.
My house may be my sanctuary but nature out in my tent is my love.

a reply to: crayzeed

Like this classic!

a reply to: seagull

That was so poetic and beautiful!

Everyone is in here talking about nature which I love, but one spider and I freak out. I love snakes and lizards and frogs and animals, but spiders...Gah! Oh and mosquitos. They love me and I hate the damned things. LOL

When I would garden with my Mom years ago, I'd see a worm or centipede or spider and...

i has no direct response to the OP - but reply to recall this thread the next time i need a pithy response to peoples delusions of " bugging out and living off the land " in a crisis

originally posted by: Kester

Have any other Brits experienced farmers using shotguns for intimidation in recent years?

Firstly, Happy New Year chief.

Secondly, yes but it is specifically farmers with salt pellets rather than live ammunition round here - they have the live ammo but obviously don't fancy a 20-25 year stretch at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Obviously, salt pellets do not kill - but they do bloody smart! That used to be winter entertainment for us when we were young - sneak through farmyards / fields and try not to get shot by salt pellets. We never damaged anything so the farmers didn't care, if anything they seemed to enjot it as much as us!

a reply to: Kester

You should have questioned him firing shots at you if you were not on his land !

that is threatening behaviour and not legal if you were not even on his land

originally posted by: seagull

If you ever get the chance, try the Alaskan wilderness,

No good for us Brits - Alaskan wilderness equals possibility of bears and us Brits only have a trusty penkife between us......

a reply to: sapien82

I'm considering my options. Not much point telling the cops when the only evidence is going to be some pellet holes in some ivy leaves. Perhaps arson or poisoning his dog . . .

a reply to: Flavian

If it's an original Trevor Ablett or a Michael May the bears will run squealing.

michaelmayknives.com...

a reply to: Kester

couldnt you just perform a sham pagan ritual to make him think his crops or animals have been cursed!

Still jokes aside, shooting near or at someone isnt cool , its threatening behaviour , discharging a firearm in the direction of a human being surely must be a crime !

I cant see it in here but maybe in there somewhere

Uk firearm legilsation

originally posted by: Kester
a reply to: Flavian

If it's an original Trevor Ablett or a Michael May the bears will run squealing.

michaelmayknives.com...

Honestly mate, if it's a grizzly, it's me running squealing - whether i have one of those knives or not!

a reply to: Flavian
Lol, I'm hoping to visit a dear friend in Tennessee US this year and she's promised we'll go camping in the forest hoping to see bears. They have black bears there and she reckons they ain't scary at all...I'm not so sure though.
It's redneck world so I'm sure I'll be safe with all the guns around.

originally posted by: Kester
a reply to: sapien82

I'm considering my options. Not much point telling the cops when the only evidence is going to be some pellet holes in some ivy leaves. Perhaps arson or poisoning his dog . . .

Was it definitely proper shotgun pellets? The salt pellets also leave pellet holes........

There is also the possibility that the farmer didn't actually know you were there - bear with me! Given the time of year, and that nothing was said, is it possibly a new toy for the farmer that was being discharged (i've got a new shotgun, i'm off to shoot something)? Who then realised someone was in the copse so panicked and disappeared?!

originally posted by: CornishCeltGuy
a reply to: Flavian
Lol, I'm hoping to visit a dear friend in Tennessee US this year and she's promised we'll go camping in the forest hoping to see bears. They have black bears there and she reckons they ain't scary at all...I'm not so sure though.
It's redneck world so I'm sure I'll be safe with all the guns around.

Black bears are definitely less scary than grizzlies but that said, an angry bear is a lot stronger than a person. Just bear (no pun intended!) in mind that we are used to slightly aggressive sheep and cows............

a reply to: Flavian
Haha yes, or angry badgers!
I really hope I can make it this summer. They have a forest in TN which is bigger than England, true wild nature, big mountains, the lot. I will be staying in her family home and chilling with her friends and family, not like some tourist holiday but enjoying their rural lifestyle as a guest. Our mountains and forests are crap compared to over there lol
Can you believe I can book an advance flight from London to Nashville for around £400?! I haven't got a spare 400 quid right now though, self employed and haven't worked over 3 weeks what with Christmas so rinsed my savings out.

...seeing bears would be amazing, and redneck partying will be equally amazing!