Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Blayne on September 27, 2016, 12:22:03 pm
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This past weekend was a first for me, my first chance to get together with several other wood bow enthusiasts here on Vancouver Island. Originally it was supposed to include Jamie McDonald from Ravenbeak, but due to his tight schedule he couldn't make it. Wizardgoat and I decided to make it happen anyway. The event was held at the beautiful Cumberland Lake Park on Comox Lake, in Cumberland BC, at a wilderness group campsite. Surrounded by mature second growth including yew, osier and Doug maple, and the usual hemlock, Doug fir and red cedar.
We arrived on Thursday, along with DC(Don) and Tree Ninja(Jason), and Goats cousin Ryan. My wife and kids were around various times through the weekend, as was Goats family including more cousins and Ninja's wife was there as well. We had a mixed bag of rain, wind and the sun even teased us briefly. Tarps blew down, I almost lost my tent, and the grounds were pretty muddy in places, but thankfully there was a large covered structure that we did most of our bow work in, with a concrete floor to boot!
While lots of shavings happened(many by headlamp after dinner) only Ryan, the newbie, finished his bow. What dedication! I think he was sanding in his sleep lol. Watching him shoot that new yew flat bow was a treat. Don also got one shooting, and will be making it great at his home shop. He did some tip alignment with the heat from the fire and some clamps on the picnic table. The gangway to the dock became a workbench, and you could track my movement around the fire pit but the piles of fine shavings of Doug maple that I left around. A couple folks made some juniper spoons that were beautiful and we did some group shooting. That was a lot of arrows after 8 or so archers loosing half a dozen each at the targets! We witnessed the daily flight of the ravens, where seemingly every raven in the area fly up the lake to roost. Dozens and dozens of them. A beautiful thing to see and hear.
For first ever event it went off perfectly. Everyone got along and worked together. It was a weekend of skill sharing, community building and friendship forging. A diversity of backgrounds, generations and knowledge base created some great subject matter to chat about, not to mention the bountiful woods that we have in our area for making our tools with. Looking forward to being a part of year two of this gathering. And thanks to the hardy participants who I shared this weekend with!
Our accommodations, for bow building anyway
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/C11F904A-8D87-4B3B-9DCD-1AD28AE07FAB.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/C11F904A-8D87-4B3B-9DCD-1AD28AE07FAB.jpg.html)
The lake, and our wonderful, overcast Island weather.
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/790F1D16-CFDF-433E-99ED-DBF6B4D5C287.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/790F1D16-CFDF-433E-99ED-DBF6B4D5C287.jpg.html)
Unique work bench, with a view!
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/02740AA7-B993-41A0-BD50-4D6B7390EB87.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/02740AA7-B993-41A0-BD50-4D6B7390EB87.jpg.html)
Lots of arrows!
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/A84A691C-B03E-4CD1-A5F4-C6A299C828CC.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/A84A691C-B03E-4CD1-A5F4-C6A299C828CC.jpg.html)
A new bowyer and his art.
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/E56B06AB-1A37-4712-9503-7821E486A00E.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/E56B06AB-1A37-4712-9503-7821E486A00E.jpg.html)
A gnarly old timer that has passed on
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/7DBE248F-CF8B-420D-BAA1-FE88F3EE0B58.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/7DBE248F-CF8B-420D-BAA1-FE88F3EE0B58.jpg.html)
My little Kate loving the mud and rain
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/DFDC56E2-DFB2-4080-B51C-999CC783396E.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/DFDC56E2-DFB2-4080-B51C-999CC783396E.jpg.html)
Baby Goat keeping warm and dry!
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/7716C243-FA66-48E3-9D0B-2B7045343169.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/7716C243-FA66-48E3-9D0B-2B7045343169.jpg.html)
Easy clean up. So much yew in that pile!
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/7514FCEC-FD85-43F7-9292-4608922B2F30.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/7514FCEC-FD85-43F7-9292-4608922B2F30.jpg.html)
Our commemorative pin. Thanks for making these up Goat!
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/tailgate77/5F907E4C-7EDB-4A1E-972C-01DCD52CBA89.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/tailgate77/media/5F907E4C-7EDB-4A1E-972C-01DCD52CBA89.jpg.html)
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Nice when a plan comes together. :)
I am glad to hear you all had a good time
weather and all ;)
The Jayco reminds me of my traveling days
back in the late eighties. Towed mine over
20,000 miles.
Thanks for sharing.
Zuma
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Thanks to you and Goat for arranging this weekend. I had a great time, I'm still trying to make up for lost naps. It was great to meet Goat and Tree Ninja(the worlds most enthusiastic Ocean Spray supporter) and all of the others that were there. Here's a few more pictures of the site on Thursday while the sun was out. The tarps around the fire pit didn't make it through the first evening.
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And the view we had to put up with
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Bet y'all had a blast looks like a pretty place
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And about a million ;) kayaks that decided to paddle by.
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Wish j could have made it. Looks like you had a blast! Cheers- Brendan
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Looks like a great time, I like the buttons too
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beautiful!!! dp
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Looks like you guys had a great time.
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Thanks for hosting it Blayne, what a beautiful campground you work at, can't wait to come again. I'm so used to working on bows solo, it's always nice to make work with others just as stoked as you. Cheers
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Looks like a great way to spend a few days. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
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Nice ! That's the way to do it - looks like fun and a great spot. Bob
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Sounds like you had a fine time despite the weather, and I see at least one little one enjoyed the mud and puddles :)
Beautiful setting too.
Del
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Great pics thanks for sharing.. Beautiful area.. Hoping to make it back there next July word is the long bow safari is there
Thanks Leroy
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Looks like a fun time, only thing I see missing is a big pot of spicy, Chili.
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Looks like a sweet time! Never ever trust a dude in all black with a hood over his head, never. :)
Lil' Goat looks like he has the best spot in the place.
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I never get tired of people posting about these small gatherings! Never!
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Looks like a sweet time! Never ever trust a dude in all black with a hood over his head, never. :)
Lil' Goat looks like he has the best spot in the place.
He is one of the happiest babies I've ever seen ;D ;D ;D
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Happy parents make happy babies eh'!
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Happy parents make happy babies eh'!
Words to live by...
Thanks Leroy
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Words of wisdom! Des is a really happy little guy, Kate didn't want to leave him alone! It is so nice to get together and work with like minded folks. My interests often lean to the fringe side of things and it can be tough to find common ground with "regular" people. A good experience and I hope to partake in the Longbow Safari when it is here in '17