Timestepper

To get back to the OP, I think you're right, Dave, this probably would be a better spot, location wise, for tanning instructions and other "How To's."

Hey, I resemble that remark!

Naw, maybe Tallhunters anonymous. the Longhunter is Dave's persona - I'm more Western Free Trapper...

LMAO! That's kinda' what I'm afraid of - mine is coming, but no one will show up and I'll end up playing with BY myself again.

My best friend made my trivet for me as a gift - not too difficult with some 3/8 steel strap, a butane (or acetylene) torch (or even a hacksaw to facilitate bending the legs), a drill and a small brad to use as a rivet. And yeah - I don't know if you got the chance to see my "pipe lighter," but it's basically round lamp wick, inserted through a brass tube which serves as both handle and extinguisher. It's slightly charred on the end and readily catches a spark - when you're done, simply pull it back into the tube and it extinguishes itself. Another friend and I made char from 2 inch cotton strap several years ago which worked at least as well as anything I've ever used and better than most.

Count me in (of course), but allow me time every now and then for honeydo's and work - that way maybe I won't have to move in once we get it done.

I'm impressed, Dave! Sounds like you're going to have a new sideline if you're not careful. If I had to answer all the notes I've received since the weekend at Spot's, it'd take me... about 30 seconds. Guess I'll have to <happily> settle for providing comic relief. Still, if anyone would want to do an actual primitive survival camp (no phones, no cars, no coolers, no camp chairs, no bacon & eggs for breakfast, etc... but wild plant foods, basic shelter building, cordage making, etc...), then I'd be happy to do more than just talk for a few minutes and pose for pictures in my skivvies.

You're a lucky man! My old canoe has given me literally thousands of miles and hundreds of hours of enjoyment from end of the country to the other. (And I just about guarantee that it'll be one of the best investments you've ever made!)

Well, I can't speak for anyone else but I know I'd darn sure be aggravated...

30-35 years ago when I was a newby at this stuff, the standard char cloth tin was a Prince Albert Tobacco tin. Nowadays, those are museum pieces and collectors items. Mayhap at our next get together I'll show you fellers how to make char-wood (soft charcoal which serves as char cloth and is actually more historically accurate). Oh, and when I'm making a big batch of char cloth (for instructional purposes where I may be lighting 150 or so fires during the course of a day) I'll go to the local auto supply store and buy an empty quart paint can. I punch one hole in the center of the lid with a 16d nail and fill it with the cloth of my choice then tap the lid on good and tight and set the whole mess in the middle of my campfire for an hour or two. Glad to hear you had great success, Mark! (And your modern fire steel is welcome in my camp any time!)

OUTSTANDING! :usa:

Ummm... I'll probably go down in flames for this, but you guys can celebrate July 4th all you want... I'm going to celebrate INDEPENDENCE DAY! :usa:

Riding a motorcycle is not dangerous. Crashing while riding a motorcycle is dangerous. (And it doesn't matter who's fault it is.) Someday I'd like to have a camera mounted on the side of my truck just to catch all the dangerously distracting crap I've seen going on in vehicles that pass me - of course I'd probably get arrested if I sent footage of the Tennessee State Troopers I've seen texting to their respective commanders.

Oh heck yeah! Sittin' on your butt for a living makes for a tuckered brain and I'll happily take your portions! (It'll give me somethin' to smear on y'alls bedrolls so the skunks will leave me alone and go after you!)

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Dave! I'm really looking forward to actually floating the Clinch with you and maybe wrapping a couple of trout in foil with dilled garlic and bacon and cooking them on coals right on the river bank for lunch. :up:

Me too, neither! (But we've got some floatin' to do first!)

Boy oh boy. There's alot I could say about the union suit, but since everybody seems to think I'm just for wearing it, I guess we'll leave it at that. (Just remember not to turn your back on a crazy person!) BTW Spots, ol' friend, ol' buddy, ol' pal - thanks for posting the pics of me putting it on, but leaving out the ones where I'm actually dressed. (And you should also remember the old adage, "What goes around comes around!) LMAO!

Wow, now that's purty! (And yeah, quite acceptable I think for a Long Hunter.)

YES, would everyone who took pics please post them? (I carried my phone all weekend long and was too darned busy or otherwise distracted to take a single pic!)

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Words cannot begin to express how impressed I was by everyone and how much fun I had and sharing the Clinch with WD-40 and his son-in-law and grandson afterwards was just icing on the cake. Had plans to rejoin Dave and family on the Clinch this morning for some early fishing, but the cooling system on my wife's van had other plans - can anyone suggest an appropriate caliber for a '95 Aerostar? My thanks to all who came out and especially Spots and WD-40. You folks turned what would have otherwise been an unbearably hot and miserable weekend into a great event! Can't wait to do it again when it's cooler out. :up:

You've obviously never been to El Paso and The Bridge of America... It's alot easier to make this kind of screw up than most might imagine. In fact, I did the same thing back in '97 that this poor guy did, but luckily I was pulling an empty flatbed and was allowed to turn around and exit the country after a delay of only a few minutes.

And tomorrow it's my ticket home!

Too late! Hey, looks like I might be loading in Cumberland City tomorrow.