Yes:
K
K
How many went camping or on Nature rambles as youngsters?
- Thread starter FrenchieBoy
- Start date
My kids love it , it's a shame it's being lost due to gadgets and busy lifestyles of parents
Me and my mates used to club together , we used to get 50 p a week , it was spent on,marksman airgun pellets n matches lol n bands for the catapults , any left went on garden canes to make arrows ( throwing and home made bow arrows )
Dawn till dusk ( and beyond ), in old Mills, farmers fields, rivers n canals etc ,
My old mates still call me Huckleberry Flynn lol , and a couple of em who I grew up with ,
Still do it with me today,
The wife says " are you going playing out in the middle of nowhere this weekend ?
Hell yeah lol ,lol
Me and my mates used to club together , we used to get 50 p a week , it was spent on,marksman airgun pellets n matches lol n bands for the catapults , any left went on garden canes to make arrows ( throwing and home made bow arrows )
Dawn till dusk ( and beyond ), in old Mills, farmers fields, rivers n canals etc ,
My old mates still call me Huckleberry Flynn lol , and a couple of em who I grew up with ,
Still do it with me today,
The wife says " are you going playing out in the middle of nowhere this weekend ?
Hell yeah lol ,lol
baguio
Well-Known Member
Crikey, I was hardly ever at home. Fishing where I shouldn't have been fishing (on a beat later keepered by Spud1967) as well as where I should have been within cycling distance of Aylsham. I was part of the local Young Naturalist group. Beach combing and Rock pooling ITVO Cromer. Later, air rifle shooting and pigeon decoying around Blickling and Oulton for those who know the area. One of my friend's dad was a keeper around that way which was where I first learnt about rearing pheasants and partridges in big numbers using incubators etc. I kept bantams at home so always had chicks in the spring and summer. No mobile phones so came home when I ran out of food and water and often with something to eat covered in fur, feathers or scales! Great times!
Len the dog
Well-Known Member
My dad used to take me to the local tip to look in the skips for pram wheels, me and all my mates would build and race our go carts all summer long. We lived at the top of a big wooded hill that was criss crossed with footpaths that we could race down, used to get a hell of a speed up.
We’d take an old bean tin, a candle and a beaker of pancake batter and that would be our lunch.
Wouldn’t come home until it either got dark or we were hungry, usually also covered head to toe in dirt.
We’d take an old bean tin, a candle and a beaker of pancake batter and that would be our lunch.
Wouldn’t come home until it either got dark or we were hungry, usually also covered head to toe in dirt.
My grandad worked on a farm and we could pretty much do what we wanted. 5 lakes full of fish, various bits of land to shoot on.
My dad became a gamekeeper when I was about 8/9 we had 800 acres, a stretch of river and a decent lake.
I lived in a village that had a river that had free fishing and various areas to investigate.
I was out most days shooting, fishing or working on pens, clearing rides etc.
We didn’t have much money for expensive holidays etc.
We were out learning the way life should be and not how this rat race is now.
If I had the chance to go back to those days and be able to just enjoy life and relax in the countryside enjoying the wildlife and surroundings I would.
I wanted to work on the land in some way but ended up training as a mechanic and I so wish I could have been a gamekeeper or worked in the countryside instead of what I do now.
In my teens my friends would be going out getting ****ed etc. i would be out lamping and if we didn’t eat what we should it would be sold and we made good money.
Most kids now don’t get a real youth and life experience for several reasons. Computers and the fact we can dare let kids out in their own because of all the weirdo’s etc
My dad became a gamekeeper when I was about 8/9 we had 800 acres, a stretch of river and a decent lake.
I lived in a village that had a river that had free fishing and various areas to investigate.
I was out most days shooting, fishing or working on pens, clearing rides etc.
We didn’t have much money for expensive holidays etc.
We were out learning the way life should be and not how this rat race is now.
If I had the chance to go back to those days and be able to just enjoy life and relax in the countryside enjoying the wildlife and surroundings I would.
I wanted to work on the land in some way but ended up training as a mechanic and I so wish I could have been a gamekeeper or worked in the countryside instead of what I do now.
In my teens my friends would be going out getting ****ed etc. i would be out lamping and if we didn’t eat what we should it would be sold and we made good money.
Most kids now don’t get a real youth and life experience for several reasons. Computers and the fact we can dare let kids out in their own because of all the weirdo’s etc
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
We were always out camping in my youth , I still do .
AB
AB
Interesting stories there lads. I’m happy to say I led an outdoor life from an early age too. My old man gave me a lot of free rein to go out into the woods and shoot/fish. Summer camping and exploring. Near where I live there is old buildings from ww2 and me and my chums used to go there and get set up in old gun emplacements and get the big fire going and have a good old time. We had a motley crew of dogs with us too. Had a part time job on a farm too and would muck out pigs and collect eggs and do an assortment of other jobs and get paid a fiver for it(felt like a million quid). Had a crossman pump air gun and then moved up to a bsa sportsman 5. All shots with iron sights. Bit different from my kit too. Also got taught to drive when I was able to reach pedals on a tractor or Land Rover. I had a great time when I was a kid and if I could get a time machine to take me back to the 80’s I would be away like a turd off a shovel…. Went into the military at 19 so that stuff had to stop for a bit while I went out and got learned up about the big bad world and the dark side of human nature. Still go for a wander most nights with my rifle now but im a bit fussier about what or when I’d shoot now, best way to spend a night. Wouldn’t change much of it at all. Some good stories here boys, well done.
P. S if anyone does have a time machine can you give me a shot of it
P. S if anyone does have a time machine can you give me a shot of it
Cootmeurer
Well-Known Member
Be outside hunting fishing gathering camping was the norm for me. When we wanted to kick it up a notch a small group of us started “survivaling” in winter (before cars and females).
Our first adventure was a salvaged shambles. We had scouted the area and new it held ducks fish plenty of firewood and a few fall mushrooms
A week later we set out with only clothes on our back, knifes, matches and a single shot 22. The backwaters of this particular lake turned out to be froze , fish were inaccessible, ducks had departed, etc.
We ended up staying one night to prove we could, made a passable lean to shelter with a fire - and shot/ate many small birds (mostly anything that would sit long enough to get shot) and one terribly unlucky squirrel
We repeated it again a month later but allowed ourselves a few more things (such as a lighter, a shotgun, a canteen and some cans of soup)
Our first adventure was a salvaged shambles. We had scouted the area and new it held ducks fish plenty of firewood and a few fall mushrooms
A week later we set out with only clothes on our back, knifes, matches and a single shot 22. The backwaters of this particular lake turned out to be froze , fish were inaccessible, ducks had departed, etc.
We ended up staying one night to prove we could, made a passable lean to shelter with a fire - and shot/ate many small birds (mostly anything that would sit long enough to get shot) and one terribly unlucky squirrel
We repeated it again a month later but allowed ourselves a few more things (such as a lighter, a shotgun, a canteen and some cans of soup)
Len the dog
Well-Known Member
I’ll let you know last week when it was available.P. S if anyone does have a time machine can you give me a shot of it
Similar here a " gang " of 4 till 1 of us dared to move to Falmouth treacherous swine
.
Cycling to the Peak District, from here was normal .
Air rifles ( Bsa meteor .22 so no pigeon was safe ,carp ,trout ,chub and barbel fished for happily .
French arrows ( garden sticks playing card flights and dart points) ,lethal but no 1 died .
Camping anywhere, and nicking a can or 2 of dad's beers .
Apple scrumping and raiding strawberry fields till girls and cars came along ,simple times before the rat race.
.Cycling to the Peak District, from here was normal .
Air rifles ( Bsa meteor .22 so no pigeon was safe ,carp ,trout ,chub and barbel fished for happily .
French arrows ( garden sticks playing card flights and dart points) ,lethal but no 1 died .
Camping anywhere, and nicking a can or 2 of dad's beers .
Apple scrumping and raiding strawberry fields till girls and cars came along ,simple times before the rat race.
James0586
Well-Known Member
I was a feral kid growing up I was always camping out under canvas or fishing ferreting or shooting at something up the mountain. I would just go for a walk for miles and miles with my lurcher bitch. (We were always up to something)
My parents needed to take me to town to socialise me....
But I loved it
My parents needed to take me to town to socialise me....
But I loved it
Almost every minute of the day and most nights were spent outside on hunting or fishing of some sorts as a child. Catapult, airgun, traps, snares, ferrets and dogs were all part of the equation. I even used to take my catapult to school in case I got a chance to kill something on the way there or back. I was given a ferret but didn't have any nets, so the first rabbit caught using ferrets was caught in my hands as it bolted out of the burrow. I feel the so many people who didn't do all the stuff I done as a kid must have missed out on so much
When I was older and about to spend some time with a young lady a pal of mine shouts as we were about to leave the pub "hey, remember to show her your catapult "
When I was older and about to spend some time with a young lady a pal of mine shouts as we were about to leave the pub "hey, remember to show her your catapult "
bobthedug
Well-Known Member
Last year I fished for pike at Barry’s quarry just upstream from there
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
I know it well! I used to fish Sandy's Ford down to Wolfclyde Bridge. I knew every hollow, every rock, every pool, and must have tripped over every single one of those bloody anti-net irons at least once
bobthedug
Well-Known Member
I recently walked that stretch and where it’s pebbles at the bottom, you can see it’s literally moving with the numbers of American crayfish. I have never seen anything like it!I know it well! I used to fish Sandy's Ford down to Wolfclyde Bridge. I knew every hollow, every rock, every pool, and must have tripped over every single one of those bloody anti-net irons at least once
I remember with great affection time spent on the farm of a local farmer, shooting hares on another local farm and out looking for foxes rabbits etc on another local farm- special because the owner had a dangerous bull which (although never allowed out) was 'possible' in the next field.
Often went fishing with local friends in pits, as we called them, around the farms we knew. Many were the times that we caught monster tench (for us) or simply went to look for moorhens eggs to eat. Newts were everywhere and we knew the best pits to find them. A small stream ran through a farm we went to and rats were often seen and shot (at) with a borrowed .22 air rifle. Later we went camping (never with girls you lucky so and so above) and long netting with the local 'nightlife/ poachers' . Pigeon decoying in bale hides we used to sleep in, with flasks of tea and an illicit cigar and maybe a bottle of Joules between 3/4 of us.
Those were simpler and much better times. I cant let my children do what we did and loved doing. I spent nights alone, agreed with mum and dad, in a wood which housed a rookery - with a 'borrowed' .22 rifle and short rifle bullets, shooting and cooking branchers and rabbits for food. I learnt so much and gained so much confidence to manage in a hostile world but everyone I met, farmers etc were good types and may have moaned about scrumping for example but seemed to know it was the right thing to do to learn the countryside.
I remember being asked by our schoolteacher when I was 9, to take a class on a nature ramble. I talked to farmers, planned the route, organised nets for newts etc and a great day was had by all.
It is a real shame that life is not the same now and that what we used to do has been hijacked by the likes Packham. We were all naturalists and all able to survive and it did not make us problem children but gave me a special confidence alone, in the dark and if I needed to survive in the wild alone.
Owing a shotgun came next, then a rifle etc etc.
Often went fishing with local friends in pits, as we called them, around the farms we knew. Many were the times that we caught monster tench (for us) or simply went to look for moorhens eggs to eat. Newts were everywhere and we knew the best pits to find them. A small stream ran through a farm we went to and rats were often seen and shot (at) with a borrowed .22 air rifle. Later we went camping (never with girls you lucky so and so above) and long netting with the local 'nightlife/ poachers' . Pigeon decoying in bale hides we used to sleep in, with flasks of tea and an illicit cigar and maybe a bottle of Joules between 3/4 of us.
Those were simpler and much better times. I cant let my children do what we did and loved doing. I spent nights alone, agreed with mum and dad, in a wood which housed a rookery - with a 'borrowed' .22 rifle and short rifle bullets, shooting and cooking branchers and rabbits for food. I learnt so much and gained so much confidence to manage in a hostile world but everyone I met, farmers etc were good types and may have moaned about scrumping for example but seemed to know it was the right thing to do to learn the countryside.
I remember being asked by our schoolteacher when I was 9, to take a class on a nature ramble. I talked to farmers, planned the route, organised nets for newts etc and a great day was had by all.
It is a real shame that life is not the same now and that what we used to do has been hijacked by the likes Packham. We were all naturalists and all able to survive and it did not make us problem children but gave me a special confidence alone, in the dark and if I needed to survive in the wild alone.
Owing a shotgun came next, then a rifle etc etc.
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
It was beautiful when I fished it back in the early eighties. So sad to think of it infested with those bloody things now. It was ruined a few years ago with the effluent from new housing in Symington, and the gravel was grey with sludge. I gave up fishing it as it was just pointless. It used to be crammed with superb grayling and brown trout back in the day.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Plenty of time spent camping, fishing, traipsing after my Pa shooting guinae fowl in the African bush or adventures on the Wash, and my grandparents would take a cottage on the west coast of scotland, grandkids would camp in the garden and had to be out of earshot of the cottage from 9am to 4.30pm. We could return if my grandfathers input (he was a paediatrician) would save a life, but if you were only mildly wounded or already dead then no point summoning help.
My own daughter first went up Ben Lawyers when she was six weeks old, and when she started school she did comment that most other kids didn’t spend most weekends in a tent out in the wilds of Scotland.
My own daughter first went up Ben Lawyers when she was six weeks old, and when she started school she did comment that most other kids didn’t spend most weekends in a tent out in the wilds of Scotland.
Cootmeurer
Well-Known Member
When I was too young to drive my dear mother used to take me out each morning in the dark and kick me out of the car!
And I loved her for it. I ran a trap line for mink and muskrat and the odd Fox or raccoon and she would drop me off before daylight and then pick me up an hour and a mile downstream before I went to school.
In todays world she would probably be prosecuted for child abandonment- as nowadays a 12-14 year old is often still very much an incompetent suckling
And I loved her for it. I ran a trap line for mink and muskrat and the odd Fox or raccoon and she would drop me off before daylight and then pick me up an hour and a mile downstream before I went to school.
In todays world she would probably be prosecuted for child abandonment- as nowadays a 12-14 year old is often still very much an incompetent suckling
bobthedug
Well-Known Member
“Incompetent sucking!” Of all the names I have heard used, that one wins the prize!
And, trust me, as a cop for 30 years, I have heard a lot. Lol
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