So as the ever dutiful father I vowed to spend some 'quality time' with my two daughters who are now both young women and not girls (as I have been reminded).

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I know this may sound strange but I used to teach survival skills while serving in the army and Gemma decided it was time I took her wilderness camping where she could benefit from my knowledge and spend some time with her Dad. (I cannot wait to write that entry when it happens at the end of August).

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When I was younger I also used to hike alot in the scouts and then as a soldier. I did the usual Kinder Scout Walk in Derbyshire, the 3 peaks in Yorkshire (which turned into a race), the Lyke Wake Walk in North Yorkshire, Snowdon (in February), Scafell Pike, culminating in 268 mile The Pennine way. So I would class myself as a relatively experienced hiker and one who knows his way around a map and route. (I was also a surveyor in the Artillery). I know I havent done much since 1982 but surely it is like riding a bike and the knowledge would come flooding back....

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I suggested to Gemma we have a short hike to get back into hiking shape before we think about survival camping. We picked a short (very short) 3-4km hike around a circular route in the Nursery next to our home. It was 1:30pm and  told Jule's we will probably be out for a couple of hours at the most....... She reminded me that at 6pm we had Brenda coming round for dinner with her kids and also her sister. "Oh yes take a big knife with you as there was a report that bear problems are up this year". "No problem" I said. (I have a thing about big knives). 

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Our 3-4km was turned into an 8-10km in deep woods strenous hike with no water, no food, no real map, But I did have a compass....and a M3 Fighting knife from my Army collection. To cut a long story short I knew we were never more than 3 km from home but we followed an unknown track into the woods to get off the boring logging road. Little did we know it was a mountain bike track (those mountain bikers are very sadistic) which was called 'Snake' for a reason.... we must have climbed the same hill 10 times and crossed the same stream 10 times. We could have always turned back and walked the 1-2 hours back but surely it will be finished just around the corner. It took us until 5pm to get out of the woods, and we rejoined the logging road 25 metres further up the path than were we went in .

We were exhausted and it took us another 25 minutes to walk the 1km home, then a long hot bath and rest until the visitors came...... I dare not drink more than two glasses of wine otherwise I would have fallen asleep at the table.

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So we are off on another hike tomorrow and taking a pack with us (plus sticking to the logging road this time). We will take a camera to record our epic trip!.

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On a different note, it is Kathryn's birthday today and she is 22 it doesnt seem that long ago that I was teaching her to read, swim, ride a bike etc...

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OK, I'll sign off for now, while I go to prepare for our 4-5km hike tomorrow, complete with kelly kettle, energy bars, teabags, map, compass, BIG KNIFE and the forecast is drizzle.  Have a great weekend where ever you are and think of me walking in the gentle drizzle.

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PS we didn't see any Bears or even sign of a Bear, but I did like the excuse to get 'tooled up', as the youth of today says.