Back Again

Wow. Illness, injury, holidays, broken tech, all sorts of stuff going on.

Still, I have been at least somewhat busy. Making arrows, of course. Lots of them. I am, I think, getting pretty decent at it, though still learning things as I go along. :)

I received my flint knapping kit but have yet to try to actually make anything. It is something I am reluctant to do in the apartment after getting both cut and a splinter of obsidian just handling the stuff. I do not want the small shards in the carpet and what not. I'll work on it outdoors, which would be a lot better.

I received my atlatl...I bought one of bamboo for experimentation. It has a bit of shaped bone for the 'hook' on the tip. I still need to make darts for it. I checked the bamboo stakes we have...most of them are much too short. There are some others to look at...I really only need a couple of them to make into darts. I have fletches for them and all.

I received also my fire drill and hand drill kits; these are tested to work and are something I can practice on as I make my own and try those too. I also have a fire plunger that I built from a kit, and naturally, flint and steel. Many ways to make fire!

I am keenly interested in paleotech and all that goes with it. Having read the writeup on that awesome show 'I Caveman' in the current issue of 'Primitive Archer' (thanks Ken!), I am even more motivated than before. I know how the man felt and feels. I have experienced that same thing..and the longing to get away from the world as we have made it never leaves. He'll find that out soon enough, if he doesn't know it already. There is something about being out primitive, whether it is longhunting, medieval hunting, or paleo living, that changes ones perception, makes one aware of another world underneath this thing we have built. It instills a deep seated longing, a sense of loss and loneliness that is hard to describe.

The Winter is closing in on us here and that is good time for working on many things. I will work a great deal on primitive kit over the Winter; most of my medieval and Range stuff is sorted anyway, and my Longhunting stuff is near done too.

Ritual stuff is ever ongoing...and one cannot separate that from paleo living...it is part and parcel, as it is of my own life.

Pictures of packs, flint pieces, darts, and whatnot as I get them.

Eledhwen