I probably had about three hours sleep in total waking around 6am with a banging headache. Rain was gently pattering on my roof as it fell lazily from the overhead leaves. What a beautiful place to start the day.  I dressed and emerged and pulled the car forward out of the tarp I had erected to act as a porch, re-pegging it to form a nice shelter big enough for four people to sit under. Kettle on. My two mates were still in their woodland bedrooms so I just sat with a strong coffee and watched and listened to the birds singing and bobbing around. Phil was next up and had been visited by a robin. He described how it had tried to land on his feet then settled on the ground in front of his face. It’s coal black eyes looking directly into his. This close connection with a wild creature, no matter how small is awesome. But that was dwarfed by Alan’s.

In part one I promised you a surprise the following morning. Alan called around. He awoke in his cabin to hear a slurping sound right outside. He quietly peered through the window to see the magnifient six-point antlered, buck roe deer, drinking rain water from a bowl he had left outside, literally a few feet away. He watched frightened to move and disturb it. Eventually it departed but was spotted again by his car. As he walked down the track to visit us it followed him for a while. These are the special treats you are sometimes rewarded with when you step outside the compartment of everyday urbanity and into the wild.

Finally Simon emerged and enthused at how he was able to open his tent door and rather than be confronted by a campsite full of families and noisy kids, was able to lay there with a living woodland window of trees, plants and birds. We spent the rest of the morning sitting, chatting and recounting our weekend. A lazy brunch of fried egg sarnies (sandwiches to those unfamiliar with the word) and plentiful coffee. We packed our gear, and in the Native Indian and bushcaft ethos, tidied up “leaving no trace but footprints and memories”. The memories will live on for a long time. Fantastic weekend and mini adventure, thanks guys for making it so.