Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: b0ogaloo on August 11, 2012
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I'm just back from a week on Salt Island this is what I got up to
Launching from Killyleagh with the tide on Saturday I paddled an extremely heavy kayak over to the island and set up camp,
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NOfGLKbg89w/UCYoQOdA-gI/AAAAAAAAIEY/OibaDeqp_YA/s640/IMAG0592.jpg)
The plan was to build some benches and possibly a picnic table at the front of the bothy, I had permission to fell a tree for the construction, but I decided to have a good look around the island first to see what timber was available
The big old ash trees on top of the hill had shed a few branches so i brought them down to my camp first using a fish crate as an improvised sled
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZthPI8x-yf0/UCYnveTgZBI/AAAAAAAAIAc/z34J4aGYRw0/s640/IMAG0605.jpg)
A piece of chestnut from the fire pit at the bothy was also rescued and added to the collection
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CvZSGr2r2QA/UCYoVXsULtI/AAAAAAAAIE4/lhYNzIsQrko/s640/IMAG0596.jpg)
That was how i spent Saturday, gathering materials and planning the construction ,
Sunday
After a great nights sleep and a hearty breakfast i began to build the benches
I had intended to do it all without using power tools , but after a fall at work which resulted in a sprained wrist I didn’t fancy trying to hew logs by hand so I brought the chainsaw and relative safety gear
First job was to split the chestnut trunk in two to form the top of the benches
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DkdadV72458/UCYoW6F1scI/AAAAAAAAIFA/nTBtwt7C_IE/s640/IMAG0597.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SM6gtyV5XIc/UCYoYGSREvI/AAAAAAAAIFI/lzcIfh4EK3s/s640/IMAG0598.jpg)
I then cut the legs for the benches from a piece of old ash , just as i had finished cutting the heavens opened ... jeez did it rain, one of the advantages of hammock camping is you and your gear are off the ground , just as well as the floor of the forest turned into a river
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3VXIx3v-trk/UCYoBDuPHyI/AAAAAAAAICo/wKjcGBAcrzo/s640/IMAG0622.jpg)
Thankfully the downpour only lasted for half an hour and after relighting my fire and a cup of tea i resumed work
I cut out the mortices for the legs to go into
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--FvR7JCMIM4/UCYoCK1SY-I/AAAAAAAAICw/9dyBewT4Ar0/s640/IMAG0624.jpg)
I then bored holes for the securing dowels with a scotch eyed auger
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uIvEeodsfiU/UCYn1r6HDkI/AAAAAAAAIBM/SSssl2HqKgA/s640/IMAG0611.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ALfBsk8B5Ds/UCYn4FqjL_I/AAAAAAAAIBg/L0HKXuunrw0/s640/IMAG0613.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FV1JcsziAWM/UCYn5J9a25I/AAAAAAAAIBo/AYmh4FqFME0/s640/IMAG0614.jpg)
using a draw knife i chamfered the edges of the bench so no one gets a splinter :D
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-upGz5Pbz9V8/UCYn5ySSb0I/AAAAAAAAIBw/ICDaqGvsiJw/s640/IMAG0615.jpg)
Withe the two benches completed i retired for the evening , the fun would start in the morning , So i had a shower cooked some dinner and lay in the hammock reading until dusk
Solar shower = cold shower on overcast days
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L382XvLCK6I/UCYmqd_j-QI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/Ypbw_-_G1OU/s640/IMAG0690.jpg)
Monday
In an ideal world I would have a Canadian canoe with a 500 kg capacity , but i don’t so I’m limited to what i can carry on my kayak this means i just didn’t have the room for a jackhammer , but i really wish i could've brought one
The ground at the front of the bothy has 2 " of topsoil then its rocks , it took me most of the day to dig out the holes for the legs of the benches using an old WW2 entrenching shovel and a lot of cursing
one bench installed , one to go
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TueVfZarLSE/UCYoJGj7vjI/AAAAAAAAIDo/eFugCSFx6Xg/s640/IMAG0631.jpg)
both benches installed
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4h4XS1qhOk4/UCYnj2SJ3hI/AAAAAAAAH_M/AKhInOIQ0Ao/s640/IMAG0641.jpg)
using an adze to level out the surface a bit
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XFB62syBxso/UCYnhGc-OJI/AAAAAAAAH-8/OHwHanUL17s/s640/IMAG0639.jpg)
I also removed the old fire ring and built a new one with the rocks i had dug out for the bench and table legs
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nhwRb-NOgWc/UCYnmhwt-SI/AAAAAAAAH_c/ZVqrpn19SPU/s640/IMAG0643.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xFtDXb5Rvns/UCYnoCW-RoI/AAAAAAAAH_k/Q_lwFahll9E/s640/IMAG0644.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O1DErHozyVs/UCYnqh-IBwI/AAAAAAAAH_0/WPf9R3BoZOU/s640/IMAG0646.jpg)
Tuesday
As mentioned earlier i had scoured the island for usable timber that was already down , but the just wasn't enough to make a table with So i decided to fell a 8" diameter ash tree , having done this i began to saw it into planks , Again in an ideal world i couldve brought a chsinsaw mill with me but .... So i had to do it manually ::)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QlPJ-3RxagU/UCYnTPXUxkI/AAAAAAAAH90/YNjBEzmefAY/s640/IMAG0653.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--3Sfk-OFams/UCYnUAOe1RI/AAAAAAAAH98/zRtPbcSd-LM/s640/IMAG0654.jpg)
once i had the planks cut i began assembling the table top
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hp1QTfI7Vzs/UCYnLRvEUxI/AAAAAAAAH84/JUed5GvUk4E/s640/IMAG0659.jpg)
Ciamohe my dog was supervising as always
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MHhyXDRb9b4/UCYnKJJ0FYI/AAAAAAAAH8w/xm8xxsi3JSw/s640/IMAG0658.jpg)
Wednesday
With the table top built next job was to dig holes for the table legs ( i had prayed the previous night for a JCB and rock breaker ) This proved an interesting day
that rock was my nemesis .... its been swore at in several different languages and even had some new swear words invented specially for it
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BWqXBW4TDTI/UCYm2lRQWxI/AAAAAAAAH64/eNLEPaNa9es/s640/IMAG0670.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kOPa9iw7LCc/UCYm5vZ_HSI/AAAAAAAAH7I/ONJw9SoRkXY/s640/IMAG0672.jpg)
Eventually i got it out
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-74xRagUAl0k/UCYm7NEnDpI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/GxtJuU8xgPg/s640/IMAG0673.jpg)
Thursday
On Thursday morning I paddled over to Killyleagh to get some supplies , it was a glorious morning the lough was like a mirror on the way back I saw a sea otter which made my day . i managed a crap photo and some video ...
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ABvH2tiLpNU/UCYm1M5bT1I/AAAAAAAAIGc/vy4U1TpgbR4/s640/IMAG0669.jpg)
Back on the island work resumed after a coronary special breakfast which consisted of various pig products and eggs in a wholemeal roll ... yes i know it should've been a soda but the spar didn’t have any
The legs were buried in the hole and the table top fitted
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4TpalCju3vk/UCYnBhuVZvI/AAAAAAAAH74/mY5_Jr3aXqc/s640/IMAG0678.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pVCKUNcfVxQ/UCYnDGrZlAI/AAAAAAAAH8A/O4gLYx7lCaY/s640/IMAG0679.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zDp4JSdHAKs/UCYnEgS7jcI/AAAAAAAAH8I/EsNWOClGyU8/s640/IMAG0680.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P2y0EMhoTQ8/UCYmoF_BSFI/AAAAAAAAH5A/6lFGQ0jUKuc/s640/IMAG0688.jpg)
Friday
I woke at dawn on Friday , made a quick cup of tea and got the kayak launched in the hope of seeing the otter again ,,, but the sea fog meant I had no chance
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7pBtLHh0L9c/UCYmjXph6GI/AAAAAAAAH4Y/48LdD7mvPFU/s640/IMAG0683.jpg)
I spent the rst of the day lounging about in my hammock , reading and listening to the radio, packed up early the next morning and paddled back to Killyleagh
thanks for reading
Andy
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You've got some real good skill there mate,another great write up,with some first class photo's,thanks for sharing,karma awarded
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Well done bOogallo
A tremendous amount of dedication for the benefit of all others who will use the facility. A great post it was like a little mini adventure.
I haven't been on the island yet, I missed the last trip a few weeks back with some friends.
I am looking forward to get the use of of your handiwork. A massive pat on the back m8!
HP
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Great work again Andy, i look forward to sitting on those seats by the campfire some day.
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Someone give that man a medal.
Superb work, couldnt improve on your work at all.
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Well done, brilliant post and pics as always!
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Well done, The table and benches look really well. You should sell your furniture as it looks awesome.
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fantastic mini blog and well done on your efforts
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You really have put your gift of woodworking and passion for the outdoors to good use.
Thank you for the write up and photos.
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Brilliant, sounds like a relaxing week (apart from the big rock ofc :))
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Great job again, really enjoy reading your write up's. thanks
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Where is salt island :-[
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Amazing work! Karma awared.
I just so hope that the time and effort that you have kindly put in, is respected!
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I heard there are bears on the island ;D
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It's an island in Strangford Lough about 1 mile from Killyleagh.
Where is salt island :-[
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(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iNlJD3mEBL0/UhZkfdhK89I/AAAAAAAANFg/Jj8yro52uIs/s640/bench.jpg)
One year on ... one of the benches has disappeared presumed burnt, tables not looking so good anymore
#arseholes
Andy
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Top class work and pictures !!!
agreed on the arseholes !!!!
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I'm sure that is gutting Andy. But please don't be too despondent, even though most of us on here have not had the pleasure of seeing your work on Salt Island itself, we have had the pleasure of seeing the results of your considerable talents on here. Your work is exceptional and is a real credit to you. Thanks again for sharing it.