Dark clouds and arrows

Ok, being a 1% Viking, I have to tell it like it is.

I’m amazed at how freakin’ soft I have become. Somehow living life with modern convenience has taken its toll on me. This fact became painfully apparent to me last weekend.

It had been a long week in the cube, and I was looking forward to getting out and working on some of my bushcraft skills. But when the forecast called for rain, I pretty much gave up on going out at all.

Then Saturday morning came and my wife asked me if I wanted to join her for a walk. It was slightly drizzly outside but fairly warm.

Rika is an actual 100% Viking, born and raised in Sweden. She was going out with or without me. I could not watch my wife go out for a walk and not join her just because it was raining. Even her mom (Bibbi) would tell me, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.”

I looked outside, heard my own Sicilian mother’s voice in my head give me that final push, “You’re not made of sugar,” she used to say, “you won’t melt!”

Vikings honor their ancestors! As one of the nine Noble Virtues states, “I stand by my oaths and honor my ancestors by keeping my name pure among my Kindred”

Basically, I had to man up and get out there.

As we walked outside, me with my coffee cup (yes, I took a cup of coffee… this confession is getting harder by the minute,) I realized how nice it was to be outside, even with that slight drizzle.  I kept thinking about how I spend so much of my life going from a building, to a car, to a building... I avoid “bad” weather at all cost.

After we got home I decided to stay outside and work on my archery skills.  I noticed immediately how fresh everything smelled after the rain. Everything was silent and peaceful. As I shot arrow after arrow, I felt myself being invigorated. Sure, it was a little wet, but that no longer mattered.

Now, let's move on to my “choice of weapon”.

For me, being able to use a bow offers several benefits. First it’s a great tool to have for hunting. Arrows can be easily retrieved or re-created in the woods.  Since I have a backyard big enough, I can practice whenever I like and not disturb the neighbors.

Sure, for hunting a rifle would be better, however the convenience of shooting arrows in my backyard means I practice this skill way more than I would if I owned a firearm.  I had a 38 pistol once, but the cost of the ammo and the distance I had to travel to the shooting range meant I rarely fired it.  I never got proficient enough with it and eventually I sold it. 

Archery is an ancient skill and practicing it makes me feel much more connected to the environment around me.

After spending about an hour of shooting arrows, I had learned two valuable lessons.

First don’t let the rain stop you from being outside.

Closer to the mark

If I plan to practice the Viking virtue of Self Reliance (I learn skills and grow strong so that I may earn my way in the world and not be a burden to others) by working on my bushcraft skills, I need to get used to being out in the rain.

And second, I want to recognize how living in a modern age has made me softer. I want to do something about that.

So what's next? I look forward to creating an actual fire, good enough to cook something on!

Bushcraft, Blades, and Flame! The adventure begins!

“Hey let’s see if this actually works!”

David takes his steel knife and scrapes it against the ferro rod, causing small sparks to fly everywhere.

Rika looks at his knife then inspects the carpet in the living room. “Maybe you should practice that in the backyard?”

It all started when Rika pointed out a small, Morakniv, a knife with neck kit for sale on Amazon. Being born and raised in Sweden, Rika is very familiar with the Morakniv brand.

Sometimes, with me, that’s all it really takes. I looked at that little knife and I knew that I had to have it. I was like the little kid in “A Christmas story,” completely obsessed with the idea of having my very own…

“Morakniv Eldris Fixed-Blade Knife with Sandvik Stainless Steel Blade and Neck Kit Including Lanyard and Fire Starter!” A survival knife… with a fire starter!

No sooner did the Eldris arrive (with its two and a half inch blade) than I quickly also ordered the “Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife with Fire Starter and Sheath, in Black.”

This one even has a sharpening stone in the handle! One for the neck, one for the belt!

But what truly did me in was the “other people also bought” Amazon teaser that led me to “Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival” By Dave Canterbury.

That was all it took. I am on the road to learning mad Viking survival skills, I cannot turn back.

It's a quest. I have to have these skills. My 1% Viking DNA practically screamed at me, shaking the very foundations of Valhalla!

As I waited for the weekend to come, I watched numerous YouTube videos on how to start a fire. I thought I had some of the basics down fairly well.

Combustion (or “fire” for you non-survivalist, like I used to be. Yes, I now count myself among them after several YouTube videos) is one of the five “Cs” one must master to survive in the wilderness.
No fire means no cooking, no warmth, no boiling water, and nothing to sit around telling tall tales.
To be a Viking, I must be able to start a fire.

So when the weekend finally came, out I went to my backyard and attempted to start a fire with my new “Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife with Fire Starter and Sheath, in Black”

I split the wood using the knife, (Batoning method) made shavings, formed my “birdnest” and sent sparks flying as I struck the fire starter over and over again, aiming at the materials that were apparently just too wet to burn. But the knife was awesome!

Rika is a very supportive wife. She was soon out there with me, having brought some dry paper, seeing that I wasn’t very successful with what I had at hand.

Sparks flew once again, and soon one caught the paper and I had a little fire going for about a minute and a half.

Success! I have taken my first steps toward making fire! I know there is much more to learn… but this is an important first step!

Later that evening, as we sat watching TV, Rika pointed to her wool sock where a burn mark the size of a quarter had “suddenly” appeared...

Apparently, while we were both fixing our gaze at my manly feat of fire making, I sent a spark that flew over to a spot exposed in Rika’a sock. Apparently that caught and burned rather nicely!

I’m sure there is a proverb in there somewhere, something about fire and wool socks, but I can’t think of one at the moment.

"Fire is needful to him who is come in, and whose knees are frozen; food and raiment a man requires,whoever the fell has traveled." - A Viking Proverb

So now I am on my way to learning my mad Viking skills. More tales to follow...