Thirty Days Wild – Day 11

Clare announces she is taking part in 30 Days Wild.

Clare is going to show the world all the fun things she does outdoors, to hopefully inspire somebody to switch off the TV set and go and do something less boring instead… (80s kids you sang that right?)

It would seem the universe had other plans.

For the purpose of this nonsense, today the universe bears more than a passing resemblance to Doctor Claw from Inspector Gadget.

The universe decrees that Clare will suffer a tech meltdown. The universe however forgets Clare is a bit of a geek.

Clare 1:0 Universe

‘Oh so she’s going Buffalo hunting, hide the Buffalo. All of them!’

Clare 1:1 Universe

*Mwah ha ha*

‘So now she’s going bat detecting..’

*Universe summons all the rain*

Clare is now going to stop talking in the third person as she realises it’s a bit daft.

Ok, so I’m not entirely sure what that was all about but you get the picture, things aren’t exactly going my way.

However with it being the weekend and therefore perfectly acceptable to take the kids out to wait for dusk, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take them bat detecting.

A lovely evening as we set off from home.

Our destination Natterer’s Wood in Bury St. Edmunds.

Home to a sprawling meadow with a difference. A ditch cut into the field in the shape of a bat, as the area and surrounding woods have been designed to attract bats.

From ground level, a rather usual meadow.

From above however…

 

How neat is that?!

The sort of place where you can’t possibly visit and not find a bat surely.

Except of course if it suddenly starts to rain.

*Shakes fist at Universe*

It’s safe to say I’m a bit miffed, we enjoy a soggy stroll around the meadow but it’s not bat detecting.

Soaking each other under rain soaked trees passes a few minutes.

I remember there are some caches in the park, but with broken GPS on my phone they could be anywhere. Thankfully one has a very specific hint which allows me to track it down. Well that was five minutes wasted.

Such an inspiring blog post this one is going to be… *sigh*

Mr Muddy grumbles that he should have brought his Brukit along so that at least we could have a warm drink.

A cheeky mudling, full of sass challenges him with ‘Well how are you going to light a fire in the rain? Duh!’

Watch out universe, this family fights back.

The evening suddenly switches focus, who needs bats anyway?

We’re going really wild, let’s see if we can make fire in the rain.

That cheeky mudling of mine will now certainly be able to tell you how to do just that.

With Birch bark of course, and with one of the numerous fire lighting pieces of equipment in captain caveman’s Mr Muddy’s pockets.

With just a small piece of bark, even the smallest person can make a marvellous fire.

But of course blowing it out is far more fun.

I think we’ll claim that as a victory universe, you can try and rain on my bat parade but outdoor fun will be had nonetheless.

Clare 2:1 Universe.