A walk down the memorylane.

Back at my fathers old fishing spot, havn´t been back at this spot
for in the past 15 years.

Lately I´ve been feeling lost and misled, have often found myself wondering about what makes me happy and the things which makes me tick. 

I´ve been having this feeling of restlessness which I can´t seem to overcome - all I think of is how much I want to get out and to discover the world, I want to hike, fish and camp - living of the land and start to minimize my footprint on this earth, experience and learn as much as possible. 

I wonder how it would be like to not to have to think about money, work, education - my next move.

I feel trapped and clueless as to what is important and the small things in life that makes it worth living, I wouldn´t say I´m unhappy with my life I just wish that I had controll over what´s happening with myself and that I could´ve controll over my feelings. 

Not much but all I need.
Silky Gomboy Pro, Gränsforsbruk wilderness hatchet, Helle harding knife.
Trangia teapot and a primus 0.5l pot and some fishing lures. 

In search of a answer or atleast a little break from reality, I packed my bag with a woolen blanket, some tools and pots for fire prepping and food cooking.

I went out for a drive in without any idea of where I was heading. I thought about what I used to to when I was younger, what I did and where I found myself being where I felt at most happy.
I could remember being outdoors, in the woods or by a pond, running around on fields and jumping creeks. Building dams or cleaning up the creeks to ensure a good waterflow -just playing around and just having a blast! 

The water level of the river has risen making the field to become a part of the river.

After about 40 minutes drive, I found myself at my fathers old fishing spot, the exact same spot where I caught my first perch, might even be my first fish ever, I remember my father being proud of me and how happy I was. Posing by the mighty willow in my with Link shirt and showing of my trophy for the camera, this was probably the last picture which were taken of me as a happy child.
I can´t say that life was better then, divorses and custody desputes - a constant fuss, but at that moment in time, I sencerely was happy and at that moment - I fell in love with the great outdoors.

Male pheasant hiding from me, which I had a telelens to my camera to capture
it´s beauty.

While hiking my way through the wetlands in search for a spot to make camp and relax next to the river in this amazing autum weather, I tried my fishing luck (can mention that I had no luck haha!) and explored the surrounding for some great pictures.

Found some remainings from an old military bridge.

Foam on water creating a pattern which reminds me about animal prints. 

I found an old oak which were standing 6-7 meters from the river - made this spot to my campsite for this day, happy I had that wool blanket to sit on and rest my gear on without getting them soaking wet from walking through this marsch looking area. 

I find using a log fire method to build the base of your fire, working splendid and assures you to create a great coal very easy and almost effordless.

Build a base for your fire using a couple of split logs as a ground sheet, protecting the ground (even if it´s just for a while) from the fire and the fire from the moisture in the ground.
This will also ensure your fire to slowly build up a coal in the bed making it better for cooking.

Log fire on ground, next to the river and in a marsch looking enviroment so
wasn´t worried about the fire spreading. 

Then just start building your a log house around the base as high you want it to then start your fire using whatever method that you prefer - using this method will allow air to circulate better and this will help your fire to grow and keep it relative smokeless.

I always use a firesteel, most because it´s so practical and handy to always have in your backpack, car etc. but I wouldn´t mind learning how to use a bow drill!

Feeding the fire before heading down stream to try my fishing luck.

As the sun dusk approached my tummy was full and I headed out to try catching the sunset peaking through the trees, as I looked through the eye of the camera I couldn´t resist to think of
those posters from school of a water hole in an african savannah. 

Sunset over the marsch looking field I was hiking through -
makes me think of africa, doesn´t it?

Traces of tree larvaes´on an old and dead oak tree. 

As it got darker and darker I boiled myself a cup of tea and thought about my life and in what direction it´s heading, how I should cope with the changes which are to come.
I´ve always had a clear path to where I want to be and what life I would like to have in the future and I relized it´s now or never, why put your dreams on hold for noncens, why should I sacrifice my youth, my ambition and thrive for nothing worth caring for.
I will go fish, hike and camp - I will start to minimize my lifestyle and start to enjoy and expirience life as it is, I will venture out into the unknown and make this dream of mine become true!

Remaining coals from the log-building fire, hot and very effective.

 Before hiking back through the wetlands back to my car, I packed my gear and dispose the fire and restored the ground as good as I could ensuring not to leave some remains of me ever being there - other than a walk down memorylane and a clearified mind./ Andy

This winters first ice covered pond where I live.