Day Six

Morning, Day 6

I woke up inspired.  I've already been out of camp.  I jogged down to the brook.  It was exhilarating.  While down there, I grabbed a berry breakfast.  Along with tools, I need to consider some sort of case, a bag or sachet, to carry stuff I collect back to camp.  Anyhow, I feel great this morning.  The jog was uneventful.  However, I did feel like I was being watched.  I've seen no signs of human life around here, so it's a bit unsettling to feel as if there is someone else here.

What I did find odd today was the wildlife.  I saw a flock of mallards, male and female.  They are so pleasant to sit wand watch, such communicable animals.  Just for kicks, I peeled some birch bark and tossed i in their direction.  What a scramble, just to fuss around with it.  Off in the distance a ways was a gaggle of Canada Geese.  There may have been some snow geese mixed in, too.  It was hard to tell at the distance.  Either way, they were beautiful birds.  I saw no newborns with either group of birds, so my assumption is that it's either early spring or sometime in the fall.  It doesn't really feel like either.  Oh, that interesting duck I'd seen a few times previously showed up.  I'm starting to thing that I've heard about his species before.  I can't quite put my finger on it, though.  He came around while I was picking on the mallards.  He seemed to be scoping me out.  He'd watch for a while, then waddle in a few steps.  If I saw him moving, he'd scuttle around and retreat almost nonchalantly.  He reminded me of a child trying to sneak a cookie before dinner.

No dreams to speak of last night.  That could be why I was so energized this morning.  Anyway, I've been eyeing my lumber stash while I've been righting, considering how to use what I have to make life easier.  It'll be a challenge, but I think I have a piece of slate that, with a little work, can be sharpened into a blade to use for an axe.  If I can get it wedged tightly into a piece of pine, I should have a nice tool.  A shovel would be nice, but I think it will be trickier.  I've got one piece of slate that is pentagonal, but I'm not sure if I could fasten it for a shovel.  I'm going to have to see what I can do.  Another useful thing to have would be rope, or a rope substitute  I won't need that right away, but after I have shelter, I'll be looking into that.

When I finish with tool building today, I'm going to see how I'm going to see how I am at trap building.  I can't expect to have animals throwing themselves into my hands like the chipmunk did yesterday.  And, with no weaponry besides my pocket knife, I'm going to have to be resourceful.  I've got an idea or two for capturing small game, and for now, I need only catch what I'll eat in one meal.  I'll work my way up in size, but I have no way to store anything.  Anyhow, the day is no longer new, and I should get to work before it's time to reignite the fire.