Part 44 [ Fireplace finished? ] Australian Bushcraft Basecamp Build

[@johnsaucerhunter]

The fireplace upgrades and additions look great! And for the next challenge... "Pirate Alex" will train a bird to sit on his shoulder. All you need is a eye-patch and an occasional "Arrrh Matey" and you'll be golden! BTW.. still thinking about your 'clay pond' Mate. Are Mosquito's a problem where your at? Cause any standing water (like in a small pond) will be a magnet to them... just throwing that out there. Hope you are well and safe my friend.... Cheers!

[@AlexDoes]

Cheers John, yeah I plan on going the whole hog mat, eye patch, wooden leg, barrel of rum! so stay tuned for plenty of 'Arrrh Matey's' haha But yes, mozzies are back already this year, especially now that I've started making mud for the walls, seems to have stirred them up.

[@glenatkinson9677]

I think I'm just as excited as you that you finally finished the fireplave, looks amazing, well done Alex! I love that you have a little mate to keep you company out there too, such smart birds with beautiful songs.

[@AlexDoes]

Cheers Glen, much appreciated mate. Yeah the bird (now named Bazza) has been a welcomed addition. He's started calling out to let me know when he's arrived to haha

[@paulbeckwith2685]

Wow the gourmet chef & bird trainer, a man of many talents, fire place is amazing great work, stay safe.

[@AlexDoes]

Wait to you see my ventriloquist act! haha . Cheers Paul

[@leecook165]

The fire place is absolutely amazing! In fact, I think I will install one in my besser brick flat! Awesome work. Also, the beard is coming along quite nicely, got a whole bushranger santa claus thing going on!! Love your work Alex, keep it going good sir!

[@AlexDoes]

Cheers Lee, thanks for the beard appreciation haha.....and for your king words, good luck with your build!

[@BlackshacksBushcraft]

Alex does? Alex does well! 😃

[@AlexDoes]

Haha, cheers mate.

[@ricknsw71]

Nice stuff mate the fire place at camp David is coming up a treat. Well done bloke👏👏

[@AlexDoes]

Cheers Rick, I have to let you know though that I have now named the site and unfortunately I didn't go with Camp David sorry, it's a good name but you'll have to stay tuned to find out what I went with lol

[@kurts64]

G'day Alex, fireplace is lookin bloody awesome, love the look of it and good job on the grill door. Glad to see your bird mate still kickin around, can't wait to see the mud walls go up👍

[@AlexDoes]

Cheers Kurt, I think the bird is here to stay, he's a needy bugger.

[@GeoterricsOutdoorsAustralia]

Bazza - good Aussie name, and who'd of thought you're a bird whisperer! Great progress/outcome on the chimney mate, looks fantastic! Great video

[@AlexDoes]

Thank you, yeah I'm really pleased with the fireplace and Bazza has been great company...although he can be a bit demanding at times lol.

[@melaniemccarthy7019]

Coriander has bitten me!

[@AlexDoes]

Haha yeah once you go down that road there's no turning back lol

[@normrathmann9487]

Looking really great Alex,done a great job,wish i had hut like yours.Get out of the bloody rat race now and then,cant stand the city at times.Keep up the good work mate.

[@AlexDoes]

Cheers Norm, much appreciated. I highly recommend giving it a go. There's been many times where I've been feeling down or just worn out or tense from modern life and literally within minutes of being at camp it's all forgotten about.

[@MiniLuv-1984]

Hiya Alex who did, does and will do with what's around! Nice one, I really like that approach for some peculiar reason. Maybe it came from straightening old rusty nails and collecting discarded wood to build cubby houses when I was a kid? Who knows! Thoughts for what they are worth; raising the fireplace externally, perhaps embed some upright sticks in the inside as you build up to tie the layers together better? As for light, either reflectors that track the sun for you or a solar panel, battery and led lights I suppose - what other choices are there, a noisy steam engine running off the fire to generate electrickery to power lights? Unless you leave the stuff there it will be right royal pain in the arse to lug all that shit back and forth.

[@AlexDoes]

Cheers Benny, yes I built plenty of those cubby houses 'back in the day'. For lighting I was thinking of damming up one of the creeks, then build a water wheel from wood. I believe there's some copper baring rock that I can then smelter to form wire. I may take some liberties and bringing a few magnets so that I can then bushcraft a generator run off the water wheel. Next, melting down some sand to form glass, blow it into a light bulb to light the shelter. Should have it done by year 2051 or so. Alternatively, there's a light on Amazon I can order for the GoPro....just trying to figure the easier option LOL. In saying that, I can see a couple more oil lanterns coming in the future too.

[@damianrobinson8781]

Good on ya mate. Looking like you've lost a few Kg's there. Keep up the great builds.

[@AlexDoes]

Cheers Damian, much appreciated mate.