Smelly Swiss Dilettante

[Jean]

I didn't catch any boar. First morning, I stoped on my way because the spot looked nice, then I went further, but it was probably too late. Some campers offered me coffee. Then I checked the area and found a lot of boar trace. The evening, I went to a spot with a great view on were i expected boars to be, but there was none. I came back to the same spot, when i arrived at 4:30, i heard them, but they left (couldn't shoot before 5:13). I waited 2 hours to see if they come back but they didn't.
I'm glad i picked they right spot. I should have spent the night there quietly and waited for them. Next time, I'll just take my sleeping bag with me instead of going back to my hut to sleep.

[zbigi]

Polish hunters just sit in small hunting watchtowers that are built all over the forest and fields, throw some apples around to lure the animals, and then shoot them with little effort. Is that forbidden in Switzerland?

[Jean]

you need to ask the land owner to build something on it or to feed the boars.
In august, it's only outside of forest, so i'm not on my land and that wouldn't be an option.
Also, there is a different satisfaction I'll get if i understand the boar group well enough to be able to shoot one this way.

[zbigi]

In Poland, about one third of the country are public forests, where hunters associations build these hunting towers. These guys also run feeding operations in the winter, providing hay for the wild animals, to the degree that the forests can be actually seen as farms producing animals for them to kill.

[Jean]

Feeding hay to wild animals in winter is a big no here now.
Basicaly, if you feed deers hay in winter, you ruin there gut flora, and they might not be able to get enough nutrient from their usual winter food to avoid starvation. Which then make them dependent on being fed.
You usually can't build those towers on public land here, and I think it's great, because hunter start to be territorial once they built one of those towers, and that's not to be encouraged.
I see hunting in our civilised world as a way to regulate wild animals population at a level where they don't cause untolerated trouble.
Hunters do this for free, and in exchange, they get to hunt, which is a nice deal in my opinion.

[zbigi]

I see hunting as a way to ethically source meat. I don't trust various self-proclaimed "eco" farms to not mistreat the animals. Wild animals are the most ethical meat you can eat imo. It's pricey though - for example, deer sausage is 3x the price of a pork sausage around here.

[Jean]

I wouldn't see it as a way to source meat for more than a few million individual at least in Europe, but I'm quite happy that this has a chance to be the way I'll source my meat in the future.
Being hunted has been a part of those animals life for millions years, so hunting them feel much less wrong than parking them in a farm.
On the other hand, I worked in a few farm, and cow were always well treated and seemed to have an enjoyable life, spending most of their time grazing with a great view on the mountains.
This is not the case everywhere of course and It's difficult to trust ecolabels.

[Jean]

I went back hunting the same Spot. I catched no boar, but saw a lot of wildlife.
I find the activity very enjoyable. I only need to catch one animal to pay back the permit.
I'm on my way to Latvia. Looking forward to be on the boat.

[Jean]

I'm having a good time walking on the beach in Latvia.
There aren't many people, so i can fantasize about having survived the apocalypse or being stranded on Laythe.

[Jean]

Walking in the sand is hard. I need to push myself to reach 20km per day.

[zbigi]

Yep, I lived near a Baltic beach for a couple of years, and definitely preferred walking on a trail next to the beach (if there was one) than on the sand itself.

[delay]

Walking in the sand is hard. I need to push myself to reach 20km per day.

Loose sand is really tough, but there is often a line of harder sand near the water line. Walking over that is like walking over a road.

[Jean]

Thank you. I noticed already. There were a lot of wave, so the area of ideal firmness was often submerged, so i was walking barefoot, which i wasn't so used to anymore.
Today it was less wavy, so i walked on the firm line with my shoes on, and it was less of an effort. I only have 10km of beach left. I'll seechow it is on normal road.

[Jean]

I dont know why but since i left the coast, 30km per day doesn't feel like a lot.
I don't know if it's because sand, even when hard is more difficult than it looks, or if it is because there are much less nice spots where i want to stop.
I just passed Kuldiga. The city is nice, but it looks like they are trying to turn it into a tourist trap. Also, their are nice cafe, but they play relatively loud techno, which is annoying enough to make me keep going instead of stoping for a coffee.
I don't know if i'm right or just condescending. But i've seen several places having troubles dealing with tourism, and they don't seem to look at how places that kinda figured tourism out (switzerland mostly, norway partialy, us national parks, france or spain to some extent, there are probably others) are doing.
Well maybe I'm wrong and the locals will be very happy with their city in 20 years.
Despite all this, I'm having a good time. I feel quite free, it's easy to find water and food, people are nice, altough they seem to be shy.
I hope that it's not because i smell too bad.
A big dog yelled at me, and even he kind of shyed away when he arrived close.

[zbigi]

Polish resorts and wannabe-resorts on the coast are a money grab. The season is short, weather is uncertain, so everything is done to maximize profts. Loud, obnoxious music in many places (to stupefy people into spending more?). There's a lot of development of hotels and condos on the previously pristine beaches or near them. It doesn't look like anyone is thinking beyond the shortest term, let alone 20 years ahead. Unfortunately, there's no one to manage this policy-wise (on both national or local level) - Polish state is pretty hands off when it comes to a lot of things, partially due to incompetence and partially because people prefer it that way, so politicians don't push for change.

[Jean]

The erefest was really great. I felt very welcome at loutfard's place. We had many conversations that were very interesting. One of them lead me to thinkering about the idea of turning my house into a ere hq. Switzerland is great, and not that expensive if you manage to have cheap housing. That's what my house could provide. I could build several rooms in the attic, which i could rent for around 300 a month, and everyone would share the kitchen bathroom and living room.
I think a shared kitchen is very important for anything to get done, because this is how spontaneous meeting and discussions will happen. J_ already helped me with plans.
For this, i need cash, and guitarplayer finaly managed to talk me into applying to care jobs. I looked at it, it seems doable to get in. My preference would be for working with autistic teens and adults.
Also, hunting is really fun, it's a very good excuse to sit in the mountains instead of just walk trough them..
I started sleeping without a pad while outside. In latvia on sandy soil it was great. Now I can sleep on rocks too. It probably wont work when the soil will be colder, but needing one less thing always feel awesome.
That might also explain why I don't achieve much.
When i listen to story of how people got motivated to achieve thing, many were motivated by a willingness to never go into hardship again. But i looks that the disconfort level i'de need for that is too high. I like eating potatoes and sleeping on rocks. I enjoyed living in my relatively small car. Having my body ruined could motivate me, but i don't wan't it to happen.

[chenda]

We had many conversations that were very interesting. One of them lead me to thinkering about the idea of turning my house into a ere hq.

That would be great to have in the middle of Europe. Seems face to face meetups are very worthwhile.

I think you would be good working with autistic people.

[Henry]

I think you would be good working with autistic people.

That comment would certainly place in a backhanded compliment competition.

[guitarplayer]

I chatted with DW about renting one or two rooms at your place, when do you think this will be ready?

[Jean]

At least 2 years.
But if you'de be interested, we could probably live there as two couples as it is right now.