Us Baby Boomers lived in an era where even the simplest of outdoor adventures are something we pay to happen to us rather than our creating ourselves. If you want to treat the younger generation – or just yourself – to some old-time outdoor activities, let us remind you of 3 of them.
Inner tube rafts
From inflatable chairs and plastic swans to pack rafts and expensive rubber dinghies, blow-up gadgets are all the rage. Yet sturdy inner tubes come free of charge and have all the potential to be turned into a raft. To first find your inner tubes, contact tyre specialists – and be sure to ask around; many businesses charge upwards of $20 a tube while others are more than happy to give them away. If you don’t already have an air pump at the ready, head down to the bike shop for the fittings you need. Toss everything into the car along with life jackets, a large tarpaulin and rope, and a makeshift paddle or two (often available for next to nothing from recycling centres). To make your raft, lay the tarpaulin on the ground, arrange 3-4 inflated tubes on top, and thread the rope through the eyelets of the tarpaulin. Draw the tarpaulin up and over the tubes, securing it is place by tightening on the rope and knotting it. Turn your construction over and you’re good to go for some shallow-water fun.
Make a swag pack
Leave the store-bought daypacks behind and head to the hills with a homemade pikau or swagman’s pack. In the early days of European settlement in New Zealand, swagmen travelled the road looking for temporary farm work. They wrapped their belongings in their bedding and tied the bundle into a loop that could be hung over one shoulder. One step on in the swag evolution resulted in a simple daypack fashioned by placing a small stone in each of the lower two corners of a bag, and tying a piece of rope (or flax) around the stones. Belongings went into the bag and the ends of the ropes were tied around the top to create shoulder straps. Nowadays, a fertilizer sack does the trick and a couple of scraps of closed-cell foam can be threaded through the shoulder straps to provide padding. Head off on a day walk with the grandkids each carrying their own homemade pack, and enjoy the smiles you receive from other hikers!
Golf putting
Forget the green fees and mini-golf and step back to a time when putting fun was homemade. This activity was usually conducted on the lawn but if you’re heading to the beach with the family, adapt it to suit the sand. You’ll need a couple of golf clubs (which can so often be picked up at recycling centres or garage sales), a packet of golf balls, and some plastic jars. If you’re playing on the lawn, cut a few level metres of grass as low as you can, slice out pockets in the turf deep enough to accommodate the jars, and sink the containers down so their rims reach just below ground level. If you’re beach putting, choose a level piece of sand, remove any debris such as sticks or shells from your putting path, and scoop out holes large enough to allow you to fit in the jars. And you’re good to go!
This summer, show commercialism you can live without it for a while, and enjoy some old fashioned fun!
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