'Wilderness of the middle ages' - Koronowo 2008

Photos for this gallery were taken during 2-day expedition to Koronowo's woods. The expedition was organized by the group of reenactment enthusiasts from the areas of Toruń. The purpose was to get to know the life and hardships of the journey in late middle ages. During the expedition we tried to use items of everyday use - clothes and arms, which, according to current knowledge about this peroid, could be used at the turn of XIV and XV century. Most of the participants were equipped as a simple soldiers, who, in contrary to knights or lords, had to travel on their own feet carrying whole outfit on their back. There were also few pilgrims who decided to join the party.

Preparations to the expedition started with the dusk. The journey was planned for whole day through the woods. The camp was pitched at the evening of the first day. We've spent the night in the forest and in the early morning we've set off back. Most of the way lead through the forest, where the terrain was sometimes very difficult. Walk across the field in the July sun was hard to stand after few hours march through the forest. After this short but most exhausting part of the expedition a sandy beach by the lake at the border of pine forest was the best place in the world to pitch a camp. The strong wind made striking the sparks to light a bonefire very difficult, but what is more motivating than a vision of a warm meal after so long and exhausting walk? Soldiers checked the surroundings and stood on guard whole night, so that others could sleep safely and rest, before their way back the next morning.