All over now of course. It's time to surgically remove my long johns (blimey it was cold) but it didn't stop us from having a great time! First night we had fires, got settled in and played cards all evening.
Saturday morning however we were up bright and early (Graham went round with the spoon and pan at 7:30) so we could get out of the door by ten.
We were off to London! Treasure hunting style... The object of the game was to answer all the questions travelling to the different points of the map. The patrol leaders used the maps to plan their journey which had to include at least one bus trip. At 3pm we made our way back to camp.
When we got back we had a ramble in the woods looking for Birch polypore - a parasitic fungus which kills trees but which can be used fresh as plasters. That's not the reason we went looking for it however, because when cut thin and dried it can be used as kindling. We also looked for birch bark which is also a good tinder when dry.
We found a large polypore as well as plenty of birch bark which we took from fallen trees. Back at camp we sliced the fresh polypore and I showed the scouts even damp birch bark can be lit from a sweedish firesteel.
As the night drew in the newest scouts were learning the use of pocket knives and after we practiced our wittling skills on bars of soap.
Christmas dinner was served around 6pm and after dinner a cream fight began.
Campfire at eight took several attempts to light, mainly because of the wet wood (hey I didn't build it, neither did I light it!) and the high winds sweeping the site, but before long I'd piled the fire high with logs and it was becoming much cosier. Graham led the campfire followed by the odd song from Bill.
As campfire burnt low, everyone retired to their bunks totally worn out.
Sunday morning was chilly to say the least. Even the scouts had to be woken again at 8am with the wooden spoon and pot again! Before long the smell of bacon was in the air (and burnt scrambled egg) before clearing out and off by just after 10!
No comments:
Post a Comment