SPECIAL NEWS FEATURE

Unfortunately not the best start to a camp, leaders ill (so had to postpone the Scouts arrival until Saturday), pouring with rain and my sat nav only managed to get me to within 1/2 mile of the site before it gave up (Bentley Copse is not the easiest site to find).

David P, Geoff and I set up the big mess tent in the pouring rain and then with the help of a tractor and trailer ferried all the kit through the mud across to our site deep in the woods.

Harry and Sam (Scouts) pitched their hike tent on a vaguely dry patch in the shelter of some pine trees and Patrick and Alex (Explorers) did likewise. David P. (Still not feeling well) 'reluctantly' had to go home for a warm shower and a hot meal (Scouters Flu... Yeah right!).

Everyone else damp and tired (Harry and Sam in tent and asleep by 10) but with the urn lit and bacon sarnies on the go it's not been too bad. Geoff and I finally pitched (thankfully they're both 'Quick Pitch' pop up's) our tents about 12.30am for, in my case, an uncomfortable nights kip (I'm sure those tree roots weren't there before!, and someone forgot to turn the owls off :-).

An Early wake up 6am (in need of a '3467' - the leaders will know). We fire up the urn and get a brew on. Sun breaking through and at least it had stopped raining. Scouts and other leaders due at 9am so we started breakfast and sent the boys off to get fire wood and water.

By 9.30 we're up to 11 scouts, 3 explorers and 4 leaders (and not forgetting Ian, a new and most welcome parent helper). Activities were planned and booked and camp was now well under way.

David P. took charge of the Knife, Axe and Saw training while Geoff set about teaching the boys how to correctly pitch a Niger. All a great success and their hand made woggles (whittled from tree branches) are fantastic.

Burgers for lunch and then karting in the afternoon. Sun out all day and camp drying out nicely. After dinner of bangers & mash, beans and fried onions the boys are off to the tuck shop to stock up on 'fuel' for the hike tomorrow.

Leaders set up one of our best fires yet (see pics) that main log burnt for over 14 hours, then when it was dark enough the explorers organised a wide game in the woods that kept them all busy for a couple of hours. Great fun and followed by Hot Chocolate, cake and then bed. Great Day!!

Early start again (6am) with some sun and we easily got the fire going again from the embers of that giant log, but it wasn't quite ready for cooking on, so the boys fired up a couple of gas burners and cooked their own breakfasts. They had almost finished cooking when the heavens opened again and we were all forced back under dining shelters and tents for cover.

We were joined at 10am by Gerry & Judith Biddle and David C. who took two groups out on a 6 mile hike up Pitch Hill. As they all set off the sun broke through again and the leaders then took part in 'Extreme washing up' (I'm sure some was from the surrounding camps!) so we spent the next hour ankle deep in mud scrubbing pots and pans and plates etc.

First hike group, Gerry, Judith and the Tenderfoots (sounds like a band from the 60's) returned at 12.30 for lunch of toasted sandwiches cooked in the embers of the fire. David C and the older scouts returned (after a slight, er, detour!!) about 1.30 bringing the rain with them. Breaking camp was certainly a wet and muddy activity once again the tractor and trailer were a great bonus.

By around 4.30pm the van was packed the parents arrived to collect their boys and I need a shower and a lie down.