We arrived in the Lake District after lunch and began to make our chosen sheep field more hospitable. A tap was installed from a small stream at the top end of the field, tents were erected and people began to consider what life would be like there for the next 168 hours. The day soon disappeared and 12 tired scouts collapsed into the latest technology of tents including the recently invented sewn in ground sheet and metal pegs and poles!

We spent plodding around Holme Fell, which overlooked our campsite. On our walk we visited a scuba diving paradise (flooded slate mine) where a number of flippers were to be found. This walk and afternoon produced the patrols names: The ‘Rams’; due to 2 sheep skulls being found and then being placed on a tall tree, cut down specially, creating a rather ominous ‘Ram Pole’! The ‘Woodchucks’ because as Jeff (PL) so rightly says "We get wood and we chuck it"!. In the afternoon we gathered for our saws and headed off to the woods to find firewood. We accumulated a large pile that kept us in fuel for a good few days. Although, we struggled to light the first few fires; ……. for some unknown reason….!

We rapidly ascended Coniston Old Man, trying to keep ahead of the pursuing group. We stuck to the path but left a flour trail for them to follow. On the way back we visited a little tarn. The water was very close to freezing but 6 Scouts still managed to swim!

Tuesday morning’s was dam building. The river parallel to the field access road, was chosen part of the river we dammed was high banked and deeper than other points. The dam building took a few hours on Tuesday (and more time another day), and a dam about 2 foot high was constructed. After it was built, skimming contests commenced as well as Un-Wet Scout Dunking.

The afternoon was abseiling, which was fun apart from the thunder, lightning, and torrential rain that greeted us as soon as we got to the climbing quarry. The abseiling was a new experience for some; others had some experience of it and a few preferred not to take up the challenge.

Wednesday was the first of our overnight hike. Walking at night was not involved, however it could have been had the patrols got more lost than they did. The hike was a round trip of about 10 miles with an overnight stop in a luxury sheep field; (tap, swing, all mod cons!). It was raining in the morning but the weather brightened up enough (eventually) for the patrols to set off; just after lunchtime. The packs were quite heavy but considerably lightened by the leaders bringing our sleeping bags and mats in the evening. The two patrols arrived safely, and we eagerly erected our tents in anticipation for another (see Tuesday) thunderstorm. Thankfully this thunderstorm failed to arrive and most of us had a good night’s sleep.

We packed up our tents and were on our separate ways by 9 o’clock which surprised me. We walked quickly with an idea of swimming in our dam after lunch; as the weather was good. We got back at midday but were surprised to see an empty camp. However after half an hour or so the Leaders materialised from their various activities (shopping). The Rams arrived at base 1 hour after we did, but in good spirits and we all walked up to our river pool. We extended our dam; making it deeper in the process there was a lot more water in the dam due to Wednesday’s downpour. Dave (Leader) stayed behind at Camp for this activity so that he could make some birthday buns and apple crumbles in our highly inventive camp oven. The birthday buns were for John Bedford who turned 14; and the crumbles for pudding. When we got back cold and wet, we had a visit from a Camp Inspector. We passed well in all categories except for safety?!! which our standard ‘very good’ was replaced with a ‘good’. After he had left we made a Victoria sponge birthday cake for John. It tasted good and John seemed to enjoy his birthday overall. We had a small campfire and managed to sing a few Scout songs while burning our camp rubbish before collapsing into our sleeping bags.

It rained hard in the night and we woke up to a slug infested field/ lake around us. The weather looked bad and drizzled all through the morning as we kayaked on Coniston water. The first to capsize was unsurprisingly, Julian Beard and of course his brother didn’t push him! By the end of our kayaking session no one had any dry clothes, but it wasn’t too cold, so I persuaded a few Scouts to go for a walk up to our now ‘Jumpable’ pool. Everyone decided that we couldn’t resist the urge to jump in and have a swim; so we did; in the rain.

We got up early feeling distinctly heartened by the weather and speedily removed the rope swing, took down all the tents and filled in the various wet/ fire/ latrine pits. Parents then came to take home their children back to reality.

I thought that the week was great and I’ll definitely come next year! I now have a veritable collection of whittled sticks!

Thanks to all the Leaders for a great week and the parents for transport!

Donald Bennet (13)