SATURDAY
After packing the trailer on the Friday night and a long car journey down on the Saturday, we finally arrived at Stone Chair hill. There was a forest for collecting wood on the site, and a stream too. The leaders fixed a hose into the stream; that was our water supply. For washing up water, we poured the water into ‘puffing billy’ (an old beer barrel converted into a water boiler).  We put the bog tent up, which is a tent surrounding a dug out ditch, where we do our number two’s. We then split into patrols (mine was named the Cobras, the others were the Wolves and the Senior patrol leaders called the ‘Cockerels’) and pitched up our tents and dining shelter and dug a fire pit, in which we would cook our breakfast and dinner (lunch was provided), and a wet pit into which we poured our waste food and water. After spending time adapting and modernising our camp, we collected wood for the evening meal. Afterwards, we played evasion and then had bogwash and cake in the marquee. After we went to bed, Matt Marshall (who shared a tent with me) and I went over to the Wolves camp and organised a raiding party. We stole wood and food provisions; it’s so much easier than prompting the leaders to give us extra Vegetable oil!  

SUNDAY
On the Sunday we spent most of the day exploring the nearby area. We walked to the spot where some of Miss Potter was filmed (Low Arnside Farm), and walked up Black Crag, from which we could see Windermere and the surrounding area. We headed back for lunch and spent the rest of the time collecting firewood and cooking food. We decided we would not organise a raiding party, as we had a big day ahead of us… 

MONDAY
The morning of the walk. We arose nice and early to get the fire going for breakfast. We then spent the rest of the morning packing our bags with waterproofs, a towel swimming gear and our own lunch. I then sat next to Dave in the car (to his pleasure) on the way to the car park at the bottom of the Old Man of Coniston, which is the highest mountain in the Furness Fells at 2,635ft high and the twelfth most prominent mountain in England. After our leisurely jog up, we reached the summit and, having already eaten our lunch, we were waiting for the Cockerels to rejoin us after their slightly longer route. Sooner rather than later, the Cocks joined us again and we sat for a short while admiring the beautiful views below us, and we could just about see the sea. On the way down we stopped in the tarn, directly below the Old Man’s summit. I was one of the last to go in, as Jeremy had stopped me from running down in fear that I may injure myself. As soon as my feet touched the water, my blood froze. It was incredibly cold! Last time we had managed to convince Toby that the pond in the car park was the 100 metre deep tarn! I took the plunge though, and so did Paul and even Thomas Stacey, although Jeremy was too chicken. After jumping in and turning into ice cubes, we sat in the sun, melting off. After everyone was changed, we completed the final leg of the journey back to the car park, and went for a stroll around the shops of Coniston. 

TUESDAY
Tuesday was a lay in for us. Also, it was camp Olympic day. We built our rafts ready for the race later on. Then we competed in the first event, welly wanging. I hoped to defend my title from last year in Wales, but I could not use my preferred swing, as there was a tree in the way. We then competed in the egg throwing, which is always a favourite of mine, event though I did not win. We then got changed into our swimming clothes for the flour run. Toby lead everyone the wrong way, and managed to convince us he had asthma and needed his inhaler, so went back. Finally, after searching for the right path, we all made it to the tarn and completed the swim across it. Then it was time for the raft race. Our raft easily won, with Jack on top, me pulling and clearing the path of reeds, lilies and sharks and Matt pushing behind. Sam, a member of the Cock patrol, decided to build his own raft, which consisted of one bamboo pole. He was ordered to swim  2 lengths, where we had done just two widths.  Later, I found out that Luke, my patrol leader, had somehow jumped into the tarn and landed on a rock. He had to be taken to A&E in Kendal to get five stitches in his leg. The hazards of scout camp. Luke was back in time for tea though, so we still had to cook him dinner. We then had bogwash and cake and a reading from scouting for boys. I was the first scout to perfectly recite the scout law, which we had all been forced to learn last year in Wales. We went straight to bed, as we had a big couple of days ahead of us. 

WEDNESDAY
Wednesday was the day I was dreading. It was the day of the overnight hike. With our patrol leader out of action, we had to let Rory into the patrol as a stand in PL for two days. We were told to plan our own route from camp to Rydal Hall campsite. We were given questions we had to answer along the way, and six figure grid references to go with them. The other patrols questions were different to ours, as we swapped them over the next day, so we went one way and they went another, though we would take their route back and visa-versa. Our route was about 6-6.5 miles long. We packed our bags after planning the route. We all had cutlery and waterproofs and further essentials, but we did not take any spare clothes or wash bag or towel, so none of us could have a shower! We finally arrived at Rydall Hall 10 minutes after the other patrol, but we had got lost twice and set off 15 or so minutes later than them. We were carrying one tent between four, and the route wasn’t particularly tricky either, so spirits were high, although other people were probably a bit perturbed by our singing on the way there. Anyway, after encountering the girl-guides and the man who whipped his girlfriend with a towel, Luke turned up in Mike’s car with a pop up tent to sleep in. We cooked our tea on the Trangia we had taken. We had some bags, like army ration bags, with food in, and, like every other year, we agreed it was the best meal of the camp. We finally settled down for the night, planning to wake up early the next morning…  

THURSDAY
We managed to wake up early, and had breakfast, re-packed and taken down the tent by around eight o’clock. So, we set off the opposite route back. One of our questions was to find the caves at a certain grid reference. So, after half an hour of walking, we were at the grid reference, which is one square mile. It was very hilly and brackeny. We spent almost three hours searching for these caves, but with no luck. We were exhausted, dehydrated and feeling a bit ill. It was boiling hot and our water had run out, so eventually Mike had to pick us up. When we got back, I did not have any lunch and went straight to sleep in our remaining tent. When we arrived, however, the leaders had put the long, blue groundsheet down. We all knew what that meant! Everyone (except me) got changed into swimming gear and slid down the groundsheet which was covered in water and fairy liquid. Soon, Mike actually had to tell me to get involved, so, I joined the rest of the group. Most of the time was spent trying to drag Jeremy down, and we got him! I was feeling much better afterwards, and rinsed of with the hose. We played a game of evasion in which I know I got in, but Tom and Toby insisted I didn’t. We finished off the night with bogwash and flapjack. 

FRIDAY
On Friday we headed down to Coniston water, where we would be canoeing, something everyone had been looking forward to. We got into groups of twos and threes and started paddling. I prefer kayaking, because they are easier to manoeuvre and they are quicker. We played lots of games involving balls and then paddled to the pier, where we jumped in. It was great fun. I managed to push in Alex four times, Liam twice, and I even managed to get Tom, which was revenge for him and Toby flinging me in! We arrived back for lunch, and then set to work building our bivvies, which we spent the night in. The leaders said that mine was the best! We were all underneath the dining shelter next to the fire in the leaders area. It was pouring down! I managed to keep spirits up by getting everyone singing! Later, I won a bivvy bag, in agreement that I would clean out the bog tent. I slept the night well and woke up the next morning feeling fine, and I was completely dry, despite the torrential rain. 

SATURDAY
I was quite sad at the prospect of leaving that day. Still, I took down my bivvy and then had breakfast, and helped the leaders pack the trailer. We had packed everything up (except the marquee) yesterday, even our bags, so we did not have much to do. I played football for a bit, packed my lunch and then helped take the marquee down. My Dad was the last to arrive (despite the fact that we were giving two other people lifts) so I had plenty of time to squeeze in lunch and reflect on the camp. I slept most of the way back. First thing I did was to help the leaders unpack the trailer, and then I had a well deserved bath.  

THANK YOU LEADERS, FOR THE BEST CAMP YET!