DAY 1 - 27th July
I arrived at the station at 8:20am with my luggage ready for a brilliant summer camp, I placed my luggage onto the trailer that the coach was towing and then climbed onto the coach (a double decker) and found a seat upstairs near the front.
We finally set off at about 8:45, at this point I only knew 2 people on the trip and I watched the Hitchikers guide to The Galaxy on my ipod.
I also read my book and listened to music, we stopped twice along the way, once at the M6 toll services and then again at Carlisle services.
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| Stirling Castle |
We finally arrived at Lochearnhead at around 5:30pm where the scouts unloaded the trailer and carried all the bags up to the station.
We were then assigned our cabins and went to get settled in before dinner at 18:30.
After dinner we were told what each clan would be doing the next day, I happened to be going on a 3 day hike so I had to pack my rucksack after dinner in preparation.
Then we sorted out who would be sleeping on which bunk before eventually going to bed.
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| Our cabin |
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| Starfishing |
DAY 2 - 28th July
Got up early today to finish packing for the hike and then went to flag break at 8:55 before breakfast at 08:00. After breakfast I collected my lunch for the 3 days and then we had to collect our rations, we finally piled onto the minibus at about 09:15, once dropped off, we set off in search of our camping ground, we found it at around 17:00, there were 3 clans on the hike and each clan had to find a different spot to pitch the tents, after pitching our tents and sorting out the problem with numbers (we ended up with 3 girls in a 2-man tent which was tight) we cooked our dinner, I had curried rice.
After dinner we sat around chatting for a while before climbing into bed for what was a rather uncomfortable night.
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| Dinner! |
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| The view from our pitch |
DAY 3 - 29th July
Set off around 09:00 today to climb Beinn Challuim, it was tough, but we made it by 14:00 and got back to the tents around 17:00, by this point it was pouring with rain and we couldn't cook so dinner comprised of half a packet of chorizo, fridge raiders and some cereal bars, then we went to sleep.
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| Almost at the top |
DAY 4 - 30th July
The rain had made the river to high to cross so we couldn't climb the second mountain, instead we hiked along the hills to a nearby town where the minibus picked us up and took us back to the station.
On arrival, we fought with the younger scouts for the showers (Well, we hadn't had one for days) before flag down and having a lovely hot meal for dinner.
We went to bed somewhat early, although the scouts on the bunk above had an argument about sleeping arrangements that didn't cease until around 23:30.
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| Halfway to the town |
DAY 5 - 31st July
Got up at 07:30, flag break at 7:55, brekkie at 08:00.
By 09:00 My clan (MacNeil) and MacPherson were grouped around the mountain bikes. We hopped onto the minibus to get to our starting point and then cycled along the old railway line for about 7 miles before leaving the line for the remaining 8 miles, here it began to get quite hilly with some steep climbs and a VERY scary, VERY steep zigzag trail, brakes were on the whole way down!
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| The fate of one explorer after mountain biking |
We got back to the station around 15:00 where we showered, had cake and then went to flag down at 18:35 and dinner at 18:30.
DAY 6 - 1st August
Today was sailing and the weather was DISGUSTING! Unfortunately I was ill in the morning so had to watch everyone else, after an hour though I started to feel better so decided to get in on the action after lunch. However, everyone came off the boats for lunch shivering, they were absolutely freezing, so we bailed out and got the minibus back to the station at 12:30. As we were back so early, I decided to sort out all my stuff seeing as we were off to Meggernie the next day. Once that was done we played cards for a bit, then I went and sat on the windowseat (under the heater), this didn't turn out well as I fell asleep and then fell on the floor, landing on my hip (which hurt for the next 7 days).
After what seemed an eternity, it was time for flag down and dinner, it was VERY welcome!
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| Playing with Daisy (The dog) |
DAY 7- 2nd August
KAYAKING! So, today was kayaking, it was sooo much fun, and the best part...despite how AWFUL I was (couldn't go more than three strokes without spinning), I didn't capsise, not even down the rapids and into the swirly water, I was so proud of myself! :D
It was warm and sunny today so we dried off quite well before heading back to the station for showers and food.
At 8pm, 34 Explorers and scout patrol leaders piled onto the minibuses to go to Meggernie outdoor centre, our home for the next 4 days. It was an hours journey and my minibus managed to get a puncture, but because the track was so uneven, we couldn't change the tyre so had to drive on it and change it when we got there!
On the plus side, the tents were already up (the first group had put them up on the 27th July), and ours was an 8-man with 5 girls in. However, we also had a bit of a leak, we managed though.
DAY 8 - 3rd August
Canoeing, but 2 of us were ill today, so we chilled in a hotel for the day (it was actually extremely boring and we were asleep most of the time).
We had a bat walk in the evening, which was fun.
DAY 9 - 4th August
Began with archery, where I came soooo close to bursting the balloon I was supposed to, I missed by millimetres! Then we went onto frisbee golf, grass sledging and finally traversing.
Despite the mix of activities, it was a nice and relaxing day, and we didn't have to go off site.
We had a campfire in the evening and had a blast.
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| Missing the balloon |
DAY 10 -5th August
Today we built a swing, cooked on open fires and did some orienteering, another relaxing day, but enjoyable nonetheless.
DAY 11 - 6th August
Back to Lochearnhead today, took the tents down and packed up Meggernie (and made friends with some of the Danish scouts) and got to Lochearnhead around 2.
As there were no cabins available, all of us that had just come from Meggernie had to sleep in one big mess tent, it was chaos finding a spot!
We had a traditional dinner with someone on the bagpipes and then we all had some haggis (I personally quite liked it).
To round off the last night, each clan had to perform in a talent show, which was highly enjoyable.
DAY 12 -7th August
Up at 6am today to get everything packed away, so we could be on the coach by 9, then it was a simple 11 hour journey home (there were a few accidents on the roads), filled with music, sleeping, and a vague sadness that it was all over.
I made friends with one of the scouts though and found out he'll be starting my school in September, so I'll have to look out for him and be an unofficial buddy. :)
