Another camp over

Well, we all made it back from camp safely in the end. The day before we were due to leave it rained almost continuously, with only a brief break when we were having our campfire with songs and sketches. To be honest though, if you were going to ask for a spell without rain then you couldn't have picked a better time.

The river next to the site had risen a good four feet by the time we were due to leave and we felt glad we had decided not to build a bridge in the end. The other group staying on the site, who had built their bridge with supports on dry land earlier in the week, found that they were in a good three feet of water and several feet from the bank by Saturday morning.

We got tents down on Saturday and had all the kit packed and everyone transported to Spean Bridge station with a good ten minutes to spare. The train journey to Glasgow really has to be one of the most attractive rail journeys in the country, although a lot of the Scouts spent most of it sleeping after a hard week at camp.

On the other hand, the journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh on a packed train on a Saturday afternoon with no air conditioning is not very enjoyable at all. Not reccommended.

All the tenst are now up drying in the hall and pots and pans are away for cleaning with various people. Hopefully they will turn up again at the start of term.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the camp, and we hope all the Scouts had a good time and some new experiences.

Wet, wet, wet

Whilst yesterday was a fairly good day, with most people evidencing a touch of the sun, today is the exact opposite. Dry all night, it started raining about ten minutes after we got up and hasn't let up since.

Tents need to start coming down today so there'll be a lot of drying to do and so on when we get back, but the Scouts are all still enjoying themselves and hopefully tonight's campfire should round things off nicely for everyone.

We had planned to build a bridge over the river whilst we were here, but the distance from bank to bank and the fact the level is constantly changing made us scrap that idea. Instead we built a ten foot high tower with a sleeping platform on top, and last night two of the explorers slept up there under the shelter of a tarpaulin.

If you're wondering why we haven't posted any pictures, its because this connection is very, very slow. We'll add them when we get back to Edinburgh tomorrow

The Pool of the Town

The group going on their two day expedition finally made it out yesterday on the train to Corrour and after several soggy and tiring hours hiking, they arrived at the bothy which was to be their base for the evening. As no one else had arrived at the bothy by 7.30 and it would be an unusual experience for them, I decided to let them sleep inside rather than pitching their tents. It was a warm and cosy place for them to make their evening meal and dry out wet boots and waterproofs. I think the novelty of it all stopped them from getting much sleep though!!! They were no doubt up late discussing being stuck in quick-mud!!

The other Scouts had stayed on site for the day, but got involved in various activities including building a 10ft high tower from pioneering poles whcih we will put a tent on this evening and hopefully have a couple up sleeping on it. Then later whilst I walked up to meet the group at the bothy, Carole led them in to Spean Bridge to the local Spar. You'd think none of them had been in a shop before given how much they bought.

Today saw the expedition group returning and all of us heading into Fort William for a spot of lunch and some free time in the town. Then it was off to the local pool for most people's first wash of the week and an hours swimming.

Tonight, the patrols have chosen their own individual evening meals which are anticipated with some trepidation by the leaders who will have to eat with them. Fingers crossed.

Rainy hikes

Today was the start of our hikes and the rain set in quite early on. However, the two younger groups doing a single day hike managed very well given the conditions, completing a ten kilometre walk from Gairlochy to Fort William along the footpath of the Caledonian Canal.

The older group setting out on the two day expedition fared slightly less well however. Upon arriving at the station to catch a train to their start point, they realised that they had left both of their maps behind and wouldn't actually be going anywhere, as there was insufficient time to return to the campsite and collect them before the train was due. With their only being three trains a day, an alternative hike along the junior route was found and they will start their expedition tomorrow instead.

Tom would also like to let his parent's know that the marshmallows arived okay. The postwoman turning up at our campsite in her little van was quite an unusual site.

Last night we cooked rainbow trout on the fire, which almost everyone ate and enjoyed so that's something for all parents to file away for the future. The fish also came intact (which was unexpected) so we had to gut and bone it too, a challenge which they all rose too well.

The Curse of the Minibus

I don't seem to have much luck with minibuses and have just spent the last twenty minutes underneath the one we have away at camp trying to fix a coolant leak. I haven't yet but I will and its still driveable enough to get us back to the campsite.

Yesterday we made a raft with four large barrels and most of the scouts spent a happy afternoon both on and in the water. We also had a new inflatable kayak which kept the supervising leaders amused too.

The rain was fairly constant from when we went to bed last night until about 9 this morning. But we are bathing in glorious sunshine just now and building makeshift shelters to sleep in overnight. Later on today we'll be doing some cooking in fire pits and other traditional styles, as well as planning hike routes for the expeditions which start tomorrow.

But enough from me, let's hear from some of the Scouts:

"Had a great time so far. Weather fine. went rafting and got really wet." - Ross Muego

"Roasting in the morning, cold in the afternoon, raining in the evening. Typical Scottish weather." - Daniel Potter

The Scouts have also been good enough to inform me that night follows day and water is wet, so I'm learning something new as well.

First day in camp

Well, we all arrived safely yesterday and the rain managed to hold off for most of the evening as we set up our tents. Unfortunately the main tent we had brought to act as a store and central meeting point appeared to be missing its poles. Oops. I blame the Explorers ;-) (Who are sitting next to me just now expressing their disdain that I could even consider such a thought)

However, in the best Scouting traditions we made do and managed to construct a couple of fairly impressive shelters with some tarpaulins we had brought.

After a slow dinner (cooking on open fires will take some a while to get used to) dusk slowly fell and the midgies made their presence known. I suspect they will be with us all week but the sun is out today and its glorious, so hopefully it will make up for their presence.

This morning it was bacon rolls and rice krispies for breakfast (vegetarian sausages for some) which went down well. A first inspection of the troop revealed varying standards as far as kit and camping skills go, but after a week they will get the hang of it.

There is very limited mobile phone reception on site so posts will only be made when we can get in to Fort William to buy food, which will probably be every second day.

On the train

Well, we finally got all of the kit packed yesterday and two day's worth of shopping done in tesco, as well as tuck shop in Makro. The minibus was picked up this morning and hooked to the trailer. It set off for Spean Bridge at just the back of ten and hopefully will be there when we arrive.

We've successfully transferred trains in Glasgow and are now on the way to Spean Bridge, where we should arrive in about three and a half hours. The weather is looking okay just now, but we'll see what transpires.