Day 1 (Monday)
Today all the planning, and hard work has come to fruition. Akela and Hathi met at 08:00 to pick up the bus and take it to the Scutt. Then Hathi went into Bristol to pick up a woggle for Julie and back home to pick up the last of his kit. Akela spent some more time at Tesco with some last minute shopping
10:30 came round far too quickly, the Cubs arrived at the Scutt and we set off for Taunton. There were a few tearful moments until the Leaders were told to stop blubbering and get on with it. The food was loaded into the cars, the trailer was hitched up. (Thanks to Steve for towing it down to Taunton). Hathi was the last to leave and had to ask the parents to leave as he had to lock up. The trip down was enlivened by Hathi taking the wrong turning on the motorway so that the Cubs in the car could wave at the bus as they overtook it again.
The roads were surprisingly quiet and we arrived ahead of schedule. While the trailer was positioned near to the Tone Cabin (our base for the next 4 nights), Hathi took the Cubs and Julie for a walk around the site. They would know where things were. He pointed out the big field, oooh. The death slide (aka the aerial runway) aaah. The climbing / abseiling tower, Ooeer. The toilets, yippee. The tour finished at the Cabin and the trailer was ready to be unloaded so that's what happened. The Cub's belongings were taken into the Cabin and the tents taken out to the field. A packed lunch supplied by the Cub's parents was eaten.
The tents were erected, this was really hard as the ground had had no rain to soften it in nearly six weeks. It was like putting pegs into concrete, shades of 2001. With three and a half tents up we had a break for a drink and a cake. When all the tents were up the Cubs were released for an hour to play in the Monkey Paradise. This was a hit and while James (Leader) tired the Cubs out chasing him to retrieve their caps, tea was prepared by the other Leaders.
On the way back to the Cabin the Cubs were shown the "Death Slide / Zip Wire" some were keen to try so it was put on the list of possible activities - if we had time. Tea was noodles, sausages, bread and spread, there was not much waste, which was good. Jess, Jess and Beth(ff) volunteered to help wash up.
While it was still light the Cubs took their their sleeping kit to the tents. Then the Cubs were taken down to the big field for a few wide games. Normally the field has campers all around it but this time we had it to ourselves. Wide games included capture the flag and football rounders. (kicking a football instead of using a bat and small ball)
The first day closed with hot chocolate ( eight pints of milk, a tin of Cadburys chocolate powder add sugar to taste i. e. a lot, heat and stir until all the lumps have gone then serve to tired Cubs. This, like tea was a huge success. The Cubs then went to bed 22:00. Lights out at 22:30 all quiet by 00:15, so the Leaders took advantage of this early night by staying up till 02:00 playing cards and talking, a small amount of alcohol was taken.