Nov 8th-9th
After a few weeks planning the route, asking for fireworks and help in transport the great day arrived. It was an overcast day but the clouds were being hustled along by a fairly strong breeze. Akela and Hathi met early and prepared the bonfire for later.
At 18:00 the Leaders and a Cub turned up to get prepared, hiking clothes on, boots on a few last minute checks and then at 18:30 the Cubs started to arrive. All their kit was put in a neat heap next to a wall. Transport was organised for the trip out to our drop off point.
The walkers were:
Cubs; Alice, Sammy, Charlotte, Georgia, Georgina, Aimee, Breiz, Paris, Deanna, Conner, Shaun, Ryan C, Ryan S, Jamie, Matt, Robert, Bradley , Cameron and Mike.
Family; Steve, Dave, Peg, John, Hannah, Vicky and Dan. I'm sorry if I have missed anyone (It will be corrected in the next version)
We were dropped off at Norton Malreward, about halfway along our 'normal' night hike route. This was because our current Cubs are mostly young and we didn't want to wear them out. (Something we would pay for later) We crossed the first of many fields with our torches out as there was enough light to see where we were going. Naturally because they were out in the dark and they had access to torches meant that a few of the Cubs were informed that they would be better of with out them. The first stile we came to caused a ten minute delay as it took that long to get everybody over. This was repeated with all of the stiles so our progress consisted of bursts of speed over the fields with delay between fields.
There were no incidents like those on a previous hike, nobody got too cold except Dave who only three days previous had been in 80o heat in the middle east. We took the correct route through the complicated pathways around Whitchurch and arrived back at the Scutt at about 21:00. Waiting for us was hot dogs, burgers, pizzas and roasted potatoes. For the Leaders, thanks to Kim, there was hot mulled wine which was really welcome. Hathi and Akela got the bonfire and firework display started. The rockets were great some nice and pretty and some nice and loud. The multi-tube fireworks were impressive and the Catherine wheels span easily when attached to a tree but refused to play the game and would not do so when lit. They just sat there and blew sparks out of their exhausts.
After the fireworks Peg ran a campfire sing along, which was enjoyed by the Cubs and Peg. Akela and the cooks team provided some hot chocolate before the Cubs were put down, to sleep. Parents, helpers and family went home, the compound was locked for the night and the Leaders sat out by the fire and talked, interspersed with frequent trips into the hall to ask, then order, then plead and finally threaten that unless the noise was reduced and people went to sleep dire things would happen. What part of "Lie down, shut up and go to sleep" do Cubs have a problem with, what part do they not understand? By about 02:30 it had finally gone quiet, the eclipse of the moon had been a disappointment as the cloud had closed in and the moon was obscured for all but a few seconds when the Earths shadow could be seen covering part of the moon.
Morning came around far to quickly, the girls started drifting through the hall to do what ever young females do first thing in the morning. The boys, who had been asleep for less time were awoken by Akela gently banging a Dixie and ladle together. This had the desired effect. Once everybody was awake the Cubs were required to clear their sleeping things away, get ALL their kit together and put it in a tidy pile. This took nearly the same time as it took Akela to cook breakfast. Tables were arranged in a square. Cutlery was put out, thanks Mike, Cereal was served first and a cooked breakfast was next. All new campers were introduced to 'eggy-bread' some people enjoyed some did not, a few of the old timers came back for seconds.
After breakfast Hathi and Bagheera washed up while Akela sorted the Cubs neat pile into some thing closer to the meaning of neat. Thanks to Ryan, Georgina and Alice( I think) for helping dry up, I wonder if they are as competitive at home to dry up? We had a couple of games, a variation on Horse and jockey that had all of them running around, we were not going to easily forgive them for giving the Leaders sleep deprivation.
A game of fill a plastic bag with rubbish you found in the HQ's grounds was surprisingly popular, working in teams of three or four the place was quickly spotless, apart from the leaves. To finish off we had a time guessing game, the Cubs were told to sit down at what they thought was a minute, the second time of doing this Hathi suggested they stood still and judged thirty minutes but we did not have the time.
Parents arrived, certificates were handed out, a par of sleeping trousers was offered by auction but there were no takers. After they had gone the Leaders tidied up the last few things and went home for a sit down and rest.
Thanks to Trudy, Julie, for the food, to Kim for the mulled wine, to the parent who walked and to those that didn't but transported those that did. It was a fine night for a walk, shame it wasn't long enough.