29th October
We try to do one sponsored event a year, and this year it was the local children's hospice appeal; The Babe Appeal.
Both Akela's from Wednesday and Tuesday Packs asked their Cubs to raise some money for this worthy cause.
The Wednesday Pack was represented by Paris, Aimee, Jess M, Charlie, Megan, Matt, Bradley, Conner, Ryan and Tom. These, with about the same number of Tuesday Cubs and about ten adults; parents, a grandparent and several Leaders were transported to the Bus Stop at the top of Pensford Hill.
A few people had rung Akela to see if the walk had to be cancelled due to the persistent drizzle through the day and were informed that the walk was going ahead regardless.
The first part of the walk was a stroll along the road to the first of 12 stiles. This took about 10 minutes to get everybody over and safely off the road. The most dangerous part of the walk was now on us. We had to cross a field with a 'threaten' of geese. (I know that it is the wrong collective name for geese but I feel that it is accurate) Once past this hazard we had only steep hills, stiles, deep mud and getting positionally-challenged to worry about.
At the top of Guys Hill, our first stiff climb we had a short rest while another stile was coped with. We were now faced with a field the size of Devon. With no distinguishing markers for us to follow Akela (Wed) set off confidently and accurately. The Cubs were impressed with how the huge pools of standing water were nice and shiny. The mud was not to bad on this field as it seemed to have drained into large puddles. It was at this point that the rain that had been busy all day returned to spoil Akela's reputation.
At Norton Malereward we had a rest for a couple of minutes. The rain stopped the moon came out and our sun god was happy again as the moon proved that the sun "WAS" shining, not on us admittedly but it was shining somewhere. The next section of the walk was another field, freshly ploughed and soft, sticky and almost impossible to walk across. So we walked around the edge where the going was slightly easier. Another stile, this time a double with plank bridge, gave people the chance to catch their breath and knock some of the mud off their boots.
The next field, again freshly ploughed was to give our first out of boot experience. A Cub was struggling with her balance and lost her shoes, she was carried to the exit point of the field and was re-shoed. A short walk down a quiet country road to our next stile and resting point was next. With the torches turned off the road was a silvery grey colour and very clear.
At last a field with grass, nice and easy to walk on. Hang on, what lives in fields like this? Well animals that turn grass into stuff that makes grass grow. Torches were turned on again as the Cubs wanted to see what they were stepping in. If only they had known what was going to happen next they might have been less worried. Another stile and past a farmhouse, inhabited by a farmer and according to Akela several unpleasantly vicious dogs, . The Cubs were reasonably quiet for this part until they realised the next section was a bog, a viscous, sticky, smelly area that was not sure if it was water or land. At this point Matt had an out of shoe experience that was very nearly an out of sock experience. All the Adult men were really brave and shone their torches onto the horrible brown quagmire as Akela (Tues) groped about looking for the sunken trainer. The fact that Matt was happy to put the horribly messy footwear back on to his foot was the sign of a brave and grateful Cub. For about thirty or forty metres we squelched and squealed our way through this dreadful experience.
Being told that we were well over half way restored the Cubs and the next field was downhill, dry and on grass, Luxury! At the exit to this field there was a slight disagreement over the direction of the next section. We were faced with a gate that had a puddle that stretched from gatepost to gatepost and from about ten metres in our field to about he same distance into the next field. Two words described it im passible! the alternative was a stile on dry-ish ground. So we went dryly into the next field. As we walked away Hathi said that we should be the other side of the hedge, and Akela said oh yes? It was discussed but with some of our Cubs being rather challenged in the height department we decided to continue. Safer to go on than possibly loose a Cub when they sank and disappeared without trace in the previously mentioned puddle.
We crossed another field and came out near to where we wanted to cross the main A37 to get back to the Scutt. We will definitely be using this route next time we do this walk. The rest of the walk was on pavement and passed quickly, our arrival at the Scutt was greeted with cries of relief. Paul and Rich from the Scouts had prepared hot dogs, burgers, tea and hot chocolate.
After a rest, boots were pulled on again as we had some fireworks to watch before we went home. Very impressive they were too with the echoes of the bangs coming back from the rest of Bristol.
At last everybody went home ready to start collecting their sponsorship money from friends and family.
Thanks to all the grown-ups that took part in the walk, to the drivers who took us out, to the mum whose name escapes me for helping dish out the food and to Paul and Rich for the cooking.
If the weather is as kind next week when we do out last sleep out this year we will be most pleased.
**********************************************************
**
Final amount raised was £606.42. Well done to
everybody that helped**
**********************************************************