The Cubs were reluctant to get up this morning as they were worn out by the activities on Saturday. The Leaders were able to catch up on some sleep. At 08:00 the last couple of Cubs were woken up and told that breakfast was being served.
Breakfast was "gurt lush", we haven't had anything less than wonderful meals all weekend. Akela went off to setup the abseil tower while Sandra and Hathi tried to fit harnesses to the Cubs, after a dozen Cubs we found out that there were a couple of 'left handed harnesses which caused some confusion. Once the main rush was over we discovered that the harnesses were inside out or upside down because after a little fiddling they went on perfectly. Gemma and Emily because of their size were fitted into body harnesses. Once everybody was ready we strolled down to the abseil tower where we met Akela and Tristan who would be helping drop the Cubs down the tower.
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The harnesses were checked by Akela, who confirmed that there were no such things as left handed rigs. The Rules about the activity were explained and the Cubs told that any stupid behaviour would mean an end to that Cubs activity. There were a lot of solemn nodding of heads when asked if the Cubs understood. Crash hats and iron work was fitted to the Cubs who then ascended the ladder to the smaller tower. The first Victims were picked out and hooked up and ducked under the railing and then realised what they were going to do and isn't 25 feet a long way up or down, depending on your world view. There were a couple of first timers who baulked at their first experience but Akela and Tristan were brilliantly patient and managed to get ALL the Cubs to do at least one descent. I'll pick out Sam and Josh F at this point, both were I think it's safe to say a tad concerned about the whole abseiling thing but eventually were persuaded to let go of the rail and dangle on their rope. when they reached the floor they were both unattached from the safety line and like rats up a drain pipe rushed up the ladder for another go. As Akela said they had moved the elephant. (not 100% sure what he meant) but it was fantastic to see them descend next time with their eyes open. Oliver, Emily and Gemma also overcame their fears to have a second go.
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As promised the tall tower all 32 feet tall had been rigged and some of the 'braver' Cubs climbed the long ladder to the top, paused for only a second before coming down. Euan developed a new skill of reverse vertical skiing. there was not a single Cub that didn't have a go at jumping out away from the wall, well they were tied of ton the safety rope and told that to get untied they had to do the jump. All the Cubs that climbed the tall tower abseiled down as it was 'unsafe' to let them back down the ladders.
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The Leaders, i.e. Sandra and Hathi had a go on the low wall. the names that Sandra called Akela as he tied her safety rope off with her still 18 feet from the floor was an education for the Cubs that heard her. Hathi's descent was done with little fuss and then he stayed at the bottom helping the Cubs detach themselves before he was invited to have a go off the tall tower. When asked if he needed a glove he declined, something he regretted 20 seconds later when he had bounced own in 4 or 5 hops, that abseil rope gets really seriously hot, sorry the hand holding the rope gets extremely hot, a lesson learnt the hard way. Next time . . .
The Cubs had some time to kill while the towers were cleared so some played football and some went into the park next to the Lovell Centre. Tristan joined us for lunch as a way of us saying thanks for his hard work.
The Cubs then changed into their assault course clothes, they were warned that there would be some water and some mud so they would have to be careful as they would be going home shortly afterwards and that they might like to keep as clean as possible.
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Naturally the best bits were the water obstacles, this is where the majority of time was spent. To say it was a bit smelly to begin with is an opportunity to avoid saying that it stank god only knows what bugs were in the water. It was enjoyed by the participating Cubs, the watching Cubs and Leaders who helped the Cubs into and out of the water. Akela then hosed down the dirty ones with water that may have been at less than room temperature judging by the screams of excitement. Once dried and changed parents started to arrive and we discovered that we had enough seats to bring all the Cubs back to Stockwood.
At the Scutt, we met up with the returning Tuesday Cubs who also had a good camp. A complaint was made about the sun-gods failure in the early morning when there was a little shower that barely got the ground damp. Dew blown off the tress was Akela's explanation, not sure that this explained why we couldn't see Wales across the Severn valley like we could later when the dew passed over.
Certificates were handed out to the Cubs that made it to the Scutt, to the Cooks team and their little helpers and to Sandra.
I don't have the words to express our gratitude to the people that came along and made the Camp so much fun for the Cubs. Ian, Carol and Vicki the food was great, there was so little waste the Cubs must have enjoyed the food. The company of such people with Sandra, Akela and Hathi meant that we will look back on this camp with very happy memories. Thanks also to Tristan for his help with the abseiling and Alan with the archery.
The Cubs got a lot out of it, we can't wait for the next one.
