Monthly Archives: Jun 2019

DofE 14: White Peak (2)

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Pollen VH, 18°C, brisk SE, dry, full sun.

14.1 drive the minibus to Hulme End to meet coach B. The boss had split the year group and I met the northern half to issue kit. Soon, classic bronze route planning appeared. One group had plotted a route along walls and fences to I changed the route to paths that match other group.

14.2 camp to Ilam: a tricky day because my groups’ routes diverged by 2 km, one down the Manifold, the other, Tissington.

Last minute rushing about looking for lost and late groups. Luckily, the coach was very late. Once more, just when I thought I could relax, a call came in from another lost group…

Inevitably, a late finish. The coach was booked for 5pm and arrived about 6.30pm. As I left, the coach was stuck behind the bridge in Ilam. Maybe we should use the coach company in Ilam village next time. By the time the bus was dropped off at the hire place and I was returned to my car, it was 8.45pm. half an hour to get home and then supper. That’s a long day from a 6am start.

DofE 13 South Downs

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22°C, light wind and deep blue cloudless above.

A very long drive down near Brighton. I hope it’s worth it. Heathside has always been brilliant previously, so it will be again.

Before the punters arrive, I have the field to myself. Peace and rest after a long drive. Oh, and a good book (The Secret life of Flies).

Day one: Silver expedition is three days of walking and other activities. Day one was eventful with a first aid incident that had awkward effects all day. I had two groups, one of boys, the other- all girls. To start, the boys seemed well equipped and ready to move out early.
The girls, however; were overloaded (one arrived with 18.5kg) but with too little water. One C*, had enough food for a week and many, many changes of clothes (some cotton pieces). Also, their packs did not fit well, but since they were quite tall, the problem was less than usual.

The boys marched on full of energy. They sailed past the turning and headed south. Five groups made this same mistake and I had to rush about turning them around. Bear in mind, they didn’t do Bronze.

Within a few km of starting, one of the girls fell faint in the heat. We’d stopped for a snack, but it was warm, still and very humid. She (N*) couldn’t even sit up and lost all her colour. We were a km from the nearest road at a junction of paths by a golf course. A golfer could see we had a problem and offered to get a golf buggy. I went with N* and sat her in the golf shop while we waited for the minibus.

The minibus dropped me off near Fulking village so i could get onto the hill.

The boys’ group were easy to find but the girls were far more tricky. They’d gone south passed the A27 catching feature. On the phone they were into Shoreham., A local had misdirected them away from a path which may have adders. It got to the point where I asked them to install OS-Locate and get me a grid reference. Once I got to this group, I stayed with them for the day- I’m not letting go!

13.2: both groups’ longest day started misty, brewing up for a coming storm overnight. One of the lads was withdrawn for the day with an injury and a teacher had to walk with them to make up the numbers. A misjudgement meant my tent was left at the previous camp. I was told to stay at the same camp because of staff ratios. In the end, the numbers were okay so I could move it to the nice scout camp. All the better because the showers are good. Late finishes are fine, but in a row, tiredness builds. After a shower, I turned in at 11.

13 2: rain overnight, but I slept through the thunder. Shame because I love a good thunderstorm, especially in the tent. The last day turned into a beautiful day. The kids were hot but got on with it. The girls had a far better day with navigation.

Ribble nature reserve

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16°C, bright sun and dry

Not a long ride but I’ve clocked up well over 100 miles in the last few days. The trips to work have been quick except the return home yesterday. My legs were just empty and it was a drag to get back. Perhaps my diet was not optimal the day before.

Anyway, I decided to ride the ‘cross on my day off. It’s always refreshing and doesn’t demand much stamina.

DofE 12: Chilterns (2)

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Sun-rain-sun/repeat 18°C.

12.0: arrived a day early on a busy Scout camp. Presumably, most will go tomorrow before ours arrive. I needed an early night but they did quieten down after 9.30. The owls were loud in the night.

12.1: Training two groups, one all girls, the other – mixed. Both started unskilled and with an impulsive nature. They urgently wanted to press on which led to fractured groups and navigation errors. The urge to go on cost them enough mistakes to slow the day down dramatically. Dashing off made for a long day. Mine were the last groups in. The rain showers abated and we arrived with very tired kids. The mixed group got themselves in first.

In the woods, creepy eh?

12.2: A day for each group to travel solo, first in light rain, later a nice day unfolded.
Some arguments were reported on the 2nd day because navigation decisions were made by force of personality and not on a group using observed evidence. The other group (girls) went well and became steadily better and better. They really bloomed on this trip, I hope they finished with the fuzzy feeling of satisfaction. I told them they should.

Beach pipe

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12°C, light rain, N.

What is that thing? I features in the background of some of my beach shots. From a distance, especially in poor conditions, it can look sinister.

This rain is an escape from the severe storms south:

This picture is from much later, so glad I got out in time. Those heavy.rains have caused havoc in the south. Think of the DofE groups out in that

DofE 11 North Downs.

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12°C, rain and strong Westerly gusts.

Another late one: I have two likable groups to manage and assess. The tricky part is the way their routes diverge south of the hills. If all goes well, there would be a bit of zig-zagging in the car and care needed with timing. One group of 5 is all girls and the other, all lads.

Group 5 (the girls) phoned at least 6 times this day. Their location and direction finding skills were non-existant. Thus:

5: “we’re lost”
M: describe what you see around you? … A farm name, a finger post or something we can find on the map.
5: there is a sign,
M: Great, go and read it!
5: “Skid Risk”

I know the place well, it’s near Loose Chippings!

Afternoon, a hailstorm brewed up. It hit us at a checkpoint and they were caught out. I threw my raincoat over one while she struggled to get hers out of her backpack. Really, it’s not a good idea to pack it under loads of other stuff. The roads were turned into rivers as it poured. I drive round the other side of their track to meet again, they need close supervision and they didn’t appear. How could they go wrong now?! I put the car in the carpark just outside camp and the phone rang again.

Once more they couldn’t locate themselves. Finally they found a named house but that information raised an alarm. They must have passed the carpark and turned away from camp to the west. On foot, expecting to see the group in the village I now hotfooted over another kilometer to find them. Relief! I’m not letting go now until they’re in the field.

Problem now is, light is fading and they are vulnerable on a fast road with no footpaths. So, I plotted a cross country route which formed a loop away then back across safe paths. On we walked. It was a beautiful evening with a golden light filtering through emerald vegetation. Distant peacocks called over the sound of the girls sobbing as we walked.

Day two: a bright start with low fog and promise of dry weather. With the girls’ group merged, I only had the lads to work with today. They’re the best group of boys I’ve worked with. An exemplary team who did everything spot on today. Excellent.

DofE 10: Cannock Chase

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14-17°C, sunny.

9.2: Practice, independent travel with staff and instructors on mostly mobile checkpoints. I headed out on foot to the most easterly point on any of the routes. If groups go wrong here they could get lost in a complex of routes in wooded valleys. Besides that, the routes are circular and we have all day; no coach deadline.

Training/Practice. D1: walking with two groups to teach journeying and navigation. Both seemed to progress though poor stamina was apparent later in the afternoon. The weather was, at least, mild and dry

Roe deer on the Chase.

9.3: rain all day, pah! Routes are north to Milford where the coaches are due later than last year. It’s just as well because two groups ran late. Both made a mess of navigation by taking numerous wrong turns. I walked in from the north towards the usual place where groups go astray and they appeared in 6 or 7 hundred metres. Once they recognised me and realised I would walk them out, the tears came. Half of the group sobbed; relief I assume. Limping on wet sore feet, we returned at 1km/hr to the minibus.

One girl found this on her sleeve. Interesting because of those mites clinging to the bee.

Here’s a tricky one, this group did this yesterday too. It’s up to the school, but if I were their supervisor, I would not recommend them for an assessed expedition yet.

DofE 9: White Peak.

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Sunshine and showers. 5-19°C.

9.0: I thought I was driving home when the phone rang on the M6. “Are you available for a Silver Qualifier” in the White Peak? I pulled into Sandbach services to check. It would work as long as the carpet fitter could change date. I took the job. Another instructor pulled out which put pressure on the AAP. Since I wasn’t very far away, I got there early. The client was familiar, a girls’ school from Oxfordshire.

A quiet side valley by Taddington Dale.

9.1: Wet and windy. Despite the weather, the gorge was rich with garlic in full bloom. Taddington Dale: Is this what paradise would look like? My group struggled with a confusion of paths and barbed wire while I waited at the second checkpoint. In the drizzle, they were getting a bit down and wanted a shortcut. I led them to a mill so they could get photos for their aim. Camp at Mandale Farm.

This was another pastoral job but the cohort included some interesting characters. N* didn’t really fit in with the others but got on well with adults, especially men. We all clicked immediately and had tremendous fun swapping stories with verbal jousting.

9.2: Mandale to Hulme End. Much better weather, rising temperatures and humidity.

This herd were just curious. I expect my groups would be nervous since they blocked the stile. The cattle responded to gentle encouragement to move aside.

9.3: Hulme End to Ilam, an easy route down the Dove, the group are motoring, each checkpoint saw them arrive early. By now, the bond was tied. We talked about family, partners and home they thanked me for “being nice to N*”. She was apparently, not universally liked by teachers. Activities like expeditions were her forte. I shalln’t forget this group.