Saturday, 22 June 2013
Plane
We've just got on the plane to go south ... Where it will be sunny! No we know, it is wet and grey with you in Grinstead too!
Engage flight mode.
Engage flight mode.
The wheels on the bus ...
Early morning wake up at 6:30 (see they can do it!) then ablutions and a quick bowl of porridge.
As the tide was in and very high we had to walk over the hill to get to the bus rather than on the now submerged roadway. As we crossed the saddle of the hill the local stag came onto a nearby summit just to check that we were leaving his territory.
We are on a very quiet bus and heading south ...
As the tide was in and very high we had to walk over the hill to get to the bus rather than on the now submerged roadway. As we crossed the saddle of the hill the local stag came onto a nearby summit just to check that we were leaving his territory.
We are on a very quiet bus and heading south ...
Friday, 21 June 2013
All done
All home from the beach. Lovely dinner of haggis followed by the most chocolatey puffing in the world. We are now packing as we have to get our nags into the trailer tonight as the tide will be high in the morning and the truck will not be able to get through. We leave very early in the morning. The children are going to put in a concert this evening once they have packed .... Oh and Caz had her birthday pudding at supper and we all sang happy birthday ....
Life is a beach ...
Despite the grey skies, we have a great day on the beach... and what a beach. About a mile of golden sand. We played blitz ball, a tug of war, football, cricket, frisbee and the tough children (all girls) went boogie boarding.
We survived!
How was it?
"Cold", "wet".... "Scottish"
All of the children are back at base now and cheerfully enjoying the luxury of a hot shower. A hot breakfast of eggy bread and bacon awaits.
After breakfast the children packed their day bags for the beach... Then a little nap.
"Cold", "wet".... "Scottish"
All of the children are back at base now and cheerfully enjoying the luxury of a hot shower. A hot breakfast of eggy bread and bacon awaits.
After breakfast the children packed their day bags for the beach... Then a little nap.
Thursday, 20 June 2013
Lobsters
"Why is so much of Scotland uphill?"
Said one pupil ..
We met John Ridgeway who is an interesting man. He posed some interesting questions to the children.
We also collected in our Crills or lobster pots and found some interesting animals had taken the bait...
Said one pupil ..
We met John Ridgeway who is an interesting man. He posed some interesting questions to the children.
We also collected in our Crills or lobster pots and found some interesting animals had taken the bait...
Survival island ...
Using assault boats, we took the children to Survival Island where they were to spend the night. Everything that they needed is on the island and there are two instructors watching over the site. They had to work together to provide food and shelter ....
Morning Athlon
Everyone slept well last night after the long walk yesterday and was overjoyed to be woken by the sound of Robby the Rooster (as recorded by good self) who woke us so well when we were under canvas.
Before a hearty breakfast of sausages and scrambled eggs, the reds and blues took part in the Athlon race: a locally famous team race comprising four stages... The run (won by reds); the watercarryinginatubeythingwithholesin event (blues won after a stewards enquiry); the blindfolded kayaking (reds) and the swim (reds again).
Now after breakfast we are splitting into two groups: one will scale the local crags and the others are going to see what we have caught in out lobster pots and meet John Ridgeway, who started the centre after rowing across the Atlantic ....
Before a hearty breakfast of sausages and scrambled eggs, the reds and blues took part in the Athlon race: a locally famous team race comprising four stages... The run (won by reds); the watercarryinginatubeythingwithholesin event (blues won after a stewards enquiry); the blindfolded kayaking (reds) and the swim (reds again).
Now after breakfast we are splitting into two groups: one will scale the local crags and the others are going to see what we have caught in out lobster pots and meet John Ridgeway, who started the centre after rowing across the Atlantic ....
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Morning
Another day, another dawn ...
It did not really get dark last night at all and we were awoken by the cheery tones of a rooster at 6:30am who was doing his best to compete with the beautiful singing of a couple of skylarks.
The scenery is amazing and is the same landscape that inspired Tolkien to write a couple of tales of note ... We drove past the house where he wrote them on the way here ....
PS Phone signal here is fickle ... It tease you with three bars and then vanishes.
It did not really get dark last night at all and we were awoken by the cheery tones of a rooster at 6:30am who was doing his best to compete with the beautiful singing of a couple of skylarks.
The scenery is amazing and is the same landscape that inspired Tolkien to write a couple of tales of note ... We drove past the house where he wrote them on the way here ....
PS Phone signal here is fickle ... It tease you with three bars and then vanishes.
Setting up camp
The girls have chosen a spot by the river... The boys on moorland. The long drop loos have been installed and the girls have the best loo with a view ...
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Tonight
After a busy afternoon of activities, we are getting ready for another busy evening. Supper tonight is a chicken curry and then we are off to set up camp ... and the rain clouds are gathering.
Note: please be aware that 3G signal is intermittent around the centre and I will update the site whenever I can. Today I have been kayaking all day... My smartphone is not waterproof, so I left it ashore ... There are a lot of photos on Mr Walker's waterproof camera and Mrs Miller's phone.
Note: please be aware that 3G signal is intermittent around the centre and I will update the site whenever I can. Today I have been kayaking all day... My smartphone is not waterproof, so I left it ashore ... There are a lot of photos on Mr Walker's waterproof camera and Mrs Miller's phone.
Day 2
This morning the children were woken by the dulcet tones of Mr Miller singing extracts from Ramstein's greatest works at full volume. Then, at about 7:10 they made there way out into the morning light for a short jog along the side of the loch. Then a quick shower before a breakfast of porridge and a fry up of eggs and bacon.
For morning activities the children were split into the reds and blues. The reds went kayaking on the loch whilst the blue team learned how to forage for food and make fire.
The kayaks were out on the water for about three hours. They toured the loch, visiting the mussel farm and the Marie Louise, a boart which has circumnavigated the world several times.
The firestarters learned about knots and how to make a shelter, how to find clean water and also how to identify three edible plants: sorrel, scurvy grass and bog myrtle. They also collected cotton grass to use as kindling. They cooked dough balls over the fire .... mussels are off the menu as there was an algal bloom last week. Just before lunch they chopped up some smelly fish to put in the lobster pots which will be put out in the loch.
After eating their packed lunches, the groups swapped over.
For morning activities the children were split into the reds and blues. The reds went kayaking on the loch whilst the blue team learned how to forage for food and make fire.
The kayaks were out on the water for about three hours. They toured the loch, visiting the mussel farm and the Marie Louise, a boart which has circumnavigated the world several times.
The firestarters learned about knots and how to make a shelter, how to find clean water and also how to identify three edible plants: sorrel, scurvy grass and bog myrtle. They also collected cotton grass to use as kindling. They cooked dough balls over the fire .... mussels are off the menu as there was an algal bloom last week. Just before lunch they chopped up some smelly fish to put in the lobster pots which will be put out in the loch.
After eating their packed lunches, the groups swapped over.
Day 2
This morning the children were woken by the dulcet tones of Mr Miller singing extracts from Ramstein's greatest works at full volume. Then, at about 7:10 they made there way out into the morning light for a short jog along the side of the loch. Then a quick shower before a breakfast of porridge and a fry up of eggs and bacon.
For morning activities the children were split into the reds and blues. The reds went kayaking on the loch whilst the blue team learned how to forage for food and make fire.
The kayaks were out on the water for about three hours. They toured the loch, visiting the mussel farm and the Marie Louise, a boart which has circumnavigated the world several times.
The firestarters learned about knots and how to make a shelter, how to find clean water and also how to identify three edible plants: sorrel, scurvy grass and bog myrtle. They also collected cotton grass to use as kindling. They cooked dough balls over the fire .... mussels are off the menu as there was an algal bloom last week. Just before lunch they chopped up some smelly fish to put in the lobster pots which will be put out in the loch.
After eating their packed lunches, the groups swapped over.
For morning activities the children were split into the reds and blues. The reds went kayaking on the loch whilst the blue team learned how to forage for food and make fire.
The kayaks were out on the water for about three hours. They toured the loch, visiting the mussel farm and the Marie Louise, a boart which has circumnavigated the world several times.
The firestarters learned about knots and how to make a shelter, how to find clean water and also how to identify three edible plants: sorrel, scurvy grass and bog myrtle. They also collected cotton grass to use as kindling. They cooked dough balls over the fire .... mussels are off the menu as there was an algal bloom last week. Just before lunch they chopped up some smelly fish to put in the lobster pots which will be put out in the loch.
After eating their packed lunches, the groups swapped over.
Monday, 17 June 2013
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