Nerves to Scotland

 So this trip had been in the planning since we climbed Snowdon and then Scafell last Autumn.

I know lots of people do it all in one go climbing and driving through the night but that seemed like hell and a road to injury so we have done it weekend at a time.

But I was worried about the whole thing, the journey, whether I was fit enough, just everything really.

My forever patient walking pal drove me up, If he hadn't I was planning to drive over 2 days as the alternative of carry bags and boots through so many train changes made my back hurt just thinking about it.

Whilst it is 6 years since my back op I've never totally healed and my back 'going' again is fairly regular and the thought that I could end up back a square one a permanent fear.

We stopped for a short time a few times along the way but in Scotland for the first time in Loch Lomond. The Loch Sloy hydro electric scheme looked really interesting with more time I'd have liked to have walked up it.

But it was a chance for a loo break and a first taste of Scotland.

 We drove past the infamous Green Welly Stop.

 And the hills turned into mountains

 And started to be as far as the eye could see.

 The main road really wasn't very main.  Winter here must be very difficult!

 The sheer scale took me a while to get my head around and for my brain to adjust (see the people in the foreground)

 We finally arrived at our accommodation, which was a bunk house rather than Youth Hostel.

Mixed sex open bays of beds.

 Mixed sex open wash facilities.

 A couple of loos

 and showers

and a decent kitchen for cooking your own meals in if you wanted.

I was glad I had experienced the scout facilities at a couple of camp sites at cosmic and the snowy spring camp because it was cleaner than either of those but all the same a little 'basic'!

The food in the restaurant upstairs though was good and I got more sleep than I expected to 

Ready to face the big day.

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Still Den Building (Have Adventures Camp Stage 5)

Every summer term the rangers ask to go Den building. 

We are really lucky that we have a park fairly close by that provides a great area for it and it is used by schools  a  lot during the day and Guiding and Scouting groups outside school hours.

When I arrived, there was a Brownie unit and a Beaver group just leaving.

 For the Stage 5 Have Adventures Camp skills builder it fits a clause.  So, at least for this year, that is useful.

 The area was well built up when we arrived and we had to dissemble some great shelters to get going.

 They really enjoy this activity

 and the sitting around in it chatting


they like to do that

a

lot

and onto the park

It's good to be able to let yourself go again once in a while.

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Wendover - the one in which I got brave

Well I've been a member of the hill walking club now for 18 months and I finally plucked up the courage to go with the 'long walk' group.

It was a planned 16 miles, which I've done on a walk day before but I know this group  is always at a fast pace.

It was in the Chilterns which have more rolling hills than the steep climbs of the peaks so being as the weather was good (dry and overcast, if a little muggy) I decided to go for it as did a few others that have never been in 'top set' before.

We started at Stokenchurch, you can see from the blur of my first photo the  pace got going straight away!

And I was pretty much unable to stop to get my phone out at all, but then this is a comfortable England down here it doesn't have the stunning views of further north.

I couldn't quite believe this barn with a London double decker stashed away in it though.

We marched on,  I realised I was spending a lot of time looking at the ground about 4 feet ahead of me and not really very aware of my environment.

I've had a few people say that about the reason why they don't do the longer walks with the club, there's no time to stop and stare.

There were red kites all along the route though and I love them.  Although when hot, tired, hungry and wanting a break I was getting the feeling of buzzards circling to pick me off!

There's a lot of paths here.  Good terrain but easy to navigate to a wrong one with so many.

Lacey Green was interesting with a Victorian bus shelter

and a smock windmill

The woodland we walked through was ancient (dogs mercury) and beautiful.  Note the blur, no chance to stop!

We stopped for a quick drink mid-morning and a wee behind a bush, when I realised that whilst I was behind a bush the bush was behind a golf course - so maybe not as private as I first thought!!

This oak (and presumably bench) was planted in 1952 for the coronation, it was lovely.





















We finished at Wendover. with 17 miles walked.

I'm really pleased I did it, it's a tick off achievement but I suspect I many be one of the band that chooses to do the shorter walks just to get time to stand and stare.

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

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Wild Cooking (Have Adventures Camp Stage 5) and Campfire Cookout (Guiding Traditions UMA)

 I always know we are in for a good night when the amount of equipment I need is in piles everywhere.

 Although the popcorn maker and the Gillie were only out as a 'just in case'

 I like it when my fire box comes out, it is a true treasure trove to me.

 I have a brand new fire pit to play with too.

 I don't have many photos of the 'process' as I was the only leader supervising 2 sets of fires, the oven making process, dough making etc.  I needed eyes in the back of my head!

But I showed them (again!) how to start a decent fire:

 Build a square of sticks, put your tinder (tumble dryer fluff for us) in the centre then a small wigwam of kindling (twigs) over it. 

Light the centre tinder.  Keep adding kindling slowly increasing it in size until it all takes then put bigger sticks on until you are adding logs.

This was the fire for the dampers

 The oven to be used for the wild cooking was a small deposable BBQ,   4 empty beer cans (thank you HWMBO) and a grill.

 You completely cover a cardboard box inside and out with silver foil.  We used duct tape to stick it where necessary.

You cover it twice with the shiny side outwards.

They mixed up a ready made pizza dough with warm water.  I hate using ready made anything because I think it teaches the girls nothing but it really is the cheapest way to do it when you only need small quantities.  Kneaded the dough in their (washed) hands and made flat rounds about the size of their palms.

Added tomato puree and grated cheese.

The pizza went onto the grill and the box popped over the top with a stone propping up the corner.

 They were left for about 15 mins until I could smell them.  I lifted the box off and they were cooked.  They looked 'interesting' they tasted great.

Lessons learnt:  Use a stronger grill and weight the cans.  make the box at least 2 inches bigger than the grill all round to give you wiggle room lifting it on and off.

The girls mixed up a damper dough:

500g self raising flour

75g caster sugar

200ml water

and kneaded it a little. take a ball and roll it out in your (washed) hands and wrap it around a foil covered stick without any gaps

and twirl it over a fire whilst chatting about exams, being dumped by boyfriends, pets, future plans, camps you remember

when cooked slide the damper off the stick and fill it with jam or chocolate spread whilst remembering if you didn't wrap it over the end of your stick then you have a hole both ends and the jam goes all the way through and will land in your lap!

Remember to leave a small hole in your tummy for a smore

The Rangers were clearly running high on school and college stress and the night really did them some good.  Sometimes you've just got to sit and chew the fat around a fire with a cat on your lap to find your inner peace.

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Cleeve Hill

 It was already the promise of a beautiful day as we started out at Ullenwood

 There were endless fields of Garlic in the woodland

 We headed east to Cobberly

 And then headed north on the Gloucestershire Way















We saw a slow worm.  About 2 foot long.  It is a legless lizard not a  worm or a snake, but whatever it was snakey enough to make me step back!

We walked on the Cotswold Way

 Through a lot of woodland

 and finally up onto a ridge and the beautiful views became a permanent feature.

 They just got better and better

 You could see for miles

 There is a lot of walking to be done around here, it really is lovely.

 We continued to climb

 rewarded by views at every turn

 The lands were well managed all along the route.

 We were a trickle of walkers along the ridge through Cleeve Common

Until we got to the Rising Sun at Cleeve Hill.

10/10 for the walk 0/10 for the pub.

Another lovely day in great company.

Joining this hill walking club was one of the best things I have done in recent years,  I enjoy it so much.

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