2nd Goring and Streatley Blog

I woke up at 5:30 this morning to a chilly but glorious morning. I took some pictures of our camp site with the low mist over the water and the heavy dew clinging to spiders webs and lying thick on the ground. It wasn't long before the boys started to rise and the cook houses were soon busy with fire starting and prep for breakfast. Eggy Bread was excellent from both patrols this morning and was just the thing to set us all up for the day ahead and our big hike.

Today we are heading out to Hay Bluff and Lord Hereford's Knob, a hike of about 8 miles but over steep terrain. We filled out water bottles and packed the lunch that had been prepared by Akela and in full uniform jumped into the cars to head off to our start point.

We didn't have to travel far but we nearly took the wrong road out of Hay. When we got to the stone circle which was to be our start and finish point there were already quite a few cars parked up. Most of the people hadn't wandered very far from the cars and were taking in the view from where they were. There was quite an amazing patchwork of fields laid out below us, but it was nothing next to the spectacular view we would enjoy at the top of Hay Bluff. Only a few whines were heard as we scurried up the very steep slope of Hay Bluff to the ridge. Soon we were walking the ridge and sharing it with gliders in close proximity below us and overhead.

At the end of the ridge we descended down some 200m to a road that we needed to cross before climbing again up Lord Hereford's Knob. We enjoyed far reaching views due to the clarity of the air and the height at which we now found ourselves. It was the perfect place for our packed lunch before taking “Gunners quick way down” to the path that lead back around the base of the mountains to the car park. Arkela took her now obligatory tumble but was unhurt. In my group David, Harvey, Sebastian, William and Will marched in a well drilled fashion for a while.

Back at the cars people were kite flying and practising paragliding on the flat ground. We however headed back smartly to the camp as everyone was tired and hot an looking forward to a dip in the river to cool off. Skip arrived at camp whilst we were in the water and it was good to see him up and about and looking so fit and well.

As it was Sapan's birthday today we had prepared a cake that we all shared and David performed a impromptu Happy Birthday tune on my trumpet. William and his parents arrived just in time to also join in the fun.

More swimming followed, then a delicious dinner of toad in the hole with bread and butter pudding cooked perfectly in our “Mud Ovens”.

I also think that the scouts finally understood the advantage of a quiet and stealthy game of flag raid with whistles and calls instead of the load shouting version of last night. Some very stealthy work especially by William and Harvey who both put their small size to great advantage and stayed undetected for a long time.

And so again another fully packed day comes to an end with a hot drink before bed......from rising early this moring, to now a dark stary clear evening, we've witnessed what a wonderfull world our Lord has laid out before us.