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It was really good to see LV out in great numbers for the start of the DofE practice expedition on a sunny Sunday morning. The 10am meet with the Wildcountry expedition leaders allowed to squeeze a couple of extra hours in the comfort of their beds before starting on their expedition.
The overall feel was that they were well equipped and ready for the two days. It was very interesting to see some of the outdoor snack mix created for this event by the girls, with chocolate in various forms being more than 50% of the mix. But hey, we have all been there!
The first day of walking was really pleasant with a soft breeze and prevailing sun. All teams made good progress and arrived at Blacklands in good time to put the tents up and make their dinner. The highlight of the day was provided by meeting some excitable cows in a field as well as the sight of beautiful lambs.
The evening saw lots of pasta being cooked, with one of the teams bringing homemade pesto, which looked pretty good!, whilst some others enjoyed hot chocolate and marshmallows.
After a bit of a fun with the swings and slides in the playground, the bedtime routine started at a good pace and all were in their tents the end of daylight.
Early Monday morning, after an invigorating breakfast, route planning for the day took place and teams set off for their navigation, this time without their leaders walking with them. It was great to see teams in good spirits, despite the lower temperature and some rain, making good progress and meeting their check points on time. This is indeed a moment when their skills are put to the test and it really shows who has been paying attention.
I am glad to say that there is little to report on their second day as the teams made their progress to the final destination and arrived a bit earlier than expected in some cases. The Wildcountry staff did comment on how well prepared and pleasant it had been for them working with St Mary's and they are looking forward to the final expedition in June.
Well done to all!
Hugo Corripio-Lopez, Bronze DofE Award Leader