Tales from the Log Book

For the first time in many years it was decided that a diary should be kept of all that happened during the expedition. It was a challenge trying to keep the log book up to date but with a little persuasion (often involving food, money and/or violence) we managed to get everyone to write an entry.

The 44th present to you a selection of quotes and stories retelling some of the many courageous, funny and interesting experiences...

Our first day in Scotland began with a rude awakening - road works.

Tuesday July 25th
Waking up early we all enjoyed bacon butties! To add to our delight Richard actually packed before the majority - a first in 44th history. The van, full to brimming with our junk, set off for Castle Kennedy and its beautiful gardens.

What?! A garden - that's ... cultural! The Castle became a climbing wall challenge and the gardens, after careful inspection, became a wide game area. Superb Rhododendrons became camouflage HQ's and trees, outlooks. Top-dirt-filled hours later ended and nine people emerged from the bushes

Bronze DofE Hike - "The Day of the Cripple"
Awakening to a slow start the first thing that greeted us was a heavy mist descending on the loch. Miraculously, after only one hour we had tents packed, breakfasts consumed (out of Alpen packets) and were debating how to hide the blackened circle ....

We set off, some faster than others, down the Southern Upland Way once more. So far, we thought the day was going well. Little did we know the tragedy after tragedy to follow ...

The track turned to concrete which pounded our feet, the sun came out and heated the ground, forcing us to remove waterproof layers, people lagged behind and the water ran out.

Jon then fell off a wall and injured himself.

With Jon unable to continue, Matt and Alasdair (the heroes of the day) ran on to fetch the minibus. Jon was picked up and everyone else continued minus Matt and Alasdair. Giles ran to the campsite on an amazing marathon excursion. The others lumbered along slowly losing various items of their kit. Matt ran back to find them and Phil took Jon to the hospital - don't worry, it was confusing in real life as well.

Finally, everyone got to the campsite together. Jon had broken his leg (ankle actually!) and came back plastered (no pubs involved). What better way to greet a knackered unit than a midge infested swamp? Baffled, tired and completely at the mercy of the raging swarms, ventures managed a few hours of sleep.

(Who was it who went off to play on the swings leaving tents partially up and open with everyone else's kit strewn all over the grass while his companions were busy on worthwhile errands such as taking injuries to hospital and running back to collect the stragglers from their rendezvous point? And then who was it who complained the most about the midges in his tent?? Yes - Giles!)

Friday July 28th - Of Midgies and Mountains
Although our departure was delayed we were able to entertain ourselves with water pistols, which suited the mentality of a group of once hardened survivors driven to the extremes by assorted flying insects.

We attempted to climb to the peak of Merrick; however, the threat and eventual reality of the incoming weather, forced us to turn back at the neighbouring peak. Fortunately, the peak we were on was the last to receive rain and so we had time for a cup of tea and were treated to a spectacular light show as lightning struck the surrounding hills.

Saturday 29th July - Activity Day at Loch Ken

Today was the day of all days, or so they said. Today, Saturday, was the long awaited intensely anticipated activity camp. We were promised sailing, canoeing, abseiling, mountain biking and best of all, quad biking.

The general concensus was to begin with sailing. In answer to our decision a hefty wind sprung up and the loch was bombarded with raindrops as big as your fist ... well nearly.

We struggled through a two hour kit and instruction session before eventually taking to the water like foolhardy venture scouts ... oh yeah, that's what we are. Almost immediately the wind died and we were left marooned. After some capsizing antics, we managed to paddle our way to shore.

With only an hour left of activities, the instructor asked what we would like to do next. "Quad-biking", we scream! A few revs later, and Alasdair and Rachael .. er .. crawl round the track. Next up Matt and Giles show how it's really done in an insane dual-slalom type mud-fest. Ian and Rich then try their hand and .. er .. not quite lads! Rich must have a sore arse as he spent all the time glued to the seat.

Completely knackered, we attempt volleyball, ring home and fall asleep.

Sunday 30th July
Once again, a slow and weary start to the day. Unusually though, the day was, on the whole, a weary day of rest. Sunday through and through.

Monday 31st July - The Silver DofE Expedition
After a fry up breakfast of haggis, eggs, sausages, flat sausages, bacon and fried bread we travelled to the start of our walk on the Pilgrims Way. At 2.00pm we set off but after five minutes Giles complains of a knee injury. After careful consideration (and much prodding) he is taken to Stranraer hospital to be checked up (at the same time as Jon was getting his plaster cast checked).

Tuesday 1st August
As we had arrived so late the night before we allowed ourselves the treat to lie in until the stunningly late time of 8.45am. Crawling, hopping, falling out of our tents, only semi-supported by our blistered feet, we were blinded by the delights of a sunny day. Looking around the campsite for the first time, we found ourselves next to a delightful beach surrounded by caravans.

As people emerged from these caravans, it became clear we were local heroes. Phil had the day before, obviously told everyone of our expected arrival before setting off to search for us. Whilst we washed, had breakfast, packed or talked, OAP's seemed to swarm around us, curious of where we came from and where we were going to. Offers of "do you want me to do any shopping for you in Port William" came a-plenty; others gave their support by way of kind words for our success, whilst the campsite manager said we weren't to pay for the pitch or anything - kind people indeed.

Setting off at the humane time of 12 noon to the cries of "goodbye" and "good luck" from the residents, we started the last leg of our hike.

At midday we stopped for lunch and whilst we were munching away we spotted a certain minibus - what a stroke of luck. This allowed us to have bacon butties and Ian to retire after being injured but having completed the distance for his DofE Bronze Hike. He joined the other invalids in the now re-christened "Cripple-Wagon". (It was noted though that Giles' bad knee had miraculously taken a turn for the better. Hmmm.)

An hour later, Rich, Rach, Alasdair and myself contemplated how a team of 8 had diminished to 4. Was it something I said? Out of supplies, we hobbled into the campsite at 9.30pm and immediately became aware of the large quantity of "townies", as they affectionately became known. Finding a dark and quiet pitch we set up only to realise Ian had taken the pegs.

After 5 minutes of terror and frantic improvisation (spoons can be used for many things) I found a spare set of pegs in the recesses of my bag.

A quick trip to the chippy (is that in DofE Rules?) and sleep hit us quickly so even the worry of the "locals" disappeared.

Having completed the silver hike, we continued with the rest of the days activities. These included a well deserved rest, a tour round Bladnoch whisky distillery and a trip into Wigtown - Scotlands famous(?) book town.

Four hours and thousands of books later we were once again joined by Phil and Jon following the replastering (in red and white candy stripes) of his broken ankle. Although books remain the principal merit of Wigtown we also revelled in the delights of the children’s play area. Matt and Rich firmly and unequivocally established male supremacy in the ability to swing on swings.

We began the morning with porridge, or last night’s custard (Rachael) and after a sluggish start by Giles and friends, we set off for the Galloway Hydro Visitors Centre near Kirkcudbright. Despite being late we joined a tour that had just left. This included seeing the generators, old control room and the dam itself.

However, for most people the highlight was playing with Lego bricks or a "steady hand" game in the childrens activity room.

Not content with having studied how it all worked on copies of the original technical diagrams, Alasdair was thirsty for knowledge and began pestering a poor A-level physics student during his summer job. Having prised Alasdair away we went for a picnic lunch in the power plant grounds whilst we saw a certain tour guide run for his car.

We had a quiet afternoon visiting Castle Douglas for a shopping spree then returning to Gretna to tease Alasdair about his 'up-and-coming wedding' (reception at Field and Trek!). After a 'meat' and chip supper we ate mandarin oranges before going to bed for the last time in Scotland.

Going Home
Alasdair and Giles it appeared weren't going to wake up for anything, so with military precision and speed, we broke camp without waking them, jumped into the minibus to do some early shopping and left them sound asleep.

Returning an hour later we found two distressed young people - we all set off - a lesson well learned.