By: Blonde One
People say that the things we are dreading often turn out to be the best things. This was exactly the case for me last week. I am always excited for an expedition and spend the few days before getting ready with anxious anticipation. This was not the case for my last expedition. It’s fair to say that I would rather have stayed at home. The thought of spending 2 nights in a Dartmoor bunkhouse did not fill me with joy! I even began to worry about myself and thought that I was either going off Dartmoor or going off the idea of being an outdoor leader. Luckily neither turned out to be true.
2 nights were spent at Whiteworks bunkhouse with 13 fantastic youngsters. I was worried that some would be bored: they kept themselves entertained for hours with a pack of cards. I was worried that the novices would get cold and miserable in the Dartmoor weather: everyone enjoyed views, learning to navigate and exploring new areas. I anticipated that the 13 would not work as a team: each one spent time with someone new and the group cooking was fantastically successful. I was anxious that some would be fed up without technology: I only saw one phone for the whole trip, no-one questioned the lack of TV and no-one asked to use the 3 computers that were there.
Logistically, this was a tricky trip but it was most definitely one of the most successful that I have run. The whole point of it was to build a team out of 13 disparate students and 1 member of staff ready for a rather more challenging trip to Morocco in July. I think I can safely say: ‘mission accomplished’.
Must have been a posh bothy with 3 computers. Not what i am used to.
I used to teach naughty kids to climb and the difference between the start of the week and the end of the week in the attitude always made it a worthy pastime.
It was posh and yet it was the cheapest I’ve ever stayed in. Not only were there computers but there were showers, sofas and central heating!
Oh to be young and back at school with all these lovely things to do and adventures to have – – –