Scouts Expedition on the Isle of White
The scouts need to complete an Expedition as part of one of the challenge badges. The requirement is a 2-day journey with a purpose. Along with the requirement that it was no more than an hour’s drive from Andover.
Since September the older scouts have been planning for this and they chose that they would walk part of the coastal path on the Isle of White from Cowes to the Needles.
During the planning they had to research transport cost, Camp sites, Route planning, food shopping and equipment that they would need to carry with them (Tents & Cooking equipment).
The dates were set as 27/28th October.
Monday 27th Oct
10 scouts and 2 leaders (Rob & Dan) had an early start meeting at the scout hut for 7am. The mini bus had been collected for transport down to Southampton Red Funnel Ferry terminal. 1 hour ferry across the Solent to Cowes and a short drive to the start point in West Cowes Esplanade. Started walking @ 11am they had a distance of approx. 8 Miles to cover to the camp site.
While the scouts walked Rob & Dan went the camp site which had chosen which was Corf Scout Camp site. The site which we had been allocated had a great view.
The scout arrived at the site @ 4:30pm. They had to set their tents up which they had been carrying. By the time they had this done it was getting dark and then they had dinner to cook. Which varied from Pot noodles, Pasta pots and boil on the bag Chilli Bean with rice.
After clearing away there was some relaxing time with a few games of air hockey at the main centre building.
All were in bed by 10 pm. After getting up and having a breakfast which consisted of breakfast bars or p porridge pots. The scouts were then dropped off at their start point. The walk took the though Yarmouth and out to Fort Victoria before joining the main coastal part round to the Needle.
The leaders saw the scouts coming over the hill which leads down to the Needles car park.
They arrived at the Needle car park @ 2:30 pm and then walked up round to the needles.
After travelling back across the Island to catch the ferry, we arrived back at the scout hut @ 7pm on Tuesday evening.
A couple of good days we were very lucky with the weather with only some rain just before we got up on Tuesday Morning. Which meant we had wet tents to sort out when we got back to the hut.
Well done to all the scouts.