Camp with the Franconville Scouts - Day 6 - Fri 14th August

• The French Scouts prepared breakfast.
• Today was the canoeing and walking activity. We were to canoe to Putanges, have lunch there and hike back to the site.
• The canoes were delivered to the slipway just up the path from the campsite. Daysacks with changes of clothes and shoes were packed into waterproof containers which were tied onto the canoes.
• The canoeing route was along the River L'Orne to Putanges which turned out to be 7km and took nearly four and a half hours. The river was quite shallow in places and congested with fallen trees and branches and rocks. There were many opportunities to run aground and much time spent in the water freeing the canoes or pushing them through the worst parts. The river was, however, quite pretty and we encountered several weirs and mini-rapids.
• We lunched at Putanges in a field next to the river. Bread, cheese, chicken nuggets, juice and fruit cocktail (in fingers). Everyone dried out in the sun and changed for the return journey.
• The hike back to the campsite was a bit over 4km and it was very hot!
• Dinner was prepared by the Scouts - meat cutlets, carrots in sauce, cucumber salad, malt loaf, "chugging" desserts - and served very late in the dark.
• 11pm - 8am was an all night event of keeping the fire going as per Baden-Powell. Scouts chose half hour slots to sit with leaders (who did an hour or an hour and a half each), keep the fire going, eat goodies and chat about things. Certainly a different way to spend a night!
  

Submitted by Diane

Camp with the Franconville Scouts - Day 5 - Thurs 13th August

• New air-conditioned toilet facilities were commissioned for the male campers, with ensuite hand wash. Coupled with the 'power shower' hoses just up the lane at the local water mill - what more could you want ?
• Lunch was prepared by the French leaders - Croque Monsieur.
• The Patrols were to be back at 4.30pm or soon after. The first team arrived just before 4.30pm and waited to enter the campsite. The girls arrived next, followed by the second boys team.
• The dinner was a special dish- Tartiflette - served in the Alps to hungry skiers, this was designed to fill up the hikers and help them to sleep. It consisted of onions, potatoes, pancetta, creme fraiche and reblochon cheese.
• The Patrols prepared presentations of their experiences on the 'exploration' and delivered these to the audience around the fires.
• The Cuffley Scouts performed a couple of camp fire stunts (not to be outdone!)

Submitted by Diane