Camp with the Franconville Scouts - Day 4 - Weds 12th August

• The Leaders prepared breakfast while the scouts got ready for the 'exploration'.
• After breakfast, the Scouts presented the kits they were to carry to the leaders for inspection. The leaders were checking the weight and contents to make sure they were manageable.
• The older scouts then departed on their overnight adventure and the young-ones and the poor old English leaders left on a special mission!
• They explored part of Argentan, a town nearby, and Putanges-pont-Ecripes the closest (small) town to the campsite. Here we bumped into the girls having their lunch.
• On returning to the site, the younger scouts took to the river, again.
• Skip and Diane went out to check on the girls team at their overnight destination with the French Leaders. Peter remained with the younger scouts to barbecue their evening meal and bake potatoes.
• The evening closed with songs around the fire and a summary of the day.

Submitted by Diane

Camp with the Franconville Scouts - Day 3 - Tues 11 th August

• Woke up to heavy rain - Oh joy unbounded!
• Bread was purchased from a local bakery in Putanges - but the guys did not meet the baker's daughter!
• The Patrols submitted their shopping lists and continued planning for the cooking competition; the leader's drew up their menu, too.
• The cooking competition took place over lunchtime and was judged by four 'out of space' characters. The meal was entree, main course and pudding. Each course was judged separately so the process took quite a long time.
• Each patrol welcomed their guests and entertained them with music, singing, dancing and other frivolities.
• Each Patrol 'won' a course and the girls won the 'animation' (entertainment).
• The three Patrol Leaders went off with two leaders to arrange overnight camping sites for the 'exploration', an overnight hiking expedition in the local area to be completed over Wednesday and Thursday.
• There was more swimming and rope bridge crossing and showers.
• The centrally cooked dinner was tagliatelle carbonara - very successful and seconds all round.
• Then the Patrols sat down to plan the 'exploration'. They had arranged their destinations for the overnight stop so planned the routes. This was interesting in French and English!
• The three younger Cuffley Scouts were excluded from the exploration because of their ages (under 12) and so went off with a leader and flaming torches to explore the hillside.
• The sky was particularly clear and much star gazing ensued.
• Another leaders' meeting reflected on the positives and negatives of the day.

Submitted by Diane