Camp with the Franconville Scouts - Day 8 - Sun 16th August

• Skip and Peter went to get the bread at 8am. Breakfast was the usual - cereal, milk, bread, jam, juice.
• We struck camp and loaded the minibus. There were lots of goodbyes and scarf swapping.
• We left around 12 noon to set off to Dieppe for the ferry.
• After a brief stop at a service area for a picnic lunch, we arrived at Dieppe at 4.15pm.
• The ferry sailed at 6pm and ran to time so we were on the road at Newhaven by 9pm.
• We arrived back at Cuffley station with very tired Scouts just after 11pm, having had a very enjoyable French experience.
• Monday - unpacking, putting away, washing the minibus and returning it, catching up on life and washing etc.

Submitted by Diane

Camp with the Franconville Scouts - Day 7 - Sat 15th August

• Breakfast was late (10am) following the fire vigil
• James was invested making the French promise followed by the English version.
• We all went to Argentan for a spot of shopping and lunch out
• Back at the camp site there was lots of tidying up to do - much of the French camp had already been dismantled (most of it was from natural materials) so only the tents and the dining area remained. Axel was to take all possible kit back to Franconville/Argenteuil in the trailer that night.
• We erected a temporary toilet screen and an extra tent (we had a spare) and produced a water container to use overnight.
• Marie-Therese and her husband Jean arrived about 7pm to stay for the night. She is the equivalent of our District Commissioner. She bought the barbecue food with her!
• All unwanted wood was returned to the forested area.
• The Scouts lit a fire for barbecuing the evening meal, but it was too big by far and took ages to die down to embers. Dinner was served at about 10.45pm - sausages, potatoes, pork, banana with chocolate, french bread and eggs baked on sticks - a feast!
• Everyone was in high spirits and bedtime was after midnight.

Submitted by Diane

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

The "Exploration" - an observation

• Awoke
• Ate
• Had photos taken
• Started hike
• Walked up a hilly bit
• Saw and smelt some evil-smelling cows
• Some boys caught up with us but we soon went our separate ways
• Walked more
• Took a wrong turn and went round in a big circle
• Went the right way
• Walked some more
• Saw some pretty broken glass
• Got to village but big shop was closed
• Waited by river
• Went to shop and bought food and drink & nutritious and delicious sweets
• Ate lunch by the river
• Sat around for ages
• Saw English boys and adults
• Went to loo (blimey, plumbing!)
• Carried on with hike
• Walked some more
• Rested a bit at intervals
• Asked for water
• Saw a paintballing sign
• Walked a bit more until we reached our final destination
• Put our stuff in the tent which had already been put up for us
• The adult-type people came to see us
• Inspected our bag of nutrition, talked to us for a bit and the left in the Scout-mobile
• Ate dinner of sausage, crabsticks & tuna and sweetcorn salad - mmm yummy!
• Went on the concrete foundation bit to play Britain/France has got talent whilst eating Smurfs (Jessica liked them!!!...)
• Went to tent after a quick round of hokey-cokeying
• Chatted and ate some sweets for a bit
• Went to sleep
• Concludes day one of 'the hike'
• Woke up and lay around for a bit
• Dressed and packed-up before breakfast
• Had breakfast of brioche and chocolate spread and orange juice to drink
• Went to the toilet so wouldn't have to burst on the road when walking
• Said goodbye to the lady who we were staying with and were given food
• Went off on our merry way
• Walked very fast and covered much distance in little time
• Stopped to ask many people for water
• Had to go back as had taken wrong turn, but never mind
• Walked, had a lovely lunch of everything we had left
• Walked some more, had a snack (in a Pique-Nique area)
• Saw many English people
• Arrived back at camp singing a song about something

By Elizabeth Sartori, Patrol Leader, Kestrel Patrol

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

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