Quite a few years ago when I was a much younger guy it was my pleasure (!) to organise an outward bound style adventure for a number of kids aged between about ten and fifteen. The idea was relatively simple, I was to drive one minibus load of them with my then girlfriend (now wife) driving another. Our destination was the Welsh coast where we were to stay at a centre for one night, the subsequent day adventure into the countryside and walk up into the hills, sleep for the night in a cave, travel back down the following day and pass yet another night at the centre before our return home.
The plan went rather well, the trip to the seaside was less than two hours and was uneventful with only 1 or 2 complaints of hunger and car-sickness – no more than you should anticipate from a gang of boys apart from their parents. Immediately after a nourishing dinner we turned in because we had an early start and a full programme the subsequent day.
Because we were to sleep in a cave (in reality a disused slate mine) there was no need to take tents however we did have all our warm gear, provisions and sleeping bags to carry. An entertaining but hot and sweaty time was spent walkling into the peaks and taking part in mountain-type activities for instance abseiling. The plan was to tire them all out because the night was bound to be uncomfortable sleeping on the cave floor. Soon after our dinner we settled down and Zoe read aloud the bit from The Hobbit about Gollum in the cave. Irrespective of this we all slept quite well but were awake bright and early the next morning to exit into the daylight. Some of the younger kids were starting to feel the pressure and were slowing down somewhat. Zoe, displaying her cruel streak, hung back setting a pair of candles on the ground and lighting them. After rejoining us once again she abruptly let out a scream exclaming “Quick, Gollum’s behind us you can see his eyes glowing”. You’ve rarely seen so many little boys’ feet run so quick or witnessed a funnier scene.
On the way back to the bunk house Zoe recounts the sight of the leading vehicle abruptly screeching to a stop, the back doors being swung open and the youngest boy being ejected to be instantly sick all over himself. On getting back to the activity centre there was a great meal prepared but once we were sitting down I observed the same youngster was altogether mucky, although I need to state none of us were very clean following our experience, I despatched him off to clean his hands. 20 seconds later he was back saying “I do not know where the bathroom is”, who knows what he must have done on our 1st night there.
Bedtime resulted in the typical larks as a consequence of which one of the older lads stumbled over a bed and snapped his arm. After all that outdoor activity who would have thought it? We ultimately managed to return twenty exhausted, dirty but happy boys back to their mums and dads. This event occurred over 30 years ago and has in no way been repeated, it almost certainly would not even get off the ground in modern times being a health and safety and risk assessment nightmare, nonetheless totally unforgettable.
Bruno Blackstone is a freelance writer interested in all things to do with the outdoors and helping others get the most from the outdoors. Starting with a psychology degree his early career was as a social worker and family therapist working with families to help them achieve more positive and stable relationships. In his more recent career he has coached many senior executives in both small and large organisations in areas such as strategy, human resources, organisational design and performance improvement. He now continues his work in the business world but he is also co-owner of http://www.myoutdoorstore.co.uk a price comparison site for outdoor enthusiasts.
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