An early start today – it’s amazing how being somewhere different makes you wake up far earlier than normal! The first thing you noticed was that the ground was wet and it had obviously been raining through the night. This is preferable to rain during the day and we were keeping our fingers crossed that it would remain dry during the day. There was a nip in the air but it was quite still. The mist was covering the hills in the distance and it looked like that it would clear as the morning wore on.
The majority of the children were still fast asleep when they were wakened around 7.30am. Having the later breakfast slot is great as it means you get to have a longer lie! Everyone was wakened and they had to get themselves organised and dressed and their rooms tidied before heading off for breakfast down at the boat house. The juice bottles were all filled in preparation for the morning activity and then we set off with our lunch boxes to the restaurant for breakfast! The chill in the air seemed to waken everyone properly and on entering the Boat House some were sent to start making their lunch while others started to get their breakfast. They had a choice of fruit juice, cereals, arrange of cooked items and toast. It was heartening to see so many eat a large filling breakfast and indeed go back for seconds.
The morning activity was mountain biking for two groups and archery for the other two. The archers enjoyed the challenge and took part well.
The two other groups set off on their cycle run round Feshie Bridge and Insh Woods. However, they first had to get their bike, a high vis safety vest and a bike helmet. This all took some time and then they were instructed on the basics of mountain biking and how to use the gears and brakes. After getting used to their bikes within the grounds of the centre the groups set off. Time was spent on the roads round the centre before heading off into the woods of the local area. Each hill was greeted with a groan and a few managed to keep pedalling to get to the top of each one! However, for every climb there was descent and this was always more enjoyable!
After two hours of gruelling cycling we made it back to the centre where they had to clean their bikes for the next ones to use. Lunch was eagerly eaten by all as the fresh air and exertion certainly made them work up an appetite!
In the afternoon two groups were sailing and the other two groups were off cycling! The weather had changed and for the first hour or so we had a mixture of rain and hailstones! The cyclists felt the heat as the hard work of pedalling certainly got their heat levels up. The sailors however found it quite chilly our on the water and were glad to have their waterproofs on to help shield them a little from the wind.
Some of the sailors did end up IN the water while the majority managed to remain mainly dry! At the end of the afternoon activities there was a dash to the showers for the sailors to help them heat up while the cyclists got the opportunity to visit the shop! The other groups will get to the shop today!
Our evening meal was a BBQ! However, due to the poorer weather it was an indoor BBQ in the restaurant. However, the children enjoyed the traditional BBQ items and had a good feed followed by a choc ice!
We had a change of activity for the evening and ended up RAFT BUILDING with all four groups! The evening session is shorter and in only 90 minutes the groups had to build, test and sail their raft and disassemble it and put everything back in the correct places. The groups were quite large but they all set off with great enthusiasm to see if their group could build the most effective raft! They had ropes, wooden poles and plastic barrels to construct their raft. After much debate, disagreement, discussion and a few minor disagreements the three rafts were ready for their race!
The children were desperate to get into the water on the rafts – despite the fact the water was FREEZING! Some decided they were not keen to head off into the water and supported their team mates from the shore!
The groups were set off on the task a sailing their raft out into the loch to a specified marker and back! However, they soon found this was a more challenging task when things did not quite go according to plan! The barrels soon started to float off and they were left with the wooden frame to move round the course! The race was on and having made it round the marker and back to shore they had to dismantle it and get everything away! Well, mayhem ensued and the children had a great time! The cold water did not seem to deter them and at the end of the session they were offered the chance to jump off the pier into the loch – IF THEY WANTED TOO! Well, amazingly around 30 of them lined up to take their turn of jumping into the loch! They thought this was great fun – well at least until they realised how cold the water was when they were totally immersed in the loch! They screamed and laughed as they made their way back to shore before heading back up to the accommodation to get all their wet clothes into the drying room!
After some hot chocolate and a biscuit we had a feed back session with each of the groups before heading off to bed for a good nights sleep!
Today is ski-ing and canoeing and they are all looking forward to this. We hope that the weather is a little brighter today!
Two days down, two to go! It is very tiring but great fun!
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