So the last full day is past! Another busy day and again it remained dry which is a boost. Rain is forecast for tomorrow but we will all keep our fingers crossed!
Today was another busy day and the children were in full swing as they know the routine and are getting up to the task of being prepared for all the different activities! Well, most of them!!
The adrenalin kicks in on day 3 and you start to think….we will be going home tomorrow!
So another day and up nice and early. Most rooms needed wakened up today as the tiredness catches up! Breakfast was consumed and packed lunches were made! Then it was back to the rooms to get ready for the day and to start thinking about packing up for tomorrow! Just be prepared for cases not coming back packed in the way they went away!
The morning had two groups problem solving, two groups kayaking, one group biking and one group canoeing. The wind was up again and conditions would continue to make it difficult to canoe or kayak up the loch but great for coming back down stream. It is hard work fighting against the current and the wind but character building! Some of them got a tow from the boat which helped!
The kayakers got instruction on land first about using their paddles and then ventured out in single or double kayaks to the choppy water. You could see from the video they saw tonight that they coped well with the conditions.
The problem solvers went round the site taking part in a variety of physical and mental activities to test their team working skills and ingenuity! A lot of the practical challenges are very popular and they can become quite competitive!
The cyclists were out on the road and took the long route round the lochans, along the Feshie River and then back through the sculpture park to see the amazing creations of a local artist! Their only complaint continues to be having to cycle, or push, their way up the hills! The bikes have been very popular and some have been talking about ‘googling’ them when they get home to see where they can get one!!
Lunch was a chance to have a breather, get caught up and changed from the wet activities or ready for the next one! Mr Imlah joined us today and Mrs Dyke went home. We would like to thank her for her hard work and enthusiasm and it was good to see Mr Imlah join us for the last two days.
In the afternoon groups were biking, canoeing, kayaking and problem solving. The cyclists went in one large group and then split into two groups giving them the option of going on the scenic route or the all action route! I’m glad the bike was still charged up for the two sessions today!
The other groups got to the shop this afternoon and then it was time for the ‘indoor BBQ’ as it was quite cold outside. Soup was again on offer, followed by burgers in a bun, drumsticks and sweetcorn with options for salads and other additions.
After the BBQ it was time to start packing in earnest for tomorrow and hopefully they have managed to plan out what they need for the morning! We shall see!
The evening was the ‘Wide Game’ which they look forward to with great excitement every year! They hear the stories from the ones who have been before and they can’t wait. They moved it to a new location this year which was a lot flatter and you could see the whole area they were ‘let loose’ in to defend their flags! When the whistle went it was like a scene from a movie as both teams charged at each other ready for battle! Who won……well……that doesn’t matter they all had a great time.
When we got back to the boathouse we were just in time to gate crash the other school’s activity in the ‘Ptarmigan’ building that used to sit once on top of Cairngorm! There we all got to see the movie of their adventure over the week produced by Johnny who has been filming them all week! The video was great and they loved reliving the moments they had had over the week.
We finished off with birthday cake for Cole and Ashton whose birthday it was today!
The excitement for today was being away with the bikers and leaving our bikes by the river to have a break and an explore to come back and find three highland cattle taking a great deal of interest in them! They particularly liked the handle bars but could not get the hang of the pedals! We told the children to stay on the rocky beach while we tried to ‘shoo’ them away…but they were not for budging! And who are we to argue with large beasts with even larger horns! So the instructor and I gradually got each bike from around them and moved them to a distance away at which point we could get the kids on the bikes and away again! The section of the ‘School Trip Handbook’ on dealing with Highland Cattle on a path is missing….but we can now add it in for next year!
So, one more activity, tidy up, pack up and then get the bus tomorrow afternoon for the journey home. A few will sleep on the road home…..including some of the children as well!
Download Loch Insh Day 3
It has been a great week and the children have all been a credit to their schools and villages and we hope they tell you all about it over the weekend once they are home.