Duke's Up #homeward

Well I have to say, I think that is the most miserable I've ever seen the girls in a long time!

It might only have been two days and, in the end, one night*, seven hours of planned activities and 15km of hiking, but it was also pretty much a continuous biting wind, hailing rain showers, and temperatures hovering just above freezing.  As we were tucking in to our pizzas in front of the fire last night while hearing the rain pelting our windows, I have to say our hearts did go out to them eating pasta in their little tents after a day in that weather!

The Gordon Way also no longer seemed to exist from that side of Suie and the tree felling meant planned routes were closed and diversions apparently took them through bogs, into cow fields and over barbed wire fances (rightly or wrongly is yet to be established!). Which meant by the end of the first day both groups actually ended up getting rescued by car from wherever they were lost and deposited at their campsite so at least they could pitch their tents and cook their dinners before it got dark. I think the fact that it was both groups was great consolation for them all - including the teachers!

Today, by all accounts, the route was clearer and the day brighter, if not warmer, so at least it ended on a relative 'high' - literally as well as figuratively as Tiger and her group climbed two of the three peaks of Bennachie.  Actually, the long hot shower when they got home and pyjamas they got in to were probably the actual high of the weekend!  Worst bit of it all though is that they have to go out and do it all over again (and properly this time: two night and three days hiking for their final Silver Expedition**) next week!

*Since it was their practice they literally had to just pitch their tent and switch their stove on the second evening and that counted as their second 'night'.  Thankfully I think!

** Toots and her friends actually completed their Bronze expedition this time two years ago.  Why they never managed to get out and do their Silver practice and final expeditions last year is of much frustration to them, but they can only do what their teachers would allow, and it seemed too many groups, too many other activities, and too many other priorities for the teachers, meant they are now needing to do Silver practice and final this side of Christmas, so they can get their Gold practice and final completed before the end of the school year.