7th Waterford

Above: The 7th DLS contingent on Camp 2008 in Scotland.

There is always one and this year as predicted it was ASL Keith Cunningham, late as usual. The bus journey started nice and quiet until about ten miles outside Waterford when Hazel and a few others started singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall, then I knew it was going to be along trip to Scotland. We travelled to Scotland on the coach that we had hired for the week via the Belfast- Stranraer ferry.  The trip up was quite uneventful and we arrived in Culzean Scout Campsite at about 9.00 where we quickly erected the tents and got the supper on. It turned out to be the quietest first night on camp ever with the exception of a number of young Owls who screeched and hooted the whole night through. The second day of camp usually doesn't consist of knocking all the tents and packing up all the gear and leaving the campsite. But this year it did because we weren’t going to stay very stationary at all and on the second day of camp we were off to Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands.

Above: The Guys and Girls. Below: The Camp Contingent.

By 11 o clock all the work for the morning was done, the bus was repacked and we were on the road again, the sun was splitting the rocks and Eoin Falconer's jokes were coming into their own. Lunch was had at Loch Lomond. Roddy suggested to Siobhan that surely someone would end up in the lake getting their clothes wet and was soon proven right not once but twice, with Michael Simpson returning from his little paddling expedition with his jeans wet and Ben Murphy following suit for good measure.

Above: Peter shows he's not too much of a wise guy by swimming in his clothes.
Below: The lads enjoying their swim in the Glencoe river.

The scenery between Glasgow and Glencoe was unbelievable and the views from the bus were made all the better with the good weather. After getting to Glencoe we eventually found the campsite which was located up the smallest road in Scotland. We soon had all the tents up and in no time most of the troop were to be found in a plunge pool swimming around in the Glencoe River, it was so nice Roddy even washed his hair in there instead of having a shower. After dinner in the Mess tent the midge fest soon started (and I am not on about Parler) and everyone was soon dispatched to the nearby woods to source some wood for a fire to get rid of the damned midges.

Above: At Glencoe. Click to view a larger image.

Day three: The camp program said that we should have started our ascent of Ben Nevis at 8 o clock but in reality it was more like 10 which could spell disaster if anything went wrong further up the mountain. The pace started out quite slow but we soon got Cunny moving and for the rest of the way it was nice and steady. As we neared the top the breaks were becoming more and more frequent with Cunny eventually insisting at 2 o clock that we had to stop and have lunch and Roddy disagreeing saying that we were only 10 minutes from the top. We eventually moved off again and soon out of the misty fog the summit of the mountain appeared and we had finally made it. This was a great moment for the 7th DLS with 16 scouts and three Leaders at the highest point in the British Isles.

Above: The Summit Team before the Ben. L to R. Robert Windle (SL) Eoin Kelly, Jeff Gibbons, Aaron Consulich, Mark Duffy, Cathal Ryan, Robert Parle, Eoin Falconer, Ross Phelan, Robert Jacob, Jessica Carrick, Hazel Murry, Aaron Mooney, Ben Jacob, Mathew Carrick, Stephen Thul, Bill Power, Emma Power, Keith Cunnigham (ASL).

Above: Emma cant believe it, we have only started and Cunny's all ready after getting us lost.
Below: Smile lads its not that bad.

Above: On Ben Nevis. Click to view a larger image

Extra layers of clothing were soon added when we arrived at the summit and lunch was quickly eaten. We weren’t going to be hanging around here today for very long. A few photos were taken beneath the Emergency Shelter where nine year’s before them 14 of De La Salle’s leaders had been photographed. Soon enough we were on the descent through some of the worst fog the leader had ever experienced.

Above: Woo hoo we did it. 7th DLS Ben Nevis summit team 2008.

For about 10 minutes into the descent Eoin Falconer had been wondering why his bag felt so heavy until he eventually took it off and looked inside where he found two big rocks. While having lunch the lads slipped them in to his bag in a vane attempt to slow him down for awhile. The trip down was quite uneventful until the same Eoin Falconer had to take a trip behind a large rock to leave a deposit. While fixing himself afterwards he failed to spot a woman walking down and he said he didn’t know if he mooned her or flashed her. We have heard since that the poor traumatised woman has poked her eyes out with a blunt stick to try erase this bad bad moment from her life.

Above: Happy Eoin.

On their return all the hikers made a quick beeline to the ice cool waters of the Glencoe river before dinner. The lads who had remained on the site for the day took it easy for the most part. Until they decided to walk to the shop which was only 1.5km away? During this trip the Leaders were proven right in their choice in who wasn’t going to go up Ben Nevis, since Siobhan and Tara reported that most of them could only walk two steps before they needed a break. After dinner the first round of Tara’s Mega Quiz was held with Bill Power’s team (Parlo, Puddie) winning . It was an early night after such an exhausting day, well for most of us.

Above: The cool Thul.

It was now Wednesday the fourth day of camp and after a slow start we made our way to Fort William for breakfast where Hazel Murray is rumoured to have eaten five Big Mac’s in a row. After breakfast it was off to Fort William’s outdoor shops in search of a few bargains on Fleeces, Jackets, Jet Boils and what ever could be found. We even managed to bump into Paul Burke a member of the DLS scout pipe band who was also travelling to North Berwick which was our final destination.

Above: Happy campers ascending North Berwick Law.

In the afternoon we were joined by Paul’s daughter Orla who is a member of 3rd Macaoimh for our trip along the beautiful forested shores of Loch Lochy and on up the Caledonian Canal to the first 7th DLS search for the Loch Ness Monster. He probably would have been spotted only for all the singing, jokes and abuse that was flying on the bus, most of it headed at Cunny and Roddy, with Siobhan, Tara and Emma getting their fair share of it as well. We also found out that most of our scouts can't spell as they tried to make up obscene verses to the tune of the song BINGO.

Above: Castle Urqhart on the shores of Loch Ness.

We had lunch in Drumnadrochit Loch Visitor's centre. Then we went a little further up the road to Castle Urqhart where we got in free for being Scouts which is always a plus and everyone enjoyed the views of the Loch and got to stroll around the ruins of the old castle.

Above: The Girls and another great picture of Sarah just like last year. 

That evening was supposed to be the night of the Campfire but it was lashing. Everyone went to bed early with chatting continuing until the wee hours. The girl's tent was the worst as usual but it all came to an abrupt halt when an irate English man started giving out about the noise.

Above: Peter Smith dancing with the hat that he vowed never to take off.

At 3 am. it was still lashing down and our worst fears were starting to come through. The campsite was starting to flood, so the evacuation soon began from the flooded tents and by 4.30 half the campsite was trying to sleep on the bus. The only major incident worth talking about was why Cunny walked into a tree whilst being the hero leading the lads from the flooded tent to the bus. This was surely a night to remember - it hadn’t rained like this since Glenbeigh in Kerry quite a few years ago.

Above: North Berwick and the Forth of Fife.

Rise and shine, well that would be nice to say but it wasn't going to happen that morning it was still lashing. Some of the leaders had only gotten 2 hours sleep, but you wouldn't know that by looking at them. NOT. The campsite was a flurry of activity, as everyone mushed in together to get all their gear packed up and the tents down as fast as they could. Even the Aqua Sleepers (the people who had slept in the puddles the night before) were full of life. I’m sure there’s meddle in the post for them? Yea Right.

Above: A floral display in North Berwick park celebrating 100 years of Scouting in North Berwick.

All was going well until the Bus Driver got out of bed and went nuts on Roddy about the noise the during the night and then about waking him up to get the keys for the bus and then that his bus floor was now wet and full of grass. It was from here he informed us of his newer stricter regime for how everyone was to conduct themselves on his bus. We were now only allowed to sit on the bus and not move, there was to no smiling, talking and definitely no enjoying ourselves!

Above: Sarah - need we say more...

After breakfast in Mac Donald’s it was back on the bus for the longest quietest trip ever, our next destination was North Berwick, stopping at Deep Sea World along the way. The bus driver was still showing his vengeance when he turned off the Sat Nav and asking Roddy who had just woken up to navigate with his map even though he didn't know where he was. We eventually got there and got a good up close look at the Forth Bridge. After we got back on the bus it wasn't long before we were navigating our way through the Edinburgh rush hour traffic and we were soon in our hosts Scout hall The 1st North Berwick Scouts.

Above: The card game - I bet they are playing switch.

Dinner was soon cooked and the clean up done and then it was on to the 2nd round of Tara’s Mega Quiz. Tara and Emma were the quiz masters and Cunny spent the night shouting up smart incorrect answers. The Leaders team were docked 11 points for smart answers, cheating and harassment of other teams but still managed to win.  It was great craic. Everyone was in bed early after one very long day. Although the leaders could be heard playing Bounty for a long time afterwards.

Above: On the boat to Bass Rock.

Its first thing in the morning. In the main hall of the scout den there is silence, there is a little talk coming from the girls room. I’m left to wonder is it 7 o clock or is 8 o clock or maybe even 10 o clock, I don’t know I can’t find my mobile and I’m happy to stay here for as long as everything is quiet. The past few days have been very active and very long so staying in bed this morning seems to be a very good option.

Above: Jessica and Ciara, Ciara looks none too happy after the little puke incident.

Eventually people start to stir and I find out its twenty to eleven the longest this scout troop has ever stayed in bed for. After breakfast we pitch all the wet tents plus the mess tent to dry and all the ground sheets are also lain out in the grass to dry. Afterwards we head down to the local park to play around on the swings and things. This turns out to be a great craic, Matthew drastically reduces his chances of having kids after a spin down the parks zipline goes drastically wrong. We also find out Sarah has a huge fear of swings especially when Siobhan is pushing from one side and Roddy the other.

Above: The Bass Rock

At 2 o clock we head down to the harbour for a boat trip out around the Bass Rock. All the bets are on that Eoin Falconer is going to be our first puker and he was looking like the odds on favourite for a long time. Firstly his face starts to change colour to a nice pasty look then he goes into stage two head between the legs and asks repeatedly can we turn back now. But then surprise surprise Jessica Carrick out of no where took the prize for best puker on annual camp 2008. It was spectacular - at least 1.5m in distance and she also manages to hit Siobhan, Aaron, Hazel and Stephen whilst saving the majority of it for Ciara Murphy. This turned out to be a great boat trip, even Jessica and Falconer agreed by the end of it.

Above: Eoin feeling a little sick, is he about to curse?

When we got back to dry land, it was straight to the swimming pool for a wash before heading into Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The Tattoo and Ben Nevis were the two highlights of this camp and we owe Lyle Crawford an awful lot for arranging the latter and thankfully both lived up to our high hopes.

Above: Eoin, Robert, Ciaran, Puddie, Jeff and Bill at Edinburgh castle.
Below: On the streets of Edinburgh - Click to view a larger image.

The queuing was a bit of a nightmare for the Leaders as they tried not to lose any scouts in a queue of over 10,000 plus people. Ben Murphy and Michael Simpson tried their hardest to get lost by standing still as the queue of 10,000 surged forward but they eventually copped on to listen to the leaders and to watch where the rest of the scouts were walking. The biggest highlights of the tattoo were the massed pipe bands and the Norwegian Drill team and most of the lads thought the New Zealand Marching Girls were pretty good as well. But I don’t think they were on about their marching. The playing of the Gael at the end of the show was the highlight of the whole show.  Back on the bus even the bus driver had learned to smile again - the Tattoo must have been good if it was able to a smile back on his face. I was surprised he didn’t complain that bands were playing too loud.

Above: In the Castle.
Below: Drum Cats at the cavalcade parade.

Next morning we rose late again as we were heading into Edinburgh for a day of sight seeing and shopping.  We all broke up into little groups each accompanied by a Leader. Edinburgh’s outdoor shops did a roaring trade that day in wares such as platypuses, fleeces, compasses and just about anything related to the outdoors. Some groups didn’t even leave Prince’s Street all day while others got to combine shopping and walks around the old city and they took in some of the atmosphere of the Fringe Festival up on the Royal Mile. The day flew by and it wasn’t long before we had to head back to Waverly train station to catch the train back to North Berwick.

Above: The troop at the summit of the Law.

When we got back Cunny and Emma prepared the dinner while the rest of the gang hiked to the top of the law where Hazel got out her bag pipe and played us a few tunes. From there everyone ran back down to the scout den to grab their swimming gear and run to the beach. We al went with the exception of Bill who had fallen asleep in the middle of the scout hall.  Cunny,s Lovely Stew was quickly devoured when we got back and he’ll definitely be cooking that for us again. After dinner the last round of Tara’s Mega Quiz started and as usual the answers were hotly debated among the contestants , in the end the leaders won although everyone agrees that they should have been thrown out of the quiz for bad behaviour.

Above: Hazel Murray playing the pipes an top of North Berwick Law

Sunday morning and its raining again. This morning's rain is the worst we have seen so far if that can be believed. Monsoon showers are definitely lighter than these and through this we have to run a short distance to Mass. The mass was very nice and the priest acknowledged our presence and even stopped Cunny for a five minute chat during Communion.  After mass we had breakfast then packed the bus and once again we were on the road again. Today some of our members were taking part in the Edinburgh Cavalcade Parade with the Centennial Scout Pipe Band while the rest of the scouts sat back and watched the parade. Ross carried the band plaque while Ciaran, Sarah and Cunny made up the Colour party and Shona, Hazel, and Roddy played in the band.  They were joined in the band by Seamus Purcell, Pat Murphy, Tony and Owen Madigan, Sean Murphy and Paul Burke all from the De la Salle Pipe Band and who had travelled over to participate in the Centennial Scout Pipe Band.

Above: Roddy, Sarah, Cairian, Ross, Hazel, Shona and Cunny before the parade.

The rest of the scouts who eagerly waited the pipe band had great craic watching the parade with some of the highlights being The Lady Boys of Bangkok which Falconer really enjoyed. Other highlights were the participants of the Tattoo and the Drum Cats. But the best cheer of all went up when the Centenary Pipe band passed.

Above: The Scout Centennial pipe band on Prince's Street.

That evening it was back to the scout campsite in Culizian Castle near Turnbury. After a supper of foster’s sausages, beans, bread and tea we all headed off to bed early because it was an early start in the morning and wouldn’t you know it started lashing rain again. Good job we are happy campers.

Above: Frying fosters sausages in the rain (it had to rain just to wet the tents on the last night).

Up at 5.30 to pack everything on the bus for the last time - we must be getting good at this because by 6.15 everything was done. By 7 we were at the ferry terminal where all the leaders had to get off the bus for a security check which Tara looked very nervous through???

Above: The PL's party and Below: More of the faces of Camp 2008.

The boat trip was quit uneventful and so was our journey down to Waterford with the exception of our trip into Dundalk to McDonald's which it only took five hours to find. We eventually arrived home right to the minute that Roddy had put down on the note, lets see what Patrice can organise for next year then.

Above: Searching for McDonald's in Dundalk.

Log by Robert Windle and photos courtesy of Keith Cunningham (DeBlaaman).

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