Updated on  13-9-00

SAT

This year our summer expedition was held in South Wales at Miskin Mill just outside Cardiff.  Using the groups newly revamped minibus now capable of 50 MPH in a fair wind, and Stuarts traffic master we managed to arrive on time to meet the Warden at Miskin - this has to be a first ! On our arrival we were greeted and shown round what was a very friendly and pretty little site )  which we had the whole run of ( we were the only ones there - ideal !). 

Miskin has several buildings a river, woods, campfire in fact everything you could want even toilets ! it does however have one minor drawback  the Cardiff to Swansea mainline is right next to the site only 20 feet from our tents !  You get used to it was what the warden said and foolishly we believed him ! This minor inconvenience was soon forgotten as we set up the site - until the next train came along -  usually every 20 minutes or so. The rest of the day was spent playing baseball and with our USAF surplus parachute its amazing what you can do with one of these - all units should have one !

A small beer run was organised as we had to make sure Ian had enough �Beer Der Blondy�. After some translation it transpired he was really after some Bier D�Blonde the small French lager bottles - apparently 2 Crates of 24 would be just about cover it as � I can always get some more tomorrow� thought Ian - needless to say we did not oblige being �sensible venture leaders�  we thought 1 would probably be enough !

After dinner and an evening by the fire  no not down the pub that was saved for when it rained  it was off to bed and sleep at a relatively early 4AM   until the first train of the day at approximately 4.10AM.

SUN

To say Sunday dawned bright and sunny would be a bit of a lie. In fact it was chucking it down a bit of a shame as this was the day we decided to go Walking with Dave T our mountain Instructor. Still it was bound to get better we thought its August so we decided to go anyway  Little did we know !

 After cooking an amazingly quick breakfast we set off in the bus. With Sean at the wheel and heading up the A470 at a steady 20MPH on the hills the weather was closing in even more - now we knew we were in for a Wet day. Not to be daunted be set out from the Story arms and headed up away from Pen-y Fan on a quieter part of the Brecons. Two groups set out  one a long walk lead by Dave and the other a  Shorter walk led by Sean. The day turned out to be one of the worst August days we could remember a day for Hats and Gloves along with full water proofs and it was almost too windy for our lunch Shelters but we pressed on anyway. For the short walk a slight break in the rain gave a chance to have lunch.

After another Hour those in the shorter walk decided to call it a day early as it was clear for some this was not much fun. They headed back to the bus and tea Wagon for a cup of Tea. Ally provided some entertainment on the way back by falling in a ditch not more than 5 yards from the bus and the end of the walk.  Then it was a two hour wait for the second group to return ! Although we all had full waterproofs and all required Kit it just goes to show you can never be too careful - even in August and we were glad we took what might be considered by some far to much for a walk in the Summer !

After getting lost in Cardiff ( and not for the last time ) we arrived back at the site for a Fantastic Curry and then an Evening in the Miskin Arms a great little friendly local pub not 2 minutes from the site  Who cares about the trains!  Yes it was still raining and did so nearly all night so no fire just Beer Der Blondy in the tent for those trying to beat the 4AM record  well that�s what I was told.

MON

This was to prove to be the best day of the Camp, for a start it had stopped raining ! As most people overslept it was again a Mad rush for Breakfast and then a shortcut to the A470 to arrive a Dolygaer outdoor centre for a day of Sailing and caving only a few minutes late  a major achievement for us as the peak assault tem will testify.

We split into 2 groups one for sailing and the other caving  this is where the report on the caving gets a bit sketchy as I went sailing but I think this is the general idea of it:- Silly Overalls Wellies  Bus  Big Hole  Dark  What do you mean you forgot to bring your light Steve  Dark  Wet  Dirty - Big Smiles  Very dark for Steve  Wet  Dark  Light !  Swim in Stream  Even Bigger Smiles - Bus  Hot Shower. They must have had a great time as we could not shut them up from talking about it ! Meanwhile those of us who went sailing were charging around with a good breeze in Toppers on the Lake.

Toppers are quite small and with only Stuart having done much sailing before we were all glad of the Hard hats provided for protection from swinging booms. Most people even managed to keep the boats upright in ever strengthening winds ( Except Tom that is ) and despite Jon�s best efforts to run over Stuart no collisions occurred which is just as well as we only had 8 toppers on a lake approx. 2 miles long by half mile wide !  The day ended in a race at which Jon capsized before the Start, Sean�s tiller fell off during a Jibe but he still managed to win because Stuart went completely the wrong way, while Jim struggled to get to the first Buoy  all witnessed by the Girls cheering from the shore  more like falling about laughing !

This time we did not get lost in Cardiff on the way back and spent the evening with Beer Der Blondy by the fire once more.

TUE

Tuesdays breakfast was to turn into an absolute Epic on a similar level to Ben Hur or Dances with Wolves. It took approximately 3 hours to prepare but less than 5 minutes to eat. Reason  we thought we would try to have some fried potatoes. This was a good idea, apart from the potatoes we used were tinned. Combine this with two ventures with the cooking skills of a  Horse the first attempt ended with a few burnt black objects and a layer of Black about half inch thick in the pan. At this point Stuart had had enough and took over it, appeared he was aware the Knob on the Stove was for more than decoration you could turn the heat down with it ! After much effort a fine breakfast was consumed at about 12.30PM

Next came the Swimming trip we had been told that the pool at Pentwin in Cardiff was easy to find, this was in fact true except not for us. We followed the signs to Pentwin and started to look for the pool. We drove past the Council yard and around the estate with no luck. So we drove round again and then again still no luck so we asked someone and followed the directions still no luck. At this point ( half hour later ) we had a phone call from Steve in the Car wondering where we were as he was at the pool. It transpired the pool was a red building and we had driven past it at least 3 times and the council was cutting the grass around it. It was now the penny dropped the pool was in fact the very first building we saw which was not as we thought a council yard !

The pool had a wave machine and lots of Children, but even so the Unit managed to steal almost every floating toy from the local children before it was time to leave but not before Kerry had time to give Ian the Best scratch marks on his back we have ever seen  cant imagine what he had done to upset her.

The Day was rounded off by a trip to Ian�s most favourite place in the world  Barry Island. This was after a small wind up from the leaders telling everyone to get some money ready as we were all going on a trip of Cardiff Arms Park  Much muttering ensued along the lines of I�m not going round a ****** stadium  Stuff that, etc etc. Barry Island was exactly as all expected for Ian a wonderful Mecca of Amusement arcades, chip shops, roller coasters, rock. For most of the rest of us a bit of a Hole with the most dodgy looking Funfair, repeated inane outside  music to drive you into the arcades and soggy chips but at least it had a nice beach.

Tuesday night our last was spent drinking in the Miskin Arms and then the biggest fire was built and much Beer Der Blondy consumed until the sun came up for those with the stamina.

WED

Wed dawned overcast and dull which was disappointing  as today was eclipse day. Still we set off to the most southerly part of the south Wales coast and when we arrived it was a clear and sunny day  We watched the first contact right through to the end using an array of Eclipse Viewers and Dave�s pin hole camera ( capable of projecting a massive Image of about the size of a Pea ) Opinion on the Spectacle varied  it had defiantly got a lot colder and darker, it felt like about 9PM and pub time. On the whole most were disappointed as the amount of  sun still visible meant it was never as dark as we were expecting for an area of 99% coverage, 1% of sun can make a lot of light !

Finally it was back to the site to clear away ready for the trip home, we did however get time to throw Sarah in the River before we left  don�t worry we did get her out again.

Roll on Ireland Next Year !!!!