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phil king - Aberdovey, Wales, 1991
The toughest element for me was the final expedition undertaken over the remote terrain of North and Mid Wales. Some of us were doing it in requirements of the Expedition section of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award where others were doing it as part of the 3 week multi-activities course.
It was pretty hard going trying to keep group morale up whilst we tried to navigate our way over open-country.
One of the group, a dutch lad, didn't really want to be there (his parents had made him go on the course) and kept moaning, whilst one girl who did, had to retire on the second day with a hip problem.
The first night I remember having to put up with a wet sleeping bag and when on the third night the girl's tent blew down in a sudden storm they were forced to seek shelter with me and the dutch lad in our tent!
On the last day we took a short ride on the Ffestiniog ????? (I think) narrow-gauge railway (perfectly legal as far as the Award was concerned!) and after carving our names in the sand nearby the centre, relieved and ecstatic at all having finally made it back.
All in all though it was a great 3 weeks (multi-activity - moving on course) which though initially daunting I will always remember!
It was pretty hard going trying to keep group morale up whilst we tried to navigate our way over open-country.
One of the group, a dutch lad, didn't really want to be there (his parents had made him go on the course) and kept moaning, whilst one girl who did, had to retire on the second day with a hip problem.
The first night I remember having to put up with a wet sleeping bag and when on the third night the girl's tent blew down in a sudden storm they were forced to seek shelter with me and the dutch lad in our tent!
On the last day we took a short ride on the Ffestiniog ????? (I think) narrow-gauge railway (perfectly legal as far as the Award was concerned!) and after carving our names in the sand nearby the centre, relieved and ecstatic at all having finally made it back.
All in all though it was a great 3 weeks (multi-activity - moving on course) which though initially daunting I will always remember!