Last weekend our Silver DofE crews took on the Chiltern Hills for their 3 day, 2 night practice expedition – and what a trip it was!
Friday set the bar high with glorious sunshine, sweeping views and only a few questionable map readings (we’ll let those slide… for now 👀). Spirits were sky-high, sunscreen was flowing and for a moment everyone forgot they were carrying half their bodyweight in pasta packets.
Saturday brought a mix of sunshine, light showers and a serious boost to morale in the form of Jasper’s 16th birthday celebrations. Nothing says “expedition” like cake in the middle of a field… followed by an intense session of giant badminton, volleyball and Steve’s scary bedtime stories!
By Sunday, energy levels had dipped, boots were soggy and group chats were suspiciously quiet. But the promise of a McDonald’s at the finish line powered them through – even as the heavens opened for a dramatic final downpour in the last few KMs.
A special mention must go to Mrs Withers’s legendary van, which had crowd of curious (and jealous) teenagers forming around it all weekend. Rumour has it some students are still trying to work out how to book a stay in her mobile luxury suite.
Huge thanks, as always, to the brilliant team at BXM Expeditions for keeping everything running smoothly (and safely!). Roll on the qualifying expedition – bring it on!
