Our return trip to Gorseinon took place on the 3rd –5th May this year. 10 Explorers and two leaders left the scout hut at 5.30 am (mad fools) and headed west into the morning sunshine, which of course turned to rain as soon as we hit Wales!

We eventually got to the Silver Cross Camp site at 9.30am, and immediately set up camp. We were travelling light this year and the first job was to set up a home made dining shelter from two tarpaulins and a box of lashings, as well as sweeping out the storage hut. Ewan and Carl established themselves as quarter masters whilst others went about the age old tradition of gathering wood and lighting a fire!

As soon as the camp was set up we decided to visit one of the local beaches and headed off to Three Cliffs bay. This bay is inaccessible to cars and visitors have to walk from the nearest car park at the National Trust for about 45mins along the cliffs to get there. Of course we were all soaking wet by the time we did reach the bay, so it came a s no surprise that the boys went for a paddle in the river system.

Having now got thoroughly wet, and beginning to get hungry, we set of in search of supplies. Steve, Cei and Daniel donned their hunting gear and went about searching for food – as luck would have it the biggest Tesco’s in Wales was but minutes away from the camp!
That night we had a bbq under the stars and we managed to dry most of the gear around the camp fire.

Sunday saw an early rise and away to Port Talbot where we met up with instructors from the Afan Borough Scout troop who very kindly took us canoeing on the tidal river Afan. This was great fun and only two managed to go for a swim. We were all surprised by the speed of the tide as it receded, but all enjoyed it. A presentation was made to the leaders by the boys as a way of saying thank you and they were also invited back to camp that night for a meal. This was followed by a proper swimming session at the local swimming pool the Afan Lido, and by dinner. From here we went into the mountains and hired bikes at Afan Argoed Country park and spent an hour cycling amongst the welsh valleys.

Our return to camp was followed by the meal and fun and games in the way of a mini egg eating competition and a marshmallow eating competition. Well done to Daniel Cheney with a record of 17 marshmallows eaten in one go!

Monday saw the great mud race – or obstacle course – were the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves. After we had hosed them down camp was broke and we headed off home, stopping along the way to invest Matthew, Cei, Ewan and Matthew into the Explorer group, arriving back in Stotfold by 8.30pm, despite being held up in traffic jams where the boys entertained the motorists with their version of Queens Bohemian Rhapsody (despite the song not being on!).

An excellent weekend for all which is becoming more and more popular each year, and both Andy and Steve were again impressed with the boys behaviour and maturity over the three days.