Explorer Scouts 2 star Journey, Rudyard Lake, 26^th September, 2010.

I went to Rudyard today to help out with Jeanette's explorer scouts 2* journey. The date had moved back one day from the first planned Sat. 25^th to suit the availability of our coaches, David & Ann. Jeanette & I assisted the session by performing shepherding duties.

The explorers had pre-planned their journey really well … everything worked to the planned timings except for the wind assisted return trip which was faster than anticipated to our benefit as it allowed for a longer teaching and testing session and the addition of a game of “tig” before we packed up for the day.

Many thanks to everyone involved, I really enjoyed helping for the day and I’m sure that all had as much fun as I did. I’m now addicted to sideways sculling (thanks David) and am researching plans to make my own coracle as a bit of fun.

Awards Section (in chronological order).

The soggy sandwich award.

Mike – arrived at the far end of Rudyard Lake and opened his kayaks rear compartment to find that his watertight sandwich container wasn’t, soggy sandwiches were floating inside it. Thankfully the explorers had made a surplus and shared …. Thank you!!

The Lost Paddle Award.

After lunch the explorers, Jeanette & Ann set off … Ann returned to ask if I needed help with my spraydeck … I got it fitted on about the 6^th attempt. I was just about to set off as David’s Canadian cut across my bow so I was all set to be the last off the beach.

David pushed off again from the muddy bed using his paddle. It turned out that the mud of the lake bed had a better grip of the paddle than David. The Canadian glided forward leaving the paddle sticking up out of the water. We both cracked up laughing. I offered to retrieve the paddle but David explained that this was not necessary and it demonstrated the need for his requirement that all the Canadians should be carrying spare paddles … he paddled back with his spare to recover the original … so David wins the first “Lost Paddle award” … and if I close my eyes I can still see that paddle sticking up out of Rudyard Lake. Perhaps the Lady of the Lake now does paddles instead of swords?

The Lost Paddle Award (again).

As part of the 2* test we had to demonstrate proficiency at exiting and entering our craft afloat as opposed to our initial beach launches. For this we used the pontoon by the bay. David asked Ann to demonstrate and Ann glided smoothly up to the side of the pontoon, placed her paddle on the decking and unhitched her spraydeck. Ann & David explained that there wasn’t really a right or wrong way of doing the exit/entry … it’s whatever works for you and the craft you are using at the time … maintaining control of the craft and balance to safely get in and out. Ann showed her technique for exit and David asked her to get back in. This was beautifully done and Ann started to reaffix the spraydeck. It was at this point that David announced “… and you should always ensure that your paddle is within easy reach!” … and Ann realized that she’d drifted out slightly from the pontoon … A little hand sculling to return and Ann’s paddle was recovered.

The “Stretch Target” Award

This goes to Adam, one of the explorers, who over-reached for the ball whilst we were playing “tig”. We’ve all done it, I’m just surprised that it wasn’t me … would I have used my new side sculling skills to bring me to the ball? … I hope so … but?

Witnesses to the actual inversion and escape from the kayak seem reticent to come forward for some reason. It seems that Adam will have to deliberately repeat his performance in a pool session with the rest of the explorer group … still it was good practice.

The Swimming Award with bar (for honesty!)

The session/test ended with our careful navigation of our craft into the tight space between a rowing boat and a motor launch, exit at the pontoon, lift the craft safely from the water and place out of the way to allow the next person to exit. David explained safe lifting techniques and carrying methods and then we carried our craft back to the trailers (in my case back to my car).

When everyone had set off David attended to the lashing down of his painters and then took a step backwards. There wasn’t quite as much pontoon behind him as he thought … splash!

Nobody saw it, he’d managed the near impossible in our club, a secret swim … and then he ruined it by selflessly telling me as we carried his Canadian up to his car … a definite honesty award.

The “Paddling Blindfold” Award.

This has to go to Jeanette who is mortified by the fact that she missed witnessing any of the above apart from my soggy sandwiches.

Any other Awards?

2 star – Mike, thanks to Chris’s suggestion that club members might like to tag into the scouts training. I just went along to help & practice for when we do our Club sessions and came away with my 2 star … magic.

Thanks again to Ann & David for being such brilliant sports (and excellent coaches).