Our DofE gold expedition was in the Brecon Becons, based in the Hampshire CC hut in Senny Bridge.
We travelled up there and spent a day preparing, and sharing around the group kit.
The next day we were due to start off, but late news that our third day campsite was closed, caused us to shuffle the day order slightly. We would do day 4 first and camp in the field behind the hut, then continue around.
We gathered by the minibus to be taken up to the step off point for the first day, and to have our packs weighed .. as a fit youngster, and to give some of the weaker members I had the lions share of the group kit, this was the part that would be either a repack or else some innovation was needed. I was last in the queue, and fortuitously the weigh person was distracted for long enough for me to wind the dial back below zero. so my 50 lb pack appeared as 35lb and I was asked to lose something .. my carrimat was shuffled off as a token - only to be given back after we were dropped.
the first day back to the hut I don't remember much about.
The second day we headed out from the hut, in the general direction of Talybont. This was a relatively easy day.
The third day headed down the Taff trail to a campsite at the end of Talybont reservoir. We were working well and had camped by early afternoon, and time to go down the river to the town ... several miles, but without the packs it felt easy. In the town we did our "project" bit - I think it was about why the town was there. then settled into the pub to prepare for the walk back.
The last day was back over the tops - along the ridge ... chasing the tic-tocs on selection -or were they chasing us - we certainly gave them a run for their money.
We were picked up in the mini bus at the bridge where we had been dropped off the first day, hence concluding the circuit.
This was the only section of DofE I was interested in doing, the rest fell by the wayside.
We travelled up there and spent a day preparing, and sharing around the group kit.
The next day we were due to start off, but late news that our third day campsite was closed, caused us to shuffle the day order slightly. We would do day 4 first and camp in the field behind the hut, then continue around.
We gathered by the minibus to be taken up to the step off point for the first day, and to have our packs weighed .. as a fit youngster, and to give some of the weaker members I had the lions share of the group kit, this was the part that would be either a repack or else some innovation was needed. I was last in the queue, and fortuitously the weigh person was distracted for long enough for me to wind the dial back below zero. so my 50 lb pack appeared as 35lb and I was asked to lose something .. my carrimat was shuffled off as a token - only to be given back after we were dropped.
the first day back to the hut I don't remember much about.
The second day we headed out from the hut, in the general direction of Talybont. This was a relatively easy day.
The third day headed down the Taff trail to a campsite at the end of Talybont reservoir. We were working well and had camped by early afternoon, and time to go down the river to the town ... several miles, but without the packs it felt easy. In the town we did our "project" bit - I think it was about why the town was there. then settled into the pub to prepare for the walk back.
The last day was back over the tops - along the ridge ... chasing the tic-tocs on selection -or were they chasing us - we certainly gave them a run for their money.
We were picked up in the mini bus at the bridge where we had been dropped off the first day, hence concluding the circuit.
This was the only section of DofE I was interested in doing, the rest fell by the wayside.