Sea kayaking and survival skills

A wet day but no damp spirits

We had a team of four swimming this morning while the rest of the group went for a run out along the vehicle track. All designed to get the blood flowing and sleep out of the eyes before sitting down for breakfast. Porridge, cereals, scrambled eggs and bacon, and toast and jam.

The plan was for the Reds to head out sea kayaking and the Blues to head out to look at building shelters from old yacht sails and bivvy tarps, an essential skill for survival island and that is how the morning panned out.

The forecast always had some rain in it, but some became a lot as the day went on, and with a gusty wind in the afternoon the Blues, who would otherwise have kayaked, changed to stay on the land and look at the fire and food elements of survival skills while the Reds looked at the shelters. If the pupils can, as they have shown today, deal with a bit of west coast weather and still build shelters and light fires then it bodes well for the island.

It’s mountain day tomorrow and the forecast looks good. We have Arkle in our sights for this plucky team and rather than endure this evenings rain under canvas the teams are in their bunks at the Adventure School and will leave for the mountain in the morning, after an early breakfast.

All are well and full of energy.