cat bells and magic spots

The last day could have been wet and dreary, just what we didn't want for a mountain walk, but come 10 o'clock when we started off the sun peeked its way through the clouds and shone for all but a brief downpour the whole day. Cat Bells is a steep climb, but one which takes you quickly high enough for wonderful 360 views of the northern lakes. Several rocky scrambles might proves challenging for grannies, indeed one is called the Granny Stopper, but young legs coped with them easily. Tom, from Blencathra, guided us up and stopped often enough that there weren't too many complaints. Each rest stop brought a different little activity or snip of local knowledge. We learned about Wordsworth, Wainwright and Beatrix Potter, about the only lake in the Lake District, about Blencathra fell which stands behind the centre and about map reading in a strong wind... keep the map folded and don't let go!

We managed not to force too many old ramblers from the paths and only an hour and twenty five minutes after starting we reached the peak of Cat Bells. We dropped down from the top a little into the lee of the mountain for an early lunch and gazed out on the splendour of Derwent Water and the end of Borrowdale. With our maps open after lunch we picked out some of the surrounding hills and features, that is if the map could be held still or we could avoid spilling coffee on it!

We descended further to the saddle between the hills and here Tom handed out paper and gave the pupils the chance to find some space and to record, by sketching or writing, whatever inspired them from the surrounding or the previous week. This was their Magic Spot and it worked for some, if not all, who allowed themselves to wander, in their minds, and then commit something to paper. Hopefully some of these remembrances will find their way into the journals that need to be written during the next few weeks once they return home.

8a flitted past us during this time and then back again as they too climbed to the top of Cat Bells. We moved on after composing our thoughts and descended the rest of the way to the lake. By the water a brief skimming contest was won by Will and once in the woods at the bottom of the fell we walked along the lakeside thankful to be out of the cold wind. A quick scavenger hunt yielded pebbles, stones, feathers, nuts and leaves and we completed the walk where we had started. Not too soon really as the conversation had turned to the control combinations for goal celebrations on the PS2 when playing FIFA 08.

And then back to base where the process of returning kit and finding lost property began. I know I shall be able to return the pupils but I'm not sure about all their bits of clothing, which we've been collecting from rooms all round the centre. The blight of the lost sock, or t-shirt is, I think, the cost of allowing freedoms like these. Having said this I'm sure to leave some of my stuff behind as well!

The evening activity was the awarding of prizes and a chance to see the highlights of the week slideshow. So much has gone on that its difficult to think back to Sunday when we had our first walk. It had been great fun and the memories will be with everyone for some time and even those at home will be able to get some flavour for the place... when they open the dirty laundry.

It is unlikely that they'll be a blog tomorrow, but then bus journeys are never much to write home about.

ghylls but no fish

The drying room was the start of today's activities as we tried to make head or tail of the array of wellies, coats, trousers, boots that lined the room. With some difficulty we matched everyone with one piece or other, whether they were ever issued with it we'll never know. Once finally ready we were bused off to two locations; one group to the climbing wall and the others to Hawes End Centre to pick up the guide, Chris, and a whole load of Huggy Bears, a.k.a fleecy suits to keep warm in once wet during the ghyll scrambling.

Now all ready eventually, Willie, our driver again, took us on a wonderful autumnal drive up to Borrowdale. Despite the greyness of the weather the colours are fantastic, even breathtaking at times. Chris gaves us the derivation of the Borrowdale name which derived from Viking times, when Vikings did what Vikings did. "Did they borrow stuff?" asked a voice from the back. "Yup, and they didn't give it back," Chris affirmed. Somewhat, makes me think of the Icelandics... taking stuff and not giving it back... nothing changes!

Getting wet on this activity was really the whole point and despite the gingerly taken steps at first it wasn't long before a welly was submersed, then knee, thigh, up to the middle and over the head. Sitting in a waterfall tends to ensure that water will end up down ones back. Half way up the ghyll the pupils dragged themselves though a drain that ran under the road. For this the girls bravely went first followed by the boys. I counted them in and I counted them out.

At another part in the climb they were asked to sit five abreast a flat rock thus forming a human dam. They held the water back as long as possible before being washed into the pool below. Quite what happened to the group of year 5 pupils further down stream as these torrential surges hit them I don't know. Some poor pupils probably ended up back in Derwent Water.

The final part was a jump into a deep pool thus getting completely submerged. If they were cold before this then they experienced something altogether more breath stopping as one's head felt the full chill of the water. I, of course, joined in fully with this activity, even to the point of taking the plunge in the final pool. Taking the role of tutor very seriously, don't let them tell you I was wearing a dry suit!

Climbing either followed or preceded this and took place indoors on a climbing wall, or more to the point a climbing room, where every wall, and some more besides, were covered in rock climbing holds and many of those held by climbers. It was a little like being in an ant's nest with ants going up and down the walls in an endless precession. Starting off on the gentle climbs to get aclimbatised (sorry, couldn't let that pass) they soon progressed to some very challenging overhanging routes. With each belaying the other and a third as a backstop, the pupils rotated each taking turns with remarkable fairness. Some even attempted the overhang in the bouldering area where a crash mat is provided for those attempts that don't stick long enough. It was a good day for the smaller lighter-framed pupils to do well and to show that balance and agility are more important than brute strength in this sport.

The evenings activity involved a little bit of field science and teams had to test some soil samples to discover the source of a mystery sample. It involved getting a little bit muddy, albeit indoors, and resulted in the discovery of some chocolate crispy cakes in the centre garden, although a slug had found the tin first. With all that physical exercise today sleep came quickly with no-one managing to stay awake long after lights out. Some hillwalking is on the cards for tomorrow, which will be the last day.

group skiing and singing

Well yes it did rain again today. However, before the really wet stuff this afternoon, things got started at the centre with some team building activities. Once divided into two groups the centre staff took the teams through a series of activities that had been set up for them: water-balloon volley ball, spiders web, river crossing, sheep herding, group skiing and the sinking island. Both groups took different approaches, sometimes opting to charge straight in other times spending a little time weighing thing up. The different personalities really stood out as the need to work together became apparent.

Unsurprisingly the team that listened to each other were much stronger and surprisingly in this group it was the boys actually listening to the girls that made the difference. In fact, the assistant head-of-centre was gob-smacked by how well they worked. Having mastered walking in a straight line with the group skis they decided that it would be more of a challenge if they could turn themselves around, which they did. Henry calmly ordering everyone about, "weight on right ski, up on left, weight on left ski, up on right."

By 10.30 Jonny proudly announced that he was on his sixth cup of tea of the morning, slightly less proud when he was reminded that he would be sitting on a bus at the end of the session as we went off to Hadrian's Wall. The whole concept of hot drinks that they can make for themselves and put in their flasks is a real novelty and has not yet worn off. Toby nurses his little red flask, with either tea or hot blackcurrant and Olly D proudly shows off the battle damage - two little dents - in his flask (hot chocolate).

As noon approached we then had a mad scramble to gather all the necessary bits of kit: boots or wellies, rain coats, bags, clipboards, lunches, re-fill flasks, go back for coat, go back for clipboard, go back for Phoebe, oh no, Phoebe is already on the bus. Count everyone, 24 pupils two staff, driver we can go now. Then it is on to Hadrian's Wall.

The Hadrian's Wall stop was brief. We shared the coach with The Opposition (8b) and split at the Roman Army museum to check out different parts of the wall, I think we got the best bit. Score 1-0. It was a short walk which was embraced heartily after an hour or so on the bus and we made the climb up a steep slope to the wall with short shrift (and short of breath at the top). However, having attained such a height there was only one thing to do and that, after looking at the Wall, of course, was to run down again... and then carry on running because we were now late for the bus. Anyway, running along the road below the wall we were able to experience what it was like to be a Roman legionnaire driven along by a hard task-master of a centurion (me).

Vindolanda is not an Indian restaurant theme park, but a Roman fort, bathhouse and surrounding village. Forty years of digging has revealed a load of stones and something like four thousand sandals; the archaeologist could have just gone to Aldeburgh on a hot summers day! We were given a short talk by one of the archaeologists (interestingly no beard). Short because now is was raining properly and we were standing outside by a second century butchers shop. Disappointingly, our guide was not wearing the full Roman outfit of skirt and leather armour, although the girls were already aquiver due to the rain and cold. In twenty spellbinding minutes he made the settlement come alive with his descriptions of building and people who lived there and how they'd discovered what they knew. When it came time for questions, 8d offered them up quick and fast, The Opposition were unable to match us: score 2-0.

One can see how easy it must have been for the Romans to conquer us. The level of technology and engineering that went into their buildings and weaponry far outclassed anything we could do up until the middle ages: underfloor ventilation in their grain stores, hot and cold running water in their bathhouse. Really quite remarkable. Then set free for forty minutes, the boys headed for the reproduction towers, which they were able to shelter in, or play in. The girls dashed for the only other shelter in the site a solitary tree, before discovering the path that led to the museum and shop.

The museum caught most pupils attention for the adjoining shop, which parted some of them from their money and for the phallus fertility symbols in the museum; they were particularly amused by them. It was then time to dash back across the site to the bus and once counted on we set off home. Fifty wet bodies on the bus made the atmosphere rather humid - I'm surprised the driver could actually see out of his window, but then he managed to find the warp drive setting on the de-mister. Various parties attempted singalongs on the return trip, in most instances whilst another quarter of the bus had already started up, but notably Morgan entertained us and Marsha, the youngest pupil on the bus, sang a beautiful melody which drifted its way to the front. Score 3-0.

The evening had a different flavour to it with the one of the centre staff organising a egg-drop competition. With that, logs and workbooks all to be done everyone was kept busy until about nine, when a little free-time was followed by a welcome bed.

farmer willie and wellies

Not so eager to awake this morning, the children that is not me, although I left writing the blog rather too late last night. However, the "Full English" soon put us in the right spirits for a day full of fervent activity.

Today the group splits and half spend the morning canoe-rafting and the others take part in a stream survey; at lunch we all change around. It was the turn of Cumbria Outdoors to organise us for the morning activity and Steve came up to Blencathra at 8:45 this morning, only we weren't expecting him. Meanwhile our Blencathra contact, Tom, was phoning Cumbria Outdoors to organise the day with them not realising Steve was already with us, which led to a comical call to Steve telling him to get up to Blencathra, "but I'm already there", was his rather mystified reply.

With Steve was Willie, the bus driver, the neighbouring farmer to Blencathra, diversification again. Willie is no fool, he has now 'gone organic', which means the yields from his sheep are rubbish, but the EU pays much better! They soon had us started and we were off to Derwent Water. Group B put on their wellies and and picked up their rules, tapes, clinometers, stop watches and dog biscuits, more about those later. They set off, on foot, for the mountain behind the centre to wade in a stream.

The canoeing for both parties inevitably ended in people getting wet but not straight away. The rafts were made from two canoes lashed together to form a stable craft; a cunning way to avoid occupying the session recovering wet paddlers and sunken canoes. Rhythm is the key to getting the raft moving and several methods were employed from dedicated callers, counting aloud and/or shouts of "now, no not now, now". Some got it some didn't and regardless of whether they did or didn't progress of sorts was made. What mattered, regardless of speed and style, was how wet you could get the other raft. This was made more interesting by the addition of 8b to the mix. They too were enjoying this activity and any animosity between the two 8d rafts paled in comparison to the efforts exerted to soak The Opposition.

To validate the splashing competition a football was introduced and the rules of some ancient game were called out, whether these were heard or just never adhered to it didn't matter so long as 8b got a soaking. There was some talk of a score at one point but with the goals, the rescues boats, constantly on the move it made this aspect of the competition a mere aside.

The stream survey was a little more sedate. Those that did this in the morning had the best of the weather and the rain ensured that those who went in the afternoon got as soaked as they had done in the morning. The walk took us up the valley from the centre on a well made track under the looming mass of Skiddaw. Measuring the stream was managed without the need for colouring pencils which I thought was a necessity for geographical work but instead dog biscuits were required. At first, I expected Tom to have brought a canine friend, but no such luck the dog biscuit only served to act as biodegradable sheep-friendly floats for measuring river flow. All the other aforementioned equipment was used to measure, width, depth and gradient. In the case of the those who went out in the morning this was done at two locations but for us unfortunates in the afternoon we were to benefit from those infamous summer words... "Rain Stopped Play" and we trekked home in fine, deep-penetrating rain. The saving grace of the afternoon was that we got the showers first.

glaciers and stone sheep

Yesterday it was camels today we saw stone sheep or, to be more precise, roche moutonee. They are strange shapes rocks that have a smooth slope on one side and are rough and broken on the other, not a lot like sheep really, which are soft all round and bleat. We saw plenty of those also and were told about the herdwick sheep. Herdwicks are the turncoats (sic) of the ovine family. They start black but in later life their coats lighten and become whitey-grey... maybe there's an opening for Cumbrian farmers in this economic downturn, Grecian 2000 for herdwick sheep!

Past the sheep and up the valley, broad bottomed and steep sided typical for one formed by a glacier. The members of 8d are beginning to get the hang of these features now and we stop on a couple of occasions to complete our field sketches and copious annotating. 8b are on the same trip and we pass them while they stop for a rest and then they pass us as we have our lunch. And what a spot for lunch, atop a white foaming waterfall over-looking the valley below leading down to Grasmere. Plenty of opportunity for photos while sandwiches and drinks are taken.

We keep climbing, taking the odd moment to pick out more glaciation features, such as moraine (not to be confused with the lady that gives out phone numbers) and a corrie lip (not to be confused with slang used on the long-running soap). We're now at the top, well by Easedale Tarn. On a warmer day one might tempted by a swim, but low cloud has cut off the tops of the surrounding hills and the prospect of even dipping one's toes in the water is distinctly unappealing.

A little adventure following some more sketching and labelling; we have to cross the stream flowing from the tarn by means of some well-placed National Trust stepping stones. All safe and then down we go, single file, for the path is much narrower here. Something Morgan discovers to his chagrin as he tries to pass George and ends up sitting in a bog. Yuck. George denies any assistance in the matter and he seems to be sticking to his side of the story. This is not the last of the mud and several other succumb to lack of concentration and miss their footing to rather smelly affect - Olly R, Chris F, Maddy amongst others.

But then its back on the proper road and we arrive back in Grasmere shortly afterwards. There's something about Grasmere that reminds me of that town in The Truman Show, ever so just too perfect. Anyway we bought a few icecreams and some hot-chocolate powder.

Back at Blencathra there was a chance to wind-down and some classwork to be done before a slideshow of the days events and a chance to wish Will a happy birthday with a cake provided by the centre.

arrival

It only took ten minutes, just as we were joining the A14, for the first complaint of "I'm bored" to be voiced. Next, of course, was the obvious, "Are we nearly there yet?". Oh dear, it was going to be a long journey. That said, we made it to the first stop at Grantham without much ado, or was that because I managed to doze off?

Grantham services on the A1 then proceeded to be invaded by 120 year eights. Some went for the shop, others sensibly opted for the loos, others, less sensibly, took on plenty of fluids, perhaps they thought we would be running to the next stop, not sitting cross-legged on a bus with a broken toilet. On the road again after 45 minutes and the old folks sitting in their cars were able to at last venture inside as we departed.

Next stop, Scotch Corner and more sugar to keep things buzzing on the bus before crossing the Pennines on the last stretch to the lakes. The other coach managed 1/2 mile before the first and, fortunately, only travel sickness episode. The sights across the Pennines truly gave us something to look at as the afternoon sun highlighted their rolling splendour, beautiful stone farms, fields of grazing sheep and a camel! Canny Yorkshire farm diversification in these tough economic times I guess.

The A66 led us the rest of the way and we were dropped in the car park of the Salutation Inn in Threlkeld; the fervour and excitement reaching its height in the last twenty minutes. Like cows let loose in a spring meadow the 24 members of 8D bounced from the bus into the fresh air full of the joys of freedom. We unloaded the bus, trying carefully to avoid removing any of 8Es bags or leaving any of ours. The minibuses from Blencathra arrive shortly after to take us up the narrow road to the centre... well all but Jake and Mrs Brighten who remained behind upon finding no free seats. They were collected shortly afterwards and once ensconced bags were stashed temporarily and all were allowed a breather and chance to released some sugar-fueled energy.

And that's where we are. Supper had. Beds allocated. Facilities toured and briefings given. Off to study glaciation tomorrow. Let hope slightly less energy tomorrow evening.

early morning

The day begins. We are off to Grasmere to look at glaciation today, and will be walking up a valley to the corrie at the top. Lunches are made, everyone has to do their own, and bags are packed. The forecast looks good and currently we're looking out on a sunlight valley below.