Summer Camp 2006

As we have got internet access, we can give you a day by day update so you can see what we have been up to. We hope to be able to put some photos on this page in due coarse.

We are sorry that the daily updates stoped on day 5, this was due to writers block, hahaha. Being serious now, after day 5 we started to move about again and we did not have the time or the internet capabilities to update the website. It will be finshed soon though, and the photos are going to be put up. ALL FINISHED NOW, more photos soon though.

Day 1:

Started off all well on the western front and it must be the first time that everybody was ready on time, and that we got away on time. Well, spoke too soon, all was fine until we hit the airport, where it was the plane that made us late, by an hour. But while we were late it was made up for in the fact that it was a smooth flight that seemed to pass quickly. There was a slight problem when we got off, as Matt left his phone on the plane, panic was quick to take hold and soon Dom realised his top was on the plane also. We waited for Matt to collect his belongings before hopping on the train to Stockholm. After a quick walk from the station we found the right boat and settled in to our room for the next couple of days. Sparks blew his top when the youngest four (Nick, Dom, Ian, Matt H) went for a little walk and did not return till 10:45. Prices are much higher than home especially when beverages are involved.

Day 2:

Well, it was a bit of a slow start, after all getting woken up by a Skip, Sparks and Phil all trying to get changed, have showers and getting washed ready for another full day. We decided that food was the order of the day. All fully fed, then was the long wait for the, you guess it, the young group to finally decide that it was a good time that they should get their arses off of their beds, and pack for the day exploring Stockholm.
First on the agenda was to go and visit the scout shop, but on the way there we had a slight distraction from a small museum, all to do with the history of currency. After an hour looking at all the different types of coinage, we then got distracted by what can only be described as a ceremony of the King's troops. Finally we got board of the shouting and people in blue, and carried on our intrepid explorer, only to find that where we where we thought the scout shop was, was not. So an executive meeting and came to the conclusion that we needed food, so a trip to the nearest chuck wagon solved that problem.

After lunch we went to the Swedish equivalent to the Mary Rose (which will appear in the photo section soon). A couple then decided to that a trip to the local theme park, was in order. Although soon got other ideas, when they found out the price just so that they could go on one of the rides.

Day 3:

Today was a day for planning and chasing shops that are not in the places that we are told. We were all planed to go and find and buy a few things from the Stockholm scout shop, but as has happened before on Summer camp, we got to the place where the scout shop should be and then found out that it was not there, along with some outdoor shops that Sparks searched for before hand. It was only until we went in to a shop and asked that we found a shop that we could buy some gas from.
Then it was on to that well known fast food place that features highly on Spark’s list, McDonalds. This is where we split and a group went of to explorer the delights of Stockholm shopping district, and the other group made up of 3 leaders and 1 explorer went off and booked all of the tickets for the bus, to go up to the Vassiro and also managed to get Sparks to pay that extra bit of money for a train ride to Oslo rather than going by a very long bus journey. Then after a quick drink in the train station, it was a quick bus trip to the Stockholm transport museum.

Day 4:

A very delayed start mainly because for a Dominic and Ian, but it was a very long day of travelling by bus up to the Scout owned island, called Vassiro. Although we had a good time when we first arrived, as they had a shipment of drink and sweets that all needed to be put on the boat so that it can go across. So, being good scouts and the likelihood of getting something from it we all made a chain and transferred the food on the boat. Just as we all thought, there was a slight accident…and a knife slipped, but likely it landed on a crate of Coke and not anybody else, but the downside was that we had to drink it as it was damaged, ha.

Day 5:

A nice a laid back day, most of it was filled with going for a swim in the Baltic Sea, which was very cold but nice and refreshing. We also tried fishing, with the compromise that if we caught anything we would be able to gut it and cook it but for some reason we were unable to catch anything, mainly because of the amount of noise that was coming out of someone’s mouth, uh um Dominic.

Day 6:

Much of the same today, a group of us decided that we needed a swim and a bit of clean so we went in to the Baltic. We also had an explorer around the island. Very short entry today.

Day 7:

We had a nice change to the day today, we went on the "Trapper Trail", which shows how different animals are caught and how the trapper would be able to move over different obstacle, such as rivers, rock faces and ravines. It was a very enjoyable change. We were also trying to plan a evening trip on a yacht, but unfortunately this did not happen, as it was very hard to try and book anything on the island as there is 1500 sea scouts and 200 girl guides. It was also time to think about packing as well, seems as we are moving off the island to go back down to Stockholm.

Day 8:

Time to move on, well it was until we got to the boat and found out that it had broken down. At this time Sparks was pulling out the rest of the hair that he has left, as we needed to get back to the mainland for the bus back to Stockholm. Luckily there other boat was able to take us all. The rest of the day was spent traveling. But when we got to Stockholm we stayed the night at the same hostel.

Day 9:

Up at the crack of dawn today, as we needed to get the first train to Oslo, which took up most of the day. When we arrived in Oslo, we headed straight for the YHA, so we could dump the stuff and freshen up. When everybody was ready, we hit the town, well if only for some food. And with Spark's BK sensor going mental he dragged us to the nearest BK. Thinking that this would be the cheapest option, only to find out that most burgers cost 90 NOK, which is about £9. This soon put most of us off buying anything that was not necessary.

Day 10:

Today we went and had an explore of Oslo, and we went to several museums, including the Fram. Which sailed Amison to the South Pole, to beat Scott. We also went and saw the Viking long boats, which have been dug out from the burial mounds. We then had to move on from Oslo (thank god) to a small station called Snippen, just outside Oslo. This is where we were offered a bunk house that was gladly taken, as it was very comfortable, and had all the things that we needed.

Day 11:

The first time in a long time where we were able to have a lay in. But with the food diminishing fast and food party was sent out to buy some food whist the rest of the group went for a hike.

Day 12:

Wash Day, it got the the stage were everybody clothes could actually walk away because they were soo dirty. So it was decide that washing was of high importance, this also meant that we needed to make a HUGE washing line (our creation can be seen it the photos) so that everything could dry. After a late lunch it was decided that a walk was needed, so everyone went off in to the wood, to see what they could see!!!

Day 13:

Short of basic food again a group had to go out to get some more. Whist the others went for a long walk up to 2 knife and forks, of which both were shut. But went they all got back they certainly looked very hot and knackered. Packing was also the order of the day as we had an early start.

Day 14:

Home time, with all the kit pack and the bunk house fumigated, it was time to go home. Luckily some very kind locals offered our bags a lift up to the Station, and they showed us the short cut to the station, which in the end was not needed as we had plenty of time. We were slightly delaided because the flight before us was late, but we managed to make up the time as we had a tail wind. All in all it was a very good trip. Over and Out.