DofE silver practise expedition: The peak distinct Day 1

So I managed to conquer the bronze award and then it was time to conquer the silver "practise" award. I had a brilliant group with a few original members and a few members. The original members: Lucy and Hannah and the new members: Nata, Kirsty, and felicity and one other Monique who was part of out bronze practise group but not the real thing group! Anyway we were, as some of the teachers called us, "the dream team" and we were ready to set off. We got to our drop off point, we got our heavy rucksacks on and we were gone. 5 seconds after leaving the coach we were already marching up a hill and then we knew that this wasn't going to be the last one.

The View on the top of the hill!

The peak distinct is full of stunning views. Anywhere you stand there's hills that surround you or forests of tall "twilight" trees as I like to call them. The weather too was great, perfect for DofE. It was cloudy with a cool breeze especially on top the hills with the sun occasionally coming out to say hi. It was boggy in places so our boots turned brown as we slipped, slid and sunk in the mud. It wasn't that boggy in the morning but as the day went by our boots added a layer of thick mud. In the afternoon we were walking uphill, ankle deep in mud with the sound of squelching and a few squeals here and there with Miss following my footprints so she didn't sink into the mud! I have to say it was an amusing part of the afternoon!

Another view!

On the first day it was weird getting use to the new group but the "dream team" was great and quick! We were making good time and we didn't stop much only to check the map and for lunch.The first part of the walk we saw one group which was Tom's group who were, by the looks of it, debating on what way to go. So we carried down these rocks and me, Nata, Kirsty and Felicity decided it was time for a sing-song. The four of us started singing old primary school songs which took us by surprise that we actually remembered the words whilst Monique was in front and Lucy, Hannah and Miss at the back taking photos of insects. (Insects was our groups "focus") We were walking through, what I call twilight trees and me and Nata changed the song to Bella's Lullaby hoping someone would turn into a Vampire and whisk us away up the trees. No one came along to do that. It was a bit disappointing! Only a couple of mountain bikers pasted us. One of them nearly fell off his bike. Me and Nata exchanged a hold-in-the-laugh look until he was out of sight. We got to the road where two other teachers were waiting and said our group were by far the happiest they have seen. Well you have to stay happy during these things or you'll get no where. We said a quick hi and goodbye to the teachers and carried on down a hill then over a river. 

The river we went over!

We were all doing well, all cheerful and happy which was good because by the third day I knew that we would all be tired and we would be all achy. We walked mostly a gradual uphill until lunch. We walked through what seemed to be a stream. It was rocky and we were going up so we could feel it in our legs. We were still surrounded by twilight trees so when we saw light from the top of the hill it was like the heavens had opened and we could actually see. We stopped for lunch and saw about 4 other groups. Lucy needed the loo so I ran down the hill with her and tried to climb a barbed wire fence into the forest again, which Lucy managed to get over all right but when it came to me it was just a total disaster as I was trying not to touch the barbed wire and at the same time trying to reach a bucket, which was on the other side, for me to to step on. It seemed darker and it seemed like the trees had tripled in size. It was a bit creepy and it was oddly silent considering that there was 4 groups making a noise on the top of the hill. I managed to get back over the fence, I have to admit I was quite elegant getting back over the fence, any who we ran back up the hill and headed off again...

Hannah and Lucy. My wonderful original group members! Nice face
there Lucy!

Time went by and I was beginning to get a headache. One of those headaches that makes it difficult to look at any bright light. I didn't moan or complain I just carried on thinking I can eat and sleep when I get to the camp-site. After a bit we ended up in fields and we had to try and fit through the gaps in the walls. This was pretty funny watching everyone try and fit through with their rucksacks on and then getting wedged in between the gap. After getting everyone through the gaps we walked on and before we knew it we met a friendly face. Hello cows... Yes if you read DofE bronze expedition the real thing, you will remember the man eating cows that chased everyone and then Hannah, yes Hannah, running down the hill like a headless chicken leaving me on the top of the hill whilst dragging her bag to safety. Well luckily Miss has a cow obsession so we were safe with her and these cows didn't seem to bother with us which was a shame because I would of liked to see Hannah run towards the cows like some crazy man!

Felicity getting stuck in the gap. It's Lucy nice facial
expression again!

Hello cows!

The sun was turning a nice orange colour as we walked. Me and Nata decided it was time for another sing-song, this time we were going duo. We were singing the sound of music and I was considering on running up the hill like Maria does in the film but I contained my urge to do that and saved my energy for when it was needed most. The peak distinct is a great place to sing, I do love a good sing-song it just keeps you going a bit.You can't beat it! It gives you that extra bit of POW to get through the day.We finally made it back to the camp site. Relieved that we could rest, sleep and eat. We did pretty well on the first day. We had a good pace and good time and we did have a few good laughs along the way.  But we still had two more days to get through by ourselves and we could do it. We were the "dream team!" 

The sun setting! Red night... shepherds delight!