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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expedition
There was an old Duke of Ed
Who had an idea in his head
He made this award
Of his own accord
And then he went back to bed
This silver Duke of Edinburgh expedition has been a very interesting experience from which I think everyone in the group has learnt at least one new thing. It has also helped us extremely in the art of map reading. I have also greatly improved my vocabulary.
The 'Discovery' Element
The aim of the expedition was to discover more about the geography, history and culture of Wales and I think we have succeeded in doing this. We have spent 4 days looking at maps of Wales and know the shape of the land between Barmouth and Tywyn almost off by heart! We have also learnt about Mary Jones, the 16 year old girl who walked from her home near Cadair Idris to Bala in bare feet just for a copy of the bible in the welsh language. Her story inspired a man to start the Bible Society. As for culture I have found that a lot of welsh people are very friendly and want to help you if you look lost. They smile and laugh and lot and speak with a cheery accent. The local communities are generally close knitted and farming is a very big part of the area. I have improved my knowledge of the welsh countryside, places and place names. I have found that Wales is a pretty place with a nice landscape and hidden treasures like some woods, brooks and waterfalls we came across. And the weather can be very nice sometimes. I have also discovered various things in my journeying, which I will include in the following section.
The 'Journeying' Element
We arrived at Barmouth station on Monday at about 2pm after a long and hot train journey. We bought our lunch from a local fish and chips shop and headed off to Morfa Mawddach station to meet up with Mr Braddock. We walked to Arthog Village Hall in the sweltering heat and with our ten-ton rucksacks. When we reached the hall we were all really glad to find a fridge and a shower. After a refreshing break a few of us headed off to Barmouth for a paddle in the sea. After ice creams and whatnots we headed back. After meeting the assessor and got ready for bed.
On Tuesday morning we all had a shower before heading off in two separate groups; Team 'elite' (the hares) and Team 'Jackanory' (the tortoises). We walked from the hall along the Penmaenpool-Morfa Mawddach Walk to Abergwynant. The 'elite' team thought it would be funny to race us and laugh at us for walking too slow. We then walked past Kings youth hostel, where we stopped for water, before meeting the assessor at the minor road at the bottom of Cadair Idris. We managed to get there about 5mins before the 'elite' team because they kept going the wrong way and taking long breaks. This proves that sometimes slow and steady wins the race. Then we started the huge hill climb up the side of Cadair Idris to the Pony Path and down the other side. I didn't enjoy it much at the time because the side was steep but I think I would have appreciated it more if I didn't have hay fever and a dodgy knee! Team 'Jackanory' entertained ourselves by telling stories, jokes and making limericks up. It was really fun and we were being quite creative.
There was an old man called Phil
Who didn't like walking up hills
Made kids do it instead
On the duke of Ed
And made there feet really kill!
There was an old man called Braddock
Who was walking across a paddock
He liked Wales so much
He made arrangements as such
So we could walk across Wales paddocks
There was an old Duke of Ed
Who was slightly odd in the head
Being somewhat insane
Made people walk in the rain
Whilst he was still lazin' in bed
We arrived at the campsite with sunstroke, red in the faces and dehydrated. We found that there was a little stream by the field and so the lads made a dam to make a pool. The pool was very useful to soak our feet in and wash our clothes. There were cows in the next field and I discovered that cows cough and can scratch their heads with their back hooves. We set up the tents, hung our washing out to dry and went to sleep.
On Wednesday I woke to find I had been covered head to toe in insects bites! After having a quick wash we set off on the walk along the river to Pont Y Garth. Mary and me stopped on the way to take off our boots and walk a little way down the river itself before giving up because some of the stones on the bed of the river were sharp. Then came our second big climb. We had to walk up a big hill with lots of ferns up the one side, which we had to wade through, and then up a track where we met the assessor and ate lunch. Then we walked down the other side of the hill following a clear path all the way to Llabwst Farm where we camped. Kim and I then went for a walk towards the beach but we took a wrong turning and ended up on a nice hill with a bench overlooking the sea. We turned and went back and found we had actually walked an extra unnecessary 2km. We pitched the tents and argued for ages over the tent arrangements before actually going to bed.
On Thursday we got up super early and left at about 8am. Team 'elite' took a shortcut (cheated) but 'Jackanory' followed the route card, which made us slower. We followed the route fine until we got to a small woodland area that was flooded and we had to do a detour round it. I think I have really improved my map reading in the last few days. I managed to follow where we were on the map the whole time. There was one funny section when the path went through somebodys back garden and we thought we were trespassing so we crept through there garden and walked into the owner coming up his drive. We made him laugh because we looked so worried! Once we got to the checkpoint at Talybont we headed straight for the shop in Bryn Crug. I have never felt so happy to see a shop! Not even when I go to Cheshire Oaks. I felt ecstatic! We bought our lunch and snacks for the train and then head along more footpaths towards a sewage works which was the next checkpoint. The footpath ran along the river and there were some plain marshy areas, some farm sections and some woodland. In one of the fields there was a humungous bull, which we were very scared of and tried not to disturbed. We eventually reached Tywyn train station and jumped on the train. We had to wait an hour at Machynlleth station to change trains to go to Welshpool. Then I went home. Home Sweet Home. I have learnt that the land is sometimes very different to what it says on the map (sometimes blocked!), DofE is hard, and teamwork is very important!
There once was a team 'jackanory'
Who kept cheery by a-telling stories
They walked at a pace
And held out with grace
In the rain oh so dreadfully poury
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