Seventeen scouts from both Burne and Earley troop participated in the Climbing Badge day. The morning was spent learning about the equipment, knots & anchors, clothing and environment, helmets and harnesses, bouldering, belaying and climbing calls and practicing these in preparation for the afternoon session where each had to complete four separate climbs an abseil as well as demonstration the knowledge they had gained from the morning sessions. Congratulations to all the scouts that passed and many thanks to the instructors who gave their time to make the day possible. The badges are on order with the district badge secretary and will be presented at a troop evening once we have received them.

Paul Boreham (GSL)

Tonight, the 5th Dartford Scout Group fielded two teams into the District Scout quiz, one from the Earley Troop and one from Burne Troop. Each team consisted of 6 scouts, with 6 scout teams in total and a 7th  team made up with one leader from each of the scouting teams.  Both of our teams were placed with Burne comming in third and Earley taking second place behind 9th Dartford.  By all accounts it was an enjoyable evening with good old competative scouting spirit. 

Tonight the Earley Troop set of on their 2nd night navigation of 2009 and this route, recommended by Jim Lilleycrop, followed the historic London Loop.  Departing Crayford Station @ 20:00, each patrol set off at 10 minute intervals armed with glow-sticks, torches, a map, compass, a set of headings and a good sence of humour.

Although there had been some rain earlier in the day, leaving mud and puddles aplenty, the over night weather was mild and dry, with a mist in open areas, but good general visibility so no problems asside from some wet feet and muddy trousers.  

A big thanks to Julie and Christopher for having the hot chocolate and cakes ready for our return to base, where we bunked down, watched a film and one-by-one fell asleep, before rising at 7am to the smell of bacon sandwiches.

The day started with thunder, lightening, rain and possibly the strongest winds this year to date, but that’s just a walk in the park for the weather hardened scouts of the Earley troop and just reminded them of summer camp.  As planned, we met at Crayford station at 11:00 and took the train to London and first visited the Bank of England museum, which usually closed at weekends, had opened especially for the show.  Alas photography was not allowed at the bank, but it provided welcome shelter from the elements and gave the scouts the chance to not only see what a solid gold ingot looked like, but the rare and possibly only opportunity to lift one and at 24lbs needed some effort. The morning value of the bar (updated twice daily,) was in excess of a staggering £256,000.

After our visit to the bank, the roads had cleared sufficiently for us to find a fantastic vantage point from which to view the return parade and shelter whilst we ate our packed lunch. We soon heard the procession returning and we watched the many floats, bands, acrobats and vehicles, who despite the weather were all in excellent spirits – from cheerleaders to armed Marines and pork farmers many of whom “Hi-Fived” our scouts as they watched and cheered them from the kirb-side.

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