Transcription:

Midnight Hike

20th-21st November 1981

On Friday at 7:30pm we met at the Scout Hut. There were about 30 of us and we were split into three groups. There were seven of us in my group: Andy Key, Vince Murray, Mick O'Neil, Gary Williams, Mark Jones, Russ Hodges and myself.

From the Scout Hut we were taken to the start of the hike by Bosun, No. 1 and some parents of other Scouts. We arrived at the starting point at 8:15pm. At 8:30 we began walking, mostly across country and along canal sides. The grass and paths were wet and muddy and most of us finished with wet feet.

The hike was split up into three sections. At the end of the first section our group had to recover three staffs from a branch which overhung a pool. Once we had the staffs we had to make a flagpole with the three staffs and two pieces of rope.

At the end of the second section, which came at about 12 o'clock midnight, we came to a base where No. 1, Bosun and two Venture Scouts had prepared hot soup and hot dogs for us. We were very glad to see No. 1 with the food, as by this time we were very hungry. After the food and a ten minute rest we set off again, this time on the final stage of our walk, which ended with us at 3 o'clock taking off our shoes and collapsing into our sleeping bags.

We were woken up at 7:30, in plenty of time for our breakfast, which was at 8 o'clock. After breakfast we all helped Bosun and No. 1 to pack the billies and cups into the boots of the cars, and our sleeping bags into the backs of the cars.

We all set off together from the camp, Bosun and No. 1 in their cars and us on foot towards the main Cannock road to catch a bus back to the Scout Hut.

By Mark Garner.

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