Scouts take up challenge
Success as Scouts take part in 54-mile cycle event
THORPE Acre Scouts latest adventure was a 54-mile cycle camp.
On the August Bank Holiday Saturday, 11 scouts and explorers along with four leaders set off on a range of cycles followed by another leader in the support vehicle.
The first few miles were slow as everyone familiarised themselves with their cycles and necessary adjustments were made.
They headed through Garendon Park, Shepshed, Belton and Osgathorpe to join the Cloud Trail Greenway and after a short stop on the bridge crossing the River Trent and on to Swarkestone Lock for lunch.
They then continued to Alvaston Park where the famous BMX track was put to good use, this proved an adventure too far for the 72-year-old leader Graham Knight, who says he took a spectacular tumble but escaped unscathed.
After a short visit to the park cafe it was onwards through Derby passing Silk Mill Park and Derby Cathedral to Parker’s Place where they joined Route 54 out to Little Eaton and the long climb up Morley Lane to Drum Hill Scout Camp.
On Sunday morning there was time to enjoy breakfast and pack away the hammocks before the heavens opened. The heavy rain did not severely dampen the spirits but gave the impetus to knock two hours off the journey time.
Graham Knight told the Echo: “All the scouts are to be congratulated for their achievement, but especially Chloee, who experienced problems with her 26 inch wheel cycle and completed most of the journey on a borrowed 20 inch wheeled cycle, and Ryan, who only learned to ride a cycle five weeks previously.”