Next take part in an indoor and out-door Patrol meeting, this was one of the first things the Patrol-in Council had to organise for themselves, and at the meeting it was decided to have a short camp, requirement 6e and also an expedition in the form of a night hike, and bivouac at a local Scout Camp this would give them ample opportunity to complete three of the requirements, the hike, and bivouac was originally for requirement 6f, but later the Patrol leaders Council decided it was not appropriate, but would comply with 6d as you can see the PLC was working.

The indoor Patrol meeting 6a was spent preparing, and discussing as a Patrol, the two activities, the first being the hike and bivouac, they were unanimous in the decision that it would not be like a previous one, organised by the former leader, this was going to be better, having learnt by the mistakes of that night.

During my time as a helper and to my dismay, the then acting Leader informed me he had organised a bivouac, in a wood some 12 miles or so away, but he could not be there till later that night, so would I take them? This I did but told him I had to be back home for ten, it’s all right leave them, he explained, the two teenaged former Assistant Cub Leaders also going had a Warrant, and they could take responsibility for them.

We arrived just as it was going dark, following the directions given we made our way to the bivi site, through the first gate at the end of the lane follow the track to the second gate, park the vehicles, and keep to the path till we come to the wood, all this we did and as it said in the instruction there was the wood, clearly he had been here before, at this point the group split up and started to make shelters in the dark, also at the same time it started to rain, the type that hurts the top of your head, that’s when it’s falling vertically and not horizontally, and as if that was not bad enough, there was little or no materials to make or cover the shelters.

After several attempts, I was the only one able to light a fire, if it had been up to me we would have gone back to the Scout hut then, but all I was told to do was drop them off for the Leader, so all we could do was wait and make the best of it till he came.

Four wet hours later he arrives explaining he nearly went home, because one of the gates we came through had been tide up with barbed wire, and had it not been for him seeing the light in the distance from the fire, he would have gone home. needles to say at this point we all went back to the Scout hut, and after making sure everybody was ok, I was able to go home. It wasn't till some months later I found out, that the wood we were in was part of a private estate, and the Scout Leader had not asked for permission to be there, never mind light fires, or build shelters, so much for planning!

Back to the PL's hike and bivouac this time it was planned, and not just by the Leaders but by the Scouts themselves, we decided to hike near the district campsite, and as a precaution it was decided to put up tents, so if the weather was bad we would have some shelter.

Then after more discussion it was decided not to build shelters out of natural materials, as this would cause some problems, but instead we would use bivi/bags and ground sheets, the hike was round one of the local fells used by hikers and picnickers, with well defined paths, and route markers, with no chance of getting lost, the camp warden was told of our plans, and a home contact was given just in case, something that was never done before, or even discussed. Friday night 7.30 we arrived at the campsite put the tents up, changed into warm clothes etc, check and pack the gear for the hike, torches, spare batteries, sandwiches, something hot to drink, waterproofs, gloves, first aid kit, compass, map, bivi/bags etc, once more we were working as responsible Scouts.