Tuesday

The first day of real activities. The first day of getting totally soaked. There’s a connection here, I can sense it.

Climbing

It all seemed like a good idea at the time. Josh, Robin, Peter and Alex raring to get up the tower.	The Tower……
… but first some practice on something a little more manageable.	Robin Adderley showing us how it should be done.
The tower is tamed. Holly Kneeshaw reaches the top.	Closely followed by Elly Twaddle.

Abseiling

The Askrigg Under-Bridge Inspection Team perform their daily routine.	Jared’s smiling now. He wouldn’t be if he knew who was holding the other end of the rope.
Mia hits a brick wall. Literally and figuratively.	SAS crack troops storm Appersett Viaduct.

Caving

Group One in full caving regalia. Tellytubbies eat your hearts out.	Ribblehead Viaduct, built in 1875. Just before Mr Culley took over at Malton.

Night Line

Erm, Emily … the idea was that you’re supposed to be BLINDFOLDED …	This won’t do at all. These children actually look like they’re having fun. Perhaps that’s because Hannah’s just walked Sharna into a door.
Robin and Daniel demonstrating the less conventional technique of walking well ahead of your ‘seeing’ partner. But don’t worry, Daniel’s bruises will heal.	Emily obviously didn’t realise how much time she’d be spending in the showers at Low Mill.

Day Two

– a look back at what was … and what could have been.

Today has been an EXTREMELY strenuous and tiring day. Group 1 have been climbing and caving; Group 2 have been orienteering and zip-wiring and Group 3 have been gorge walking and abseiling.

A full cooked breakfast set us up for the day ahead and all groups went into their first activity full of energy, commitment and verve. Which lasted until they reached the equipment sheds where the first seeds of doubt where sown in the minds of the Malton Year 6. The vicious-looking climbing harnesses sent a shiver of fear up the spines of the male members of staff (no names mentioned, but there has only been one here today!) and the full-body waterproofs for the gorge walkers were frankly hilarious.

Having successfully completed their first really physical activity, the children returned to the centre for lunch and had a brief respite before getting ready for their second challenge.

Group 1 were ferried into Ribblesdale and went caving: a cold and tiring activity which certainly served to silence the minibus on the way back to the centre. Group 2 went zip-wiring: according to Instructor Richard they were “going at it like a bunch of lemmings …” but all returned to the centre safely. Group 3 went abseiling: the photos for this are included above, but seeing a dozen Year 6 children swinging on a rope under a bridge must have been a cheery sight.

After tea, the children were let loose in the grounds of the centre for the Night Line activity: a blindfolded exercise in masochism where children rely on their partners to help them negotiate an obstacle course around the centre. Some were successful, some were not but everyone enjoyed themselves.

It has been another enjoyable day at Low Mill, although the weather has not been as kind as it was yesterday. However, since many of today’s activities involved getting thoroughly drenched anyway, the weather was almost irrelevant. Everyone is well-fed and happy; the latter definitely dependent on the former and we are looking forward to tomorrow’s activities. Please check back tomorrow to see the latest batch of photos in the Rogue’s Gallery, plus hopefully the dreaded Room Scores!

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