Wednesday 11 July 2012

Into the Wild . . . And Worse

I am sorry, everyone. 

Once again I have been forced to abandon you for the wilds of Dartmoor (where I am, in fact, at this very moment probably drowning in some inhospitable bog) by the cruel and vicious beasts who run the Duke of Edinburgh program. 

However, if I survive, this is the last time you will hear me whinging about this accursed trial, until I disappear for a kayaking and sailing camp later in the summer (but as I won't be carrying my bodyweight in rucksack, mud and blisters on one of the most inhospitable microclimates in Britain, I doubt there will be much whinging there).

However, for your amusement, I am bringing my camera - not that I wasn't going to need it for the compulsory project element of the trip (for some reason the officials find it amusing to make us pretend this physical torture is for research purposes, do not ask me why) anyway. 

Thus, if all goes well and I do not lose / break / eat the thing out of desperation, I will possibly be able to create a video of my experiences, which I will upload to my YouTube account AND post here, for your sadistic amusement and gigglage. I highly doubt it will be taken on by the Duke of Edinburgh officials as a promotional video, but hopefully it will entertain you. If it happens. Which is a whole new level of plausibility in and of itself.

So, dear friends, think of me suffering in the wet and cold every now and again, will you?

I leave you in the charge of Jon Snow, and his infinite musical talent.


~ Charley R

15 comments:

  1. Dartmoor... it sounds so picturesque. Actually, most English places do. It also sounds kind of fun (but not really my thing. I'm more a read-the-adventure type person.) :)

    Can't wait for the pictures! (Please don't eat the camera. Something tells me the taste would be sadly lacking in goodness.)

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    1. Dartmoor is only picturesque in good weather, which only occurs one or two times a year. If you're lucky. It's an absolute nightmare otherwise - as I discovered!

      Don't worry - I didn't eat it, and somehow it destroyed the showers that soaked me to the bone and murdered my phone, dry clothes and all my lunch! The vid will be forthcoming :)

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  2. Gah, I could kill the bog that's drowning you right now, if only it had a life. Would you mind loaning it yours so I can kill it? You can have it back after that.

    I wait eagerly for your return, my Lady. *drops to one knee*

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    1. I'M ALIVE! Sir, I charge thee with hte mission of going forth and slaying every cursed bog on that cursed moor. Painfully. With the aid of your faithful sidekick Steve the Killer Ping-Pong Ball! NOW!

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    2. I'm on it. That is, once you finance my trip over there. That'll be a couple hundred dollars-- Steve makes it somewhere over a thousand.

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  3. Ah, despite your whining, I do wish I could have had something similar to this experiance of which you moan.

    Sadly I wasn't even able to participate in Drama club, as much as I would have liked to.

    So I must await your video footage, that I may live vicariouslyl through your perilous trip and hope that Thor kindly leaves the storms at home and Loki knows what's good for him and rescues you from that man eating bog.

    *giggles and grins*
    :} Cathryn

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    1. Thor did not leave the storms at home.

      Loki evidently thought I was coping well enough on my own.

      Both were probably laughing hysterically at what we had to go through.

      Ohmygoshthathurtsomuch. But I feel so epic for completing it, I hardly care.

      Video is coming soon :)

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  4. Charley, you have no idea how jealous I am. Backpacking across the UK and Ireland is #50 on my bucket list.

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    1. Avoid Dartmoor. The place is nothing but knee-deep bogs, overflowing rivers, tufty grass and ridiculously steep hills on a bad day. On good days it's absolutely gorgeous . . . but there are, unfortunately, so few of those.

      Just our luck to go out during the wettest part of the year. Gyeash.

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  5. I honestly don't envy you. Dartmoor can be very pretty, but it can also be a right pain in backside... especially when combined with typical British weather.
    Looking forward to the video, though! Think warm, happy thoughts! x

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    1. Hehehe, oh it was an absolute hellhole, I won't pretend otherwise.

      Vid is coming soon - the camera survived! And I feel so happy and warm right now that I can pretend it was all just a horrible nightmare xD

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  6. Be safe and don't get eaten by Moor Witches! *cackle*

    (speaking of which, your books should be winging thier way to you, since I finally GOT OFF MY DUFF and mailed them. I knew if I didn't do it before the move that this would happen, but...so it goes. Anyway, THEY ARE COMING. Promise. *grin*)

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    1. Hahaha. The Moor Witches should be more afraid of being eaten by me. SO HUNGRY OUT THERE!

      YAAAAAAAAAAY!!! If you sent them to my school address, I'll get them in September, but nevertheless it's definitely something to look forward to! :D

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  7. Gigglage. That's good ^_^

    Return to us safely darling! :)

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    1. I'm back! And so very very very happy to see you all *hugs*

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