1st Ascension Island Scout Group

1^st Ascension Island Scouts - Summer Trip 2000

Sunday 13th August.

It has been a busy week for the scouts, following the hectic trip over. Monday was a slow day for all whilst the Scout Hall was set-up for living and feeding in. The first trip to the shops was very interesting with Johnny wanting to pay the checkout lady much more than needed! So Monday was just a walk around the Portstewart Promenade and then a visit to Barry's Amusements for a few hours - where all scouts and leaders got on the Big Dipper and screamed their Lungs out! This was part of the scouts 'challenges' hence no one backed out.

Tuesday was another challenge, to cross the rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede (see picture below). This is a rope bridge that spans from the mainland to a small island about 100 feet and about 200 ft above the sea below. Once again all crossed the bridge. Lunch was had at the harbour of Ballintoy, where the scouts were introduced to the 'warm' sea by wading in up to the knees. There was one that decided to go in deeper - there is always one.... The afternoon was spent in Coleraine Leisure Centre - swimming in an indoor pool - completing more challenges on the water slides. During the evening the parents of the Portstewart scouts had put on a BBQ for all parents, scouts and welcoming the Ascension Scouts. It was a very nice evening with an excellent spread of food - the Portstewart scouts BBQ at the same time.

Wednesday - all the scouts were itching to do something with the moneies that were burning holes in their pockets! So they all went shopping over at Coleraine main shopping centre for the morning and early afternoon, then spent the afternoon watching a film (Chicken Run) at the Jet Centre - Coleraine. After dinner they spent time on the Promenade and watching a local football match near the Scout Hall (pictured below).

Thursday morning we went to look around the Bushmills distillery - observing the process of making Whiskey and some interesting history of the place. There was a whiskey tasting exercise, but the scouts had to be contented with orange juice! We had lunch at Portballintrae (Johnny's house) and then spent the afternoon on a go-cart track just outside Coleraine where all the driving skills were tested to the max!

Friday morning was a 'sleep in' and then after lunch we went to visit the Giants Causeway (picture below). This was a brilliant walk along the tops of the cliffs, and then down to the coast line where some natural rock formations in hexagonal shapes were exposed by the sea. after this walk, another of the challanges for the scouts - to jump into the 'warm' sea! Most people jumped in twice, some were persuaded, and others could only bear it the once! Following this there was a BBQ on the beach at Portballintrae.

Saturday was spent shopping once again around Portstewart Promenade and Coleraine. During the evening we went to Portrush amusements and watched the last half of a band playing - 'The Untouchables' - followed by a spectacular display of fireworks.

Sunday morning was a church parade attended with the Portstewart scouts. Then we spent the afternoon in Portrush finishing with a swim in Water World, and a fish & chips dinner. Time now to prepare for the camp on Monday.

More next week.

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