Sunday Nov 24th 1985

Ramble to Gayhurst

Met at 9.30 a.m. Headquarters

We were transported by parents to Bunstye Wood where we commenced our ramble. The weather was quite cold and the ground wet underfoot but we progressed steadily through the wood. Baloo spotted a gamekeeper ‘s snare to protect pheasants that were being reared. The main tracks were very heavy going because of the tree felling work being carried out within the wood.
Having reached the Gayhurst House grounds we proceeded towards the Church, with Baloo pointing out interesting features on the way and giving a short history of the House. Discarding our muddy footwear outside the Church we ventured inside. Having written our names in the visitor’s book and each cub scout pretending to be the vicar in the pulpit, we put on our footwear and walked to the Sir Francis Drake Public House.
Our ramble then took us to Digby’s tunnel under the Newport Pagnell Northampton Road. The brave party walked through the tunnel when Baloo informed us there was an Ironstone Spring some hundred yards into the Spinney. The party agreed that his must be found in the dense Spinney.
Nowhere could it be found even by the Gold Arrow Cub Scouts. We returned through the tunnel to view an old Bath House overlooking the River Ouse but on the way, what did we find, yes the Ironstone Spring completely in the opposite direction. Having carefully viewed the Bath House because it was in a very dangerous state we followed the river bank into a Riverside Meadow.
A game of Rounders then took place to finish our interesting ramble. Having met our transport home in the Sir Francis Drake car park we returned to the Headquarters at 1.15 p.m.

Akela C.S.L.