Gwilym's Adventure Blog

The house we were working on at the start  The finished house Building the workshop Eco Friendly Fuel Brickettes For the last week we have been based at Muhaka Camp where have been working on a couple of projects. One was building a mud house and the other was at the Jatropha Oil project where we were building a workshop and making some eco frendly fuel brickettes. On the first we were presented with a timber frame and it was our job to make the walls from mud balls and complete the house so the lady who was to be the new occupier could move in with here children as soon as possible. On the second we were making fuel brickettes to reduce the use of charcoal and therefore the amount of wood taken from the forest for fuel. At the end of this week we had another day on the beach before moving to Imani Camp (only 20 mins away) where we spent some time doing tree planting and forest clearing. We also had a dance off with the locals.

 Working at the local school  The team and crew Some small wildlife (but still pretty big) Some bigger wildlife So we have now been in Kenya for a week. It was an very long and drawn out flight from Heathrow to Mombassa (via Nairobi). The team and I have seen loads of Elephants at the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary and have also been out working in the local Primary School and with the local farmers worming their goats. We have alos been making paper of of Elephant Poo and repairing the roads in the reserve. It has been hard to remember the fact that Kenya has a water shortage as it has rained almost everyday but the showers are short and sharp and you soon dry out. As soon as I have finished writing this we will be headed to the beach for and afternoon of R & R before heading on to our next camp at Muhaka.

No posts for the last week as I have been doing some of the more mundane things in life sych as servicing bikes, buying travel medicines and preparing for my month away. This morning at some silly hour of the day I jumped on a plane and flew out to Kenya where I will be spending the next four weeks. I am working for Camps International and assisted by Carly I am leading a team of 36 students and 3 staff whilst we complete conservation work, go on safari, climb Mount Kenya , work with the community and have a few R & R days. I will update the blog if I can but internet access can be hard to find. I will post a full report and photos on our return in mid August.

Today was a blur of packing up tents, cleaning stoves and generally tidying up before I took another group out for some Off Road Riding through the trees. Over the last week 180+ pupils have taken part in a huge number of activities. Whilst I have taken canoeing, climbing, off road riding and swimming groups, a number of other instructors have run archery, low and high ropes, abseiling and crate challenge sessions so there has been plenty going on. Up to this point I have spent 37 nights sleeping in tents since end of March. I am now going to enjoy 7 nights in a bed before I head out to Kenya next week.

Today was another day of walking through the New Forest with a mixed group. Although the weather in the morning was not great, it soon driend up and turned into another stunning day, so at lunchtime when the groups swapped over, the afternoons group had to struggle with soaring temperatues.

Today I spent the morning teaching Canoeing and the afternoon leading a group Off Road Riding through the New Forest. It was yet another great weather day.

On day two of the camp we headed off into The New Forest for a 21/2 hour walk round to Buealieu where the pupils got a guided tour of the Motor Museeum.

Elephant Hawk Moth (thanks to Matt for identifying it)     This week I am working for Haygrove School on their Year 7 Camp at Foxlease Guide Campsite in The New Forest, I arrived last night and found an amazing moth (see photo above). Today I took a group out kayaking and canoeing on the lake and late on I took a group on the climbing tower.

 The short but steep walk in The candidates lead climbing Top Roping Negotiating the overhang Today we headed to Sheepstor for the second day of the SPA Assessment that I have been working on with Andy Holborn. The candidates set up top ropes, abseils and did some lead climbing before the wet weather came in. Well done to those that passed. This evening I am driving down the The New Forest where I will be based for the next 5 days.

Today I was working for Andy Holborn on a Single Pitch Award Assessment. This award is for people who wish to instruct climbing on single pitch crags. We started at the Dewerstone where we spent the morning and early afternoon looking at setting up Top Ropes and Personal Climbing Skills. In the afternoon we heaaded to Dartrock climbing wall and the candidates demonstrated how to run climbing wall sessions. The weather held out for us and as we are at Sheep's Tor tomorrow I am hoping it will stay dry!

Parked up on Redgate Beach Cormorants Paddling under London Bridge Today was the maiden voyage for my new sea kayak, a Valley Kevlar Avocet that I picked up from AS Watersports in Exeter. I also borrowed a hire boat (another Avocet) for Hannah who joined me today for a paddle from Meadfoot Beach round to Anstey's Cove and return. We also took a quick blast the other way to London Bridge. The weather was amazing it is was definately a short sleeve day (for me anyway). We saw a range of sea birds and a huge number of people out Mackeral fishing both from boats and the headlands. I am very impressed with both my new boat and the service received from Ewart at AS Watersports. I wholeheartedly recommend them for all your paddling needs.