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Rain, Rain, Go Away!
We awoke this morning to a wet and COLD campsite. From about 8:00pm last night we received showers of blessings which lasted to about 5:00am. In the adult area it when from muddy to swamp! It looked like it would be a cold and rainy day but it started to clear up around 9:00am.
Several of us had problems with leaking tents but they were not too bad. We had some wet duffle bags and other items not in plastic bags. A couple of sleeping bags got wet but luckily it was not enough water to soak through to the sleeping campers. However, spirts were high amoung our boys. Despite the cold and rain, there are no complains or moaning (except from the Support Team) and I think the boys should be commended for this display of true Scouting Spirit.
The Troop went to the Starburst Activity today. Starburst comprises a community services project and demonstrates a Scout promise to "help other people". Our boys were transported to West Horndon in Essex where they cleared and painted a bridge along with some other Scouts. The activity lasted from 9:00am to midday. They had lunch and then took a short walk to the nearby estate of a multi-millionaire, and toured the ground.
In the meantime the Support Team started to setup he Contingent Pavillion. Yes we finally found it after a visit to Jamboree HQ (30min walk), then to the Contingent Support Centre (30min walk), then to find out that our booking was lost, so we were sent to see if we could find a free space amoung some being shared. We found one and reported our location (hopefully the persons assigned to this tent will not turn up and we will not have to move). Of course once locating an area we need to setup to mark our claim. We left Mrs. Jones to "hold" our spot, and Mr. Hunte and I journeyed back to our tents in the adult area (30min walk), to return with the big suitcase with the display boards (20min walk - we found a shortcut). We will transport the other items tomorrow.
On the Troops return to the Jamboree site, they joined us at the Pavillion and helped with some of the seting-up. They then returned to their site after stopping in the Plaza (the main Hub) for a while.
We plan to leave here around 8:00pm., find some dinner in the Plaza and then return to our area for some rest after a tiring day.
Later.
Trevor.
Contingent Leader.
(2007-07-29)