Abbeysdie Scout Units Notes

4th Waterford Unit

St Joseph's
Abbeyside Scout Group
Scouting Ireland

Annual Camp Notes – Adelboden / Switzerland 2005

Annual Camp Adelboden- Switzerland 2005. Friday the 22nd of July saw huge activity at the den as annual camp was about to get underway. This being the occasion of the 75th annual camp of Abbeyside scouts it was marked by the fact that camp was being held in Switzerland. Although the troop had in fact stayed in Switzerland before on that occasion it was only for two nights and was part of a tour of European countries which we called annual camp Euro ’88. The final destination this year was the town of Adelboden and it was to be our base/home for the duration. Once the group photographs (for TV. and local press) had been taken it was time to board the bus and begin the long journey. Having left Abbeyside the next big stop off was Dublin Airport to catch a flight to Brussels-Charleroi airport. Having arrived in good time thanks to bus driver John (Hallahans Bus) everyone made their way to the terminal and check in, in time for the flight at 20.10. Once on board the Ryan air flight the excitement was really building, for those scouts who had never flown before this was “the business”! On arrival in Belgium a little while later everyone commented that camp was really underway now as we had set foot in another country! Outside the terminal we were met by our Belgian bus driver Guy (pronounced Gee) and his fantastic green bus which was loaded with all sorts of equipment. Guy would now be with us for the duration of our stay. As soon as everything was loaded it was time to head off on the long journey through the night. This was the roughest part of the overall journey as anyone who has ever travelled long distances on buses will tell you, it is very hard to try and get some shut eye on a long distance bus journey. At around about 6 a.m. on the morning of the 23rd we finally crossed the border into Switzerland, now it was merely two to three hours to Adelboden. As the bus drove further on into Switzerland the countryside changed dramatically from fairly flat to huge mountains and valleys, motorways to small roads just large enough for a bus and no other transport and of course hills and steep climbs which we all became so familiar with. Mid morning saw us park alongside the chalet which was to be our home for the next number of days! We were met by the owner Hari, who immediately made an impression on everyone. Also there to meet and greet us was Shawn Taylor the Jeka representative whom we had met on several occasions back home in Ireland. The rest of this day was spent organising ourselves in our home, having a look around the locality, going for a swim in town and being mesmerised by the sheer beauty and breath taking scenery all about us. The scenery was awesome in its beauty and each time one turned a corner an even more glorious scene came into view. Switzerland certainly took everyone’s breath away. Those who had not brought a camera immediately set about getting one. Camp this year of course was slightly differently run from what a scout camp would normally be. For example food was delivered to our door each morning as well as lovely smelling loaves of bread which were always quickly demolished. Normally patrols would cook their meals themselves but because we were based indoors in what was a three hundred year old chalet things had to be different. The chalet while very comfortable had a small kitchen which was fully equipped. However if a patrol were to start cooking in there it would have been impossible. It was decided that the adults would cook with help from the scouts if needed. This arrangement worked out well for all concerned as it meant meals were on time, well cooked and presented. The chief cooks were Paddy and Geoff and their fantastic skills and cooking abilities were appreciated by all.

How the rest of the time was spent while on camp will be revealed in the notes next week. Details will be given on - the Burgery bomber, Scottish girl guides, white water rafting, ice skating disco’s and mountain biking to name but a few!

Sunday morning saw most of the scouts out of bed early for the first flag up of camp. This day, the first proper full day of camp was to be spent using the local cable cars and also taking some scooter rides down a mountain side over a course/road approximately five and a half kilometres long. Passes for the cable cars were handed out to everyone and for the first time in most cases everyone boarded the cable cars that they had only seen in photographs. The heights these cars have to travel in order to reach the next valley is incredible and this of course means that the views on show are spectacular to say the least. Having arrived at the top and end of this particular cable car on Sillerenbuhl the scooter transport to take everyone back down the mountain to Berglager was acquired by the scouts. This seemed to have upset the operator who was not a happy Swiss’ citizen, particularly as he had not been paid and he let Muller know this in no uncertain terms! After some delay caused by Muller's inability to speak the Swiss-German dialect and the operators inability to speak English the all clear was given to descend. These scooters that were to be used were similar to scooters used by kids around the footpaths and roads of Ireland. The big difference was they were the size and strength of mountain bikes. They needed to be so as the average speed going down hill on one of these was thirty to forty miles per hour. Protective helmets were worn by all and you can bet that the braking systems on each scooter was fully tested before the descent. As with any activity undertaken by the troop the likes of Marco, Damien, John Nicholas and Patrick tend to be that bit braver and bolder than the rest. Of these brave hearts Patrick took a bit of a spill on the way down which prevented him from thumbing a lift for the rest of camp. One or two minor cuts and scratches were also received by some others but the exhilaration of hurtling down a mountain side on one of these scooters really has to be experienced. On reaching the Berglager cable station the scooters were attached to the cable cars and everyone then headed back up the mountain to the restaurant for some food and plasters. Following lunch an attempt was made to go even higher up the mountain to Hahnenmoos. However this attempt was aborted when one of the adults leading the group missed a turn off in the pathway! All that can be said is that Michael will have a good story to tell at the next meeting of the Dungarvan hill walking club! On arrival back from the mountain top in Adelboden the swimming pool was visited and from here on in the scouts got to meet and get on very well with the several groups of girl guides staying in the locality on their annual camps, particularly with the guides from Scotland. Monday saw everyone back on the bus with Guy as the troop headed off to visit the international scout centre at Kandersteg, go for a ride on a chair lift several hundred metres high and also have a go or two on the dry toboggan run at the top of the mountain close to lake Oeschinensee! The toboggan run proved a huge hit with scouts and adults who ran the course not once but several times in the space of a couple of hours. Best performers on the run for the adults were the father and son combination of Paddy and David Murphy while for the scouts no one could quite keep up to the standards of David Hickey. Here again the Scottish guides met up with the troop and arrangements were made to meet up again at the swimming pool in Adelboden. Following some lunch the adults headed off as a separate group to try and reach lake Oeschinensee followed by the scouts a little while later. On the journey back from the lake everyone got their first taste of what bad weather can be like in the Swiss Alps. On Tuesday, hiking and biking were on the agenda and the adults in charge of the biking Tony and Gearoid made sure everyone was aware of safety procedures to be followed before heading off on their excursions to the local wood carver over in the next valley! While one half of the group went biking the others went hiking to Tschenten a cable car station which overlooks Adelboden and has spectacular views from the top. In the afternoon both groups switched around their activities. The wood carver was kept busy with both groups buying a lot of his products ranging from scout and guide woggles to figurines of various kinds and music boxes. Next week in part three of these camp notes all will be revealed about the Burgery bomber, I promise.

Once again the weather in Switzerland at this time of year was just perfect as Wednesday morning dawned crisp and clear. Once the sun started to rise high in the sky heat soon followed. This day everyone boarded the bus for a visit to the Trummelbach waterfalls, the international scout centre in Kandersteg and some serious shopping in the town of Interlaken! The bus journey took approximately two hours and along the route the scenery was spectacular and the number of road tunnels we travelled through left everyone marvelling at the ability of the Swiss when it comes to civil engineering projects. Having arrived at the waterfalls and gaining admission an elevator took everyone up inside the mountain to the starting point of the visits. Once out of the elevator the sight of millions of litres of water cascading down through the mountain was truly spectacular to see. Cameras and photographs could and did not do justice to the scenes everyone marvelled at. If anyone visits Switzerland again in the future this waterfall is way up on a list of sights which must be seen. Having marvelled at the scene for a couple of hours it was now time to visits the scout centre in Kandersteg, which was only a short bus ride from the waterfall. On arrival in Kandersteg lunch was eaten and then a little time was allocated to see the scout centre as well as buy some souvenirs and swap a neckerchief or two with some Italian scouts we met. Lots of scout troops from all parts of Europe were camping here and the scene of so many tents brought back memories to many of the older scouts/adults of Mount Melleray and Jamborora 1977 which was the golden jubilee of scouting in Ireland. Having seen as much as possible in the time allowed it was next stop Interlaken for the spending of lots and lots of Swiss Francs. Souvenirs brought home from here included the following, a cuckoo clock by Muller, pink Swiss army knives by many scouts as presents for their sisters, tee shirts hats and badges by Cearbhall, Swiss flags, Swiss manufactured walking sticks for use by Marco’s dad and of course Swiss made giant bars of toblerone. Late in the evening the bus headed home and once again the swimming pool in Adelboden was visited.

Thursday morning was once again glorious as far as the weather was concerned and this was very welcome as today was the day which was probably looked forward to more than any other – “this was white water rafting day”! The journey did not begin until twelve midday and so this morning was the first and only time everyone got the chance to sleep in for a bit. Instead of getting out of bed at seven thirty as usual all were allowed to sleep in until nine o clock. A good general clean up of the chalet and surrounding area was undertaken by all before lunch was readied and packed. In the early afternoon the launch site for the rafting was reached and once everyone had been kitted out it was down to the river. On the river bank the instructors from Germany, Australia and Switzerland went through the safety procedures. The heat of the day at this point nearly melted everyone as the safety talk went on. Finally and thankfully it was time to take to the water. The large rafts were launched one at a time with their crews of eight paddlers and one guide! Those who had no experience of rafting, canoeing or any similar water sports were at this point questioning the sanity of their decision! However the adults Ray, David, Geoff and Gearoid gritted their teeth wrote their last will and testament kissed all the girls goodbye and with a glance back over their shoulders faced up to their destiny! Two minutes later one raft had to pull in to the river bank! Geoff was overt heating! The problem was quickly solved and soon the paddlers from Abbeyside faced once again the raging torrent. At one set of rapids David, Adrian and Joe were unceremoniously ejected into the torrent and the life saving skills of the guides were called into play. Once again the difficulties posed by the power of the river and rapids were overcome by the team work of the various crews in the rafts. At the finishing point down river some two hours later, epic stories were re-counted of how each raft narrowly avoided disaster. This day of rafting everyone agreed, was the most exciting day experienced in a long - long time!

Friday the last full day on camp was spent mainly tidying up the accommodation and personal gear in the early morning. Adelboden was visited for a swim and then it was back to the chalet for lunch. In the afternoon it was back again for a swim or some last minute shopping for gifts back home. At six thirty everyone gathered outside an hotel in the town and then went in to have a meal of delicious pizza’s, steaks and chips exactly the kind of traditional fare one would expect to find in Switzerland, not! This meal was organised by the group leader. The scouts appreciated the meal itself especially the wonderful desserts while the adults appreciated the meal as well as the fact that for one night they themselves did not have to cook but instead were waited on! At the end of the meal patrol leader Marco Hanrahan presented the group leader Muller with a specially inscribed Swiss army knife as well as a haversack in appreciation of all the effort he put in to making this the 75th annual camp of Abbeyside scouts the huge success it was. Muller thanked everyone for the gifts and also thanked those present on the way they all had pulled together to make camp such a fantastic success. At about eight o clock it was time to start moving towards the bus for home. The town of Adelboden was transformed this night with open air stalls as well as music, games and fire works on the main street. It was all part of celebrations to mark Switzerland’s national day. To everyone from Abbeyside it was exactly the same as “pattern days” in Abbeyside, and so everyone joined in the fun! On arrival back at the campsite a final campfire was to be held but this was the one and only time the weather was against us on camp. Instead of the planned campfire “plan B” was put into action. This consisted of two Abbeyside scouts campfire songs being sung with pride in Switzerland and the letting off of a couple of fire works (which we got permission to do) to formally end annual camp Switzerland 2005. Speaking of fire works. The writer of these notes had intended letting everyone know the identity of the scout who became known as the “Burgery bomber” during camp, because of a particular incident! However legal advice received in the past week as well as a gagging order from the international scout commissioner means his identity must remain a secret known only to those present at the time of the incident. However the following can be said – he has blonde hair as do his mother and father, there is a tradition of scouting in his family and he became known as the Burgery bomber because he lives out “the Burgery road”!
Saturday morning was grey and drizzly at six o clock in the morning when everyone was up and out of bed making final preparations for the trip home which was to start later on at seven. The only hitch to our departure was the strict guidelines of tidiness laid down by Hari! Hari had left very strict instructions for us as to how the chalet should look on our departure and everyone was determined to show we could adhere to them. By seven thirty the chalet was spotless but guess what, no Hari showed up to inspect the work! By seven forty an executive decision was taken to board the bus and head for Frankfurt in Germany to catch our flight. On the way down the mountain towards Adelboden a road block was encountered by the troop which halted the bus. Manning this road block was the local fire officer, spokes person on recycling in Adelboden, part time washing machine technician and chalet owner – Hari, looking none to pleased to see us fleeing in our bus! Muller approached the road block with caution and as back up along went Paddy. Within twenty minutes the situation was normalised, friendly relations were once again established and a small charge of 20 Swiss Francs to cover the loss of a pillow case was paid. The bus driver Guy pointed the bus in the direction of Frankfurt, Germany where our flight was to depart from and by about four in the evening we had arrived. Taking off later that evening for Dublin everyone said good bye to mainland Europe and at ten minutes past ten the flight bringing Abbeyside Scouts home to Ireland touched down at Dublin airport.