Playing Catch-Up

  My summer started out quite slowly.  I didn't do much at all the month of June after our friends left.  'Not much' meaning: summer school, doctor appointments, babysitting, and preparing for the craziness that would be my life, come July.  The last week of June/ first week of July was spent filling out paperwork for a $400 "campership" (yes, "campership") and emailing the information to my wonderful crew advisers who just happened to be on vacation at the time.  And, once that was figured out, I packed my bags for Garmisch, Germany.  Two of my fellow Venture-ers and myself spent a week at Camp Bayern with seven other scouts going through the Kodiak high-adventure leadership course. That week was full of new experiences!  Each day we completed a different commission which included: 'The Effective Team, Values and Vision, Communication, Decision Making and Planning'.  And, after completing each of these commissions, we each received a bear claw, some of which we had to carve/sand down in order to make it look real(ish).

  Our first day at camp was spent setting up our campsite (yes, I can now say that I have helped, actually helped set up an eight-man tent), getting to know each other, digging a firepit, eating chili, and enjoying a nice fire before the rain started.  Ah yes, the rain.  Each and every single day liquid sun-shine blessed us with it's presence.  But, it wasn't really all that bad, because it didn't rain too much in the mornings when we did our activities, our tent only leaked a little bit, and my psychic grandma sent me water-resistant-pants-that-saved-my-life three weeks before I left.

Sunday was spent in Austria at the Kletterwald (i.e. [in English] ropes course).  We had a ton of fun!  I completed three of the eight or nine different courses and would have attempted some of the others if we hadn't run out of time (the thunderstorm may have had something to do with it as well).

  Day numero tres was the gorge hike.  Now, when I asked how long this hike was, I was told eight miles.  Whether that meant 'eight miles up, eight miles back' or 'eight miles round-trip', I don't know.  All I know is it was long and very much up-hill and I was quite tired when we finished. But, it was gorgeous (harhar, very punny :P), the gorge water was amazingly delicious and refreshing, and over all, it was very much worth the effort.

  Tuesday.  The day I almost died.  The day we hiked the Kramer (a.k.a. The mountain of eternal pain < insert dramatic dun-dun-DUN music here > ).  Most of our group made it up and back just fine, though two of the girls had to go back to camp due to knee problems/ heat exhaustion. Sadly, we did not make it to the very top. We had six liters of water left between the ten of us, 300 meters left to go of tough climbing, and not very much shade on a very hot afternoon. So, as a group, we made the decision to head back down. Not many of us were disappointed ...

View from a little over halfway up Kramer.

  Day number 5, Wednesday, was cable-skiing.   Which, I must admit, I have not in any way, shape, or form mastered.  Though, wipe-outs, long-walks-on-gravel-paths-while-barefoot, and wetsuit complications aside, I had a blast and want to do it again with my family sometime.

  Then Thursday was the last day of high-adventure activities (and, in my opinion, they saved the best for last).  White water rafting! Yup!  In Austria.  Level 3 rapids (on a scale from 1[easy] - 6[impossible]).  I.  Loved.  Every.  Second.  Our German instructor (guide? captain? admiral?...) was quite entertaining as he led us in our 'river warfare' (which my raft won, just saying...).  One of his insults to another raft being, "You look like a millipede! With only 999 legs!!" .... How I love Germans :)

  And, sadly, it all had to come to an end sometime.  Friday was dedicated to packing-out and heading home.  Which was a very bittersweet experience.  I loved the camp atmosphere, the people, and the super exciting adventures we got to have, but home, family, and my own bed were calling and I was glad to be back ... for about four hours before heading to France (another post is on the way, I promise!).

~RM 

Campfires, Minor Internal Bleeding, Group-hugs and Simple Math.

This weekend was Crew 303's first camp-out.  Which happened to be my very first camp-out as well.  

And I am alive and (mostly) unharmed!!

Amazing, I know.

We camped at Camp Freedom in Ansbach, which is about two hours from Lupburg.  The weather was quite chilly both Friday and Saturday (it didn't rain, thank heaven) while Sunday was beautiful, warm and sunny.

  By the end of the weekend I had:  Learned how to tie a bowline knot and a few different hitches and lashings (which I can still tie almost a week later :D).  I 'helped' set up and strike a tent (depending on how much interaction is needed in order to be considered 'help').  Minor internal bleeding and a small concussion were the results of a very exciting campfire skit.  I was given both my Totin' Chip and Fireman's Chit (meaning I am now licensed to carry and use a knife, saw, and/or ax and start a fire .... kinda scary ;P).  I completed both IOLS and ILSC training.  We stumbled upon the fact that an aluminuim-foil ball and a campstool can be very entertaining.

AND, to round it all off, I made some new friends.

Ansbach Crew 97 + Hohenfels Crew 303 = The Big Cheese Crew 400. 

A.k.a.: Pure Awesomeness.

I had an amazing time and learned so many new things and I would gladly do it all again!!

~RM

I Promise! I Can Explain!!

Not really.  I must apologize for not blogging in .... how long has it been? ..... Oh my gracious!!  It's been a week!!!  *Collective gasp*  Now, I could blame my absence on several things:

1. The internet.
2. School.
3. Not having anything of importance to blog about.
4. THE PROJECT.

Ok, so, excuses one through three are some pretty lame excuses.  But!  Excuse number four is a VERY valid excuse.  Now, you might be wondering what in the world THE PROJECT is.  I will graciously enlighten.

THE PROJECT is the result of joining a Venturing Crew (which is run by the BSA {Boy Scouts of America}.  I know!  I never thought of me as a Boy Scout either .... being a girl .... Well, I'm not really a Boy Scout ... I'm a Venturer ... None of this has made any sense .... My advice: Google it.).  Anywho!!!  My Crew is spending three days in a castle next weekend.  Burg Reinick.  It is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. 

^^^See what I mean?!^^^

 We are going to be staying here with (up to) 95 other Venturers.  And guess what!  On Saturday night there is going to be a medieval banquet!  Uh-huh!!  So, have you guessed what THE PROJECT is yet? ..... Maybe another photo (or two)....

Because our crew was not informed of this trip before the beginning of February, everyone had to try and figure out what to do for their costumes really quickly.  I made three medieval dresses, one for me and one for both of my friends.  And my sewing machine just about died.  I am quite proud that my dress no longer looks like a table cloth....(we're all about creativity that doesn't cost much ;P).  But, I have to say that my sewing machine is not going to see me again for AT LEAST another week and a half.

I think that's a pretty good excuse, don't you?  No?  Phooey.

~RM