 | We arrived late on Saturday night and decided for a restful day on Sunday. The morning was spent getting sorted and playing in the hall and then we set off so the beach at the 4th Churchill Barrier. It was very interesting to see how much of the mast was still sticking out of the sand. We couldn't manage to get everyone on it this time - its disappearing fast. Most people were in the water and the staff efforts made sure of a win in the race to the water. |
| We went to The Ring of Brogar the same evening. The following day we set off for Birsay. Unfortunately the tide was over the causeway and we couldn't get on to the island. Some of the boys were disappointed we wouldn't get to the McDonalds at the top - easily fooled boys.Monday also saw us at Deerness. We had a walk round the clifftops and of course went to The Gloup - a huge natural cavern right on the coast. We ended the day with the first of many games of volleyball. |  |
 | It was the first time for years we walked round the clifftops at Yesnaby to see the sea stack and natural archway. We then walked up to the cairn where the a repeat of the 2002 wrestle took place. The young pretender didn't win this time either - despite being 3 years older. Don't mess with the big cheif boys ! We had a BBQ back at the war bunker then it was back to Kirkwall and we all went swimming at the local pool. |
| It was a camp of wind-ups. Staff fooled the boys and the boys tried to fool the staff. It was a sad sight for Simon to see his beloved Aberdeen top stuck at the top of the flagpole. Over the week many interesting methods were employed toget the boys up in the morning - favourites included the Samba band featuring the Pot Noodle horn and the fire alarm. The junior boys did get their own back by forming their own Samba band and waking up the staff at 6am! Its all good fun and the boys even beleived they would each get a report card home from camp - I wonder if it made them behave better. Wednesday saw us travel to Hoy. It was a misty, damp day but despite this we made it to the Old Man of Hoy but sadly didn't get a very good view. Part of the war museum was closed as well so it wasn't a good day. Volleyball and card bingo rounded it off nicely though. |  |
 | On Hoy we always stop at the Dwarfie Stane. Its basically a huge hollowed out boulder said to be an ancient tomb and home to the dwarf Trolld. The challenge with the Dwarfie Stane is to get as many people as possible inside into the various compartments. This trip we managed to squeeze in everyone - our total was 15 people inside the Dwarfie Stane. Wednesday always seems to be the day for a water and foam fight. Wearing suitable gear the staff held control of the outside tap - but it was a hard fought battle. Everyone ended up soaked in the end of course. |
| The following day it was off to visit Skara Bare and Skaill House. Then the afternoon was spent on the beach at Dingieshowe. The staff decided to go into the sea before they were thrown in my the seniors. Some others weren't so lucky. The sea wasn't that cold once you were in - apparently. Of course someone has to be buried in the sand and what better a volunteer than the young man who decided to dig a hole. Once finished he was promptly thrown in it and buried. Nice ! |  |
| Another first for us this trip was a visit to Orkneys famous Highland Park distillery. In two groups we went round hearing about the process of making whiskey from malting the grain to aging in the sherry casks. It was very interesting - the senior boys were very disappointed not to get a wee taste of the end product though. In the evening we took a trip to The Italian Chapel on the 1st barrier and had the usual race along the barriers length. Dispite being able to run the boys clambering over the barriers took longer to cross than the staff just walking along the causeway. More volleyball followed with the cries of "Set Me !" now a familiar sound in Orkney. |  |
 | Our last full day on Orkney and we spent the morning in Kirkwall shopping. The joke shop seemed a favourite and despite some mis-direction everyone managed to find it. They did a good line in wigs and some had the courage to wear them as if nothing was wrong in the town centre and even on the ferry home the following day. Mad. The afternoon saw us all at Maeshowe, a stoneage burial tomb. We got a dedicated tour which was the best yet. We said farewell to Ewan who had to leave early and then took off to Kitcheners Memorial tower. In the evening our football challenge game against the 1st Kirkwall BB's was won convincingly by the 44th after a good game. Hot dogs and Coke finished off the night. |
| So all good things must come to an end and we had to face the journey home after a brilliant week. We headed for Stromness and the ferry to Scrabster. We stopped off in Thurso to visit the plaque marking the birthplace of BB founder Sir William Smith. The journey home was uneventfull as most slept through the rain. Back home again - with talk already of next time. |  |
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