After being dropped at Gilwell by car we were now on our own with a mission to get to the Lake district and not just a big town but a campsite in the middle of nowhere. Quite an undertaking for anyone in this day and age. To travel over 350 miles by public transport. Our plans had already been changed in the week as we had switched from rail to coach due to engineering works that would have added several hours to our travel time.

For some of our scouts this was the first time traveling on National express coaches trains and the underground. We faced a challenge to cross from the northern suburbs of London into its very heart to Victoria, one of the busiest mainline stations.

Of course we also had all our rucksacks, our tents, shelters, games and of course herbie carrying our pots and pans and climbing gear. Most expeditions of this nature have the bare minimum of kit but we had big plans at the Lakes which needed kit and proper catering for hungry scouts

Our traveling companion was named herbie and certainly earned his money on the trip. It was all hands to lift him up the stairs at busy victoria station.

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Of course traveling through London did not go unnoticed by the public and we were accosted by international scouts old and current. Everyone wanted to know what this strange band of scouts were up to. Perhaps we should have been sponsored! The scouts managed to make light work of the trip by train then tube then foot.

By the time we arrived at Victoria coach station we were all hot and bothered and our scouts discovered to their horror that you have to pay to go to the loo! Amazingly we were early for the bus and after grabbing a drink and some snacks went to the departure gate.

It was going too well. Now the fun began. Our bus was waiting but we were told that we would be getting a second bus. Of course this broke down and a replacement bus arranged along with the traditional grumpy driver! Worst still the bus was going to be changed several times on our way. Several hours later, buses and happier drivers we arrived at Windermere!

We were by now experts on loading kit and were even more grateful for herbie. The scouts were in great spirits probably because there were lots of stops with shops for sweets. The journey had not taken much longer than the single bus journey possibly as the contract drivers were in a rush to get home each time.