BUKE selection weekend

On Thursday 18th November 19 student paddlers from all over Britain made their way towards a bunkhouse in North Wales.  After an eventful 9 hour journey with the Edinburgh boys involving a broken roof rack and the police we arrived and got chatting to all the awesome guys untill 4 am.

On Friday after a tasty egg and beacon breakfast we bashed down the Aberglaslyn Gorge and Fairy Glen which were both low, freezing but a fun way to get to know all the guys.  In the evening the destination choices were presented with a guest appearance from Dave Manby to slim line them.

Saturday morning we were piled into cars, blindfolded and dropped off in remote locations with the task to get back to the bunkhouse.  Techniques used to get back involved, swimming naked in lakes and drinking in the pub!  After lunch we scaled the mine ridden hill behind the bunkhouse to find clues for a crossword, some down mines, some halfway down an absail and all not where the map said they would be.  Great times! 

In the evening after some “medium rare” sausages the voting took place and then a huge drink session ensued orchestrated by Dom form Edinburgh.  Flaming tails and upside down ladder climbing were the order of the day until the votes were announced.

The team assembled, planned in a drunken fashion the awesome expedition ahead then rejoined the rest of the group for more seshing.  During the night I joined 8 other folk in vomming the “medium rare” dinner out of the upside window onto the fire escape pole which was sad.

In the morning after the team photos, we said our fond farewells to our new friends and commenced the journey home. 

Thanks very much to Nick for the car and Sam and Dom for driving. Tim, Dave and all the other ex-expeditioners for helping organise a fantastic weekend!