Bivouac

Someone from the board of the convent school had the bright idea that the girls would benefit from being in the bush. A long bivouac of sorts, a chance to get rough and ready,  learn some basic skills, survive spiders and snakes, bond without magazines and makeup.

How they found this particular camp is still a mystery but it was rough and ready. In a different situation with different compatriots it could have worked. 


On the first night we were told to wash up after dinner.

No! We paid for this. 

What a joke. This place is disgusting.

Erin is going to call her dad. 

On the third day Bo Bo Wong broke her ankle. Dave, our instructor, sat down the 16 girls in our group and advised that we would redistribute her things so she could hobble along without a backpack for the next 30 ks. If we had a better idea we could put it to a group vote. There was some misunderstanding, because we ended up voting on whetehr or not to leave Bo Bo, and her things behind altogether, presumably to be eaten by the fauna. 13-3 in favour of leaving her. Dave’s face turned red and he looked intently at a bee hive for 10 minutes, in silence. 

On the last day we had a pow wow.

So, comparative to other groups, how did we go?

Hmmm let me see. He drums his chin. His voice is terse.  You said horrible things about each other for about 35of the 50 ks, we lost 36 pegs, two maps, an oar and two of you left you water bags hanging in the trees at the last camp because you knew we were on the home stretch and you personally wouldn’t need them again. He looks at the blank faces and there is something aghast and disbelieving in his eyes. I will be delighted to see the back of you.

Whatever muttered Elizabeth Auswald III. Look at this ant bite.

I washed up on the first night someone offered. And it was gross.