Friday began with a nasty downgrade in the weather forecast for our destination at Carolina Beach State Park, but temperatures remained high and the possibility of a great adventure awaiting Troop 20...onwards charged the 600...well, maybe only 35 of us...
After leaving Mount Pleasant, our good weather departed the pattern at the South Santee River as rain began to fall, and fall, and fall...at Myrtle Beach the light show began and the cloud to cloud discharges northward of us were most impressive and distressing...we began to wonder if this would be the camp setup that should never have been attempted...what would be the weather at our camp site in the maritime forest of North Carolina, in the dark and only a few of us knowing exactly how to get there...additionally the gate would be locked and only ASM's Ando and Miklancic would be inside the park with the troop trailer...how would ferrying everyone from the gate to the campsite go? (Campsite is about one mile from the gate)
The Troop 20 guardian angel was looking over us...as we reached Wilmington the rain began to slack and upon arrival at Carolina Beach State Park had ceased for the moment. We were able to get everyone into camp and setup began...ASM's Miklancic and Ando had already made a good start with their scouts in unloading and marking the trail to the campsite with lanterns. Around 11:30 bedtime operations began and everyone was settled by 12 midnight...could have been ugly, but scouts learn to make their own luck...
Saturday began with breakfast and cloudy skies...we departed for Fort Fisher at 0915 and upon arrival there the skies began to let down and increased in intensity...after the scouts completed work on their Fort Fisher Historic badge, it was decided to continue on to the NC Aquarium as heavy rain boded ill for lunch operations back at camp.
The newly reopened NC Aquarium at Ft. Fisher is a marvelous facility. Its new addition shows the black water swamp habitat in eastern NC (the Cape Fear river basin) and its albino alligator. Part of the new addition features a covey of quail roaming the enclosure, crossing in front of visitors and every once in a while...attempting to cross the albino gator pen...so far it is the White Gator 15, Quail 0...I don't think it is much of a covey now, I didn't see any, but a few of our sharp eyed scouts did...
The other deep water and coastal tanks were amazing and most of the troop watched a fascinating movie on sharks...Back to camp for a late lunch...the rain continues to fall...
After lunch, the rain entered the start and stop mode...We decided to change our schedule and departed for a wet and wetter hike to Sugar Loaf sand dune, the most famous and historic sand dune in North Carolina and possibly wettest. Most scouts and adults covered about 3.5 miles in the on and off rain, but a few truly dedicated, rough and tough scouts (Reid Darby, Sebastian Salas, Duncan McIver and a few others who escape my mind at the moment) completed 4.5 miles...
Back in the camp the rain became less and less, and finally stopped allowing for a drier dinner and a campfire program. Scout Ross Cary served as our Master of Ceremony and did a fabulous job as we were entertained by several patrols, including the adult patrol and the 2nd year Webelos patrol from Pack 505. Webelos Leader John Epperson led a contingent of 5 Webelos who joined us for the weekend.
After the campfire, dessert was served (apple and pineapple cobbler, yummm...) and the scouts played manhunt until bedtime, much earlier at 10 PM.
Rain again threatened at daybreak and many of the adults postponed leaving their tents until the rain made up its mind to cease and desist...After breakfast, pack up in the sunlight!!! and Scouts Own Service led by our chaplain's aide Graham Schertz (Well Done Graham!!!). Departed for home and the Fort Fisher to Southport ferry...see pictures below...Overall, the weather was challenging, but so is life and I believe many of our scouts (and some adults) learned a few valuable lessons this weekend...along with some fun!!! Thanks to all of our adults who made this trip (ASM's Clinton Dunn, Guy Ando, Dan Miklancic, John Warren, John Cameron and dad's Brad Rickenbaker, John Watkins and Edwin Todd).
Special thanks to Brad Rickenbaker for these pictures...
Yeah, the ferry is here!
Scoutmasters are pondering the imponderable! "To run...where the brave dare not go!"
Scouts pose for picture prior to ferry arrival..."When's lunch!!!"
Hey, is that a rain cloud ahead?
and on Saturday night in Eastatoe Gorge. Sunday morning will see us hiking to the top of Sassafras Mountain (image below from SC's Highest) and then return to Fort Aiken. Hiking totals will be around 25.5 miles for the weekend.
