People that spend several days on a canal cruise need to stop at least every other day to pick up supplies although within reason they can "tie up" anywhere and you need to remember it amy take a good day or so to get to the next major town or large village that has shops and other facilities.
Fortunately we are situated convienently so it is common sight to see narrow boats moored while people stock up and not a few take an overnight stop.
As I sit typing this up it is raining yet again here although the weekend was quite a bit better than forecast with just the odd heavy shower and no thunder unlike at my aunts a few miles away.
Things generally come out at this time of year so when I've been out I've been mindful of catching anything with long stems against my limbs as things like tics and gnats can easily land on and do as a matter of course do wear insect repellant.
There were always staff around but in practise with things like orieneteering then it was usually another trusted boy who would step up.
Generally if on foot or in my wheelchair I tended to prefer wearing short trousers as to me they were more healthier and easier to put on myself even if getting your socks on straight and past the heel sometimes was hard going needing a hand or two.
While it may not of been in the form I would of preferred, actually I'm quite grateful for those opportunities to be involved in ourdoor pursuits.
Today is Whit Bank Holiday over here and we are almost going full circle today in looking at something that does matter: Disability Scouting.
This blog started with the tale of how Scouting for the Disabled to use a very period phrase was a well kept secret, officially existing and practised but somehow not passed on adults whose job was to inform parents about what their children could do so we didn't get told about it, never mind encouraged to join.
Today things are thankfully different.
Children with physical disabilities, visual impairments and leaning disabilities have a place in scouting world-wide at all levels and in all sections.
Here we have a Beaver with physical disabilities - and we need to start young - and at that age you need to learn about your Abilities given the medical profession see you a lot about your disabilities and that can easily lead to forming a restricted view on achievement potential and so a pattern of being included rather than left out needs to start.
Well trained, adaptable and prepared to think out of box grown ups are a must to work around supporting you as part of your colony, pack or troup and the first thing to remember is barriers are often in our heads so a welcoming, prepared to work with you approach really helps.
Things always worth considering is physical accessibilty not that we don't mind a challenge when it comes to activity centres, camp bases and the like.
If the layout can be made easy for us to use and storage areas easy to get at, we too can help everyone else out. Trust me the last thing you want to feel is unable to contribute to whatever everyone else does, mucking in.
It's not all one way traffic.
Having a person who works with you, encouraging through disability awareness all those around from fellow scouts to help out hopefully learn something about how they can help whatever form that might be depending on your specific needs.
Things like fastening stuff was something I struggled with back then so rather than being sat there waiting, why not ask if you can help at all.
Another may find seeing things difficult, a third may get very anxious or need to be kept informed of what's happening next.
It's a balence between learning over time how you can help and taking away from us our independence.
Surprisingly enough there are disabled adults in scouting as volunteers which is kind of useful not just as role models for all scouts young and old but even as mentors.
Having the life can really make a difference to somebody along the path.
Because you may not do everything doesn't mean you should have a place to help out and in just the same way appropriate adjustments to the training program are made for disabled youngsters they also have place for adult volunteers to make the most of your abilities.
Being more visable can help - not everyone knows who the local go to person is if you wish to help out - and being seen does spread the message and breakdown any idea scouting is just for the able bodied.
Youngsters are often very receptive to learning how to help and get along with disabled people especially tehir peers if we can break the iceberg around knowing how to help and that you're just as likely to want join in all the fun, having a laugh like any other child.
We're all different but we all belong in the same pack, caring for each other.
With the upcoming bank holiday there will be plenty of people about so one just hopes they take their litter home with them.
Whatever may be on your mind, even being in a busy major conurbation with its activity, you can get the benefits of just letting your mind wonder and get more in tune with the natural world.
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Weather this weekend was really quite good so exploring was very much on the agenda here as I followed the canal towpaths taking my time to take in the countryside tucked beyond the built up area.
Sections have rough and ready pathways affording the abilty to get close to trees providing much needed shade this week before making ones way towards the next lock moving along.
Inspiration can come from many places and sometimes where you may not expect such as comics where a few did try to do for them what the popular "Why Don't You..." television series on the BBC did and use their medium to encourage children to put down what they were doing and do something like go outside instead.
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Here from an page in the 1970's they are looking at the things you need on and with you and the things you might do along the way like identify trees, flowers, birds and so on which isn't a million miles removed from what you'd do in Scouts and Girl Guiding but with the advantage anyone anywhere can just do it where there can be waiting lists and in a few places the lack of age appropriate unit for you.
That is one of the most imprtant lessons to learn.
Dandelions are out too in most of the meadows around and about which often featured in our childhood activities and games.
Having come through the lock gates, the vessle peacefully makes its way down the canal towards a group of cottages built for those ashore before encounting a second set of locks.
In the fields, a few horses have been transported for grazing on the freeholding near the farm animals.
Continuing on with the theme given how well the sweatshirt turned out I was looking at a number of contempary pictures and noticed there was a official polo shirt.
I seriously doubt we'd have him do this this very breezy morning but this is just the sort of great summer activity cubs and scouts would be undertaking most likely to be at a weekend session away from your hut, learning how to get across from one side of a stream to another.
In certain parts of the U.K. insect repellant is strongly recommended for keeping creapy things off you like Tics which are real issue for some of us as much as we love outdoor life.
