future activities may involve team support.
Pete has told us that the orienteering will take (depending upon how lost we get) between 30 minutes to an hour. He informs us that we will be in the field next to the centre, so there is no chance of us going far or getting completely lost; however, the challenge is to find the points and navigate the large field in the pitch black. The only light available is from the one above the centre door. The winning team will be the one that has the fastest time with all the correct stamps on their orienteering grid. Following this activity, we are welcome to use the centre lounge, games room, dining room at our own leisure or pop to the local pub, which is a five-minute walk away.
I am secretly ecstatic about the evening activity and let me tell you why. This information I am about to divulge is not in a conceited or over-confident way, but I am simply being honest. I am absolutely exceptional at map-reading. This skill is something I have inherited from my dad.
Over the years, during many family holidays, Dad has frequently been asked for directions from tourists who assume he is a local (it’s the way he dresses) and to our amazement, he always knows the way. We were always surprised that he’d know, but as I got older, I used to watch him study maps of the area that we were staying in. His most recent car, has a built-in sat nav’, however, dad refuses to use it, preferring his trusty map. I think he secretly collects maps, because he seems to have a map covering every area of Great Britain. Anyway, much to my amazement over the years, I have realised that I also have this skill and fascination for maps. In fact, if I’m honest, you could say that I also have a small map collection – is 18 a collection? Yes probably. Although I am desperately trying not to let the collection increase, with each year, I find myself drawn to maps in shops, which I can’t help but buy. You are honoured, because not many people know about this or the fact that I can easily spend an evening pouring over my maps, appreciating local topography with a chocolate digestive. Some evenings, the TV is just not good enough!
Before the orienteering starts, we are split into groups of four and set off from the centre with two minute intervals between each group. I am in a group with Tabitha and two of Mark’s work colleagues, called John and Owen. My aim is to get control of the map, then hand Tabitha the clipping grid to keep her busy. John and Owen seem quite happy with this for the moment, having already consumed several beers. Looking at the map, I quickly establish that what appears to be the fastest route is not the best one. This is because there is a stream running through the field, which looks as though it can only be crossed on one side. My insight totally alters the direction in which we should go. “Okay, we need to head along this wall,” I say as I point the direction out to the others.
“Are you sure?” asks Tabitha. “The others all went off in the opposite direction to the wall Lizzie.”
“Trust me on this one, Tabitha – I promise we’ll be back with a fast time. You just keep clipping that grid” I reply somewhat forcefully, so Tabitha accepts this and we move on quickly.
As we approach the half way mark, we pass loads of teams coming in the opposite direction, all with jokey comments about our going in the wrong direction. Tabitha questions my map skills again, whilst John and Owen don’t seem to care. As we approach the next point, it becomes clear to Tabitha why I chose this route, because the other teams cannot access a particular point due to the stream, so then have to head all the way back that they came to get round to the point. Of course, we’ve already clipped this point that the other teams are trying to access. This gives us an advantage, so now we must be in the lead. “Well done Lizzie, I can see having you in our team is of benefit,” says Owen. Tabitha
Pete has told us that the orienteering will take (depending upon how lost we get) between 30 minutes to an hour. He informs us that we will be in the field next to the centre, so there is no chance of us going far or getting completely lost; however, the challenge is to find the points and navigate the large field in the pitch black. The only light available is from the one above the centre door. The winning team will be the one that has the fastest time with all the correct stamps on their orienteering grid. Following this activity, we are welcome to use the centre lounge, games room, dining room at our own leisure or pop to the local pub, which is a five-minute walk away.
I am secretly ecstatic about the evening activity and let me tell you why. This information I am about to divulge is not in a conceited or over-confident way, but I am simply being honest. I am absolutely exceptional at map-reading. This skill is something I have inherited from my dad.
Over the years, during many family holidays, Dad has frequently been asked for directions from tourists who assume he is a local (it’s the way he dresses) and to our amazement, he always knows the way. We were always surprised that he’d know, but as I got older, I used to watch him study maps of the area that we were staying in. His most recent car, has a built-in sat nav’, however, dad refuses to use it, preferring his trusty map. I think he secretly collects maps, because he seems to have a map covering every area of Great Britain. Anyway, much to my amazement over the years, I have realised that I also have this skill and fascination for maps. In fact, if I’m honest, you could say that I also have a small map collection – is 18 a collection? Yes probably. Although I am desperately trying not to let the collection increase, with each year, I find myself drawn to maps in shops, which I can’t help but buy. You are honoured, because not many people know about this or the fact that I can easily spend an evening pouring over my maps, appreciating local topography with a chocolate digestive. Some evenings, the TV is just not good enough!
Before the orienteering starts, we are split into groups of four and set off from the centre with two minute intervals between each group. I am in a group with Tabitha and two of Mark’s work colleagues, called John and Owen. My aim is to get control of the map, then hand Tabitha the clipping grid to keep her busy. John and Owen seem quite happy with this for the moment, having already consumed several beers. Looking at the map, I quickly establish that what appears to be the fastest route is not the best one. This is because there is a stream running through the field, which looks as though it can only be crossed on one side. My insight totally alters the direction in which we should go. “Okay, we need to head along this wall,” I say as I point the direction out to the others.
“Are you sure?” asks Tabitha. “The others all went off in the opposite direction to the wall Lizzie.”
“Trust me on this one, Tabitha – I promise we’ll be back with a fast time. You just keep clipping that grid” I reply somewhat forcefully, so Tabitha accepts this and we move on quickly.
As we approach the half way mark, we pass loads of teams coming in the opposite direction, all with jokey comments about our going in the wrong direction. Tabitha questions my map skills again, whilst John and Owen don’t seem to care. As we approach the next point, it becomes clear to Tabitha why I chose this route, because the other teams cannot access a particular point due to the stream, so then have to head all the way back that they came to get round to the point. Of course, we’ve already clipped this point that the other teams are trying to access. This gives us an advantage, so now we must be in the lead. “Well done Lizzie, I can see having you in our team is of benefit,” says Owen. Tabitha
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