Updated: 5/08/08 : 10:20 DK time
News from Denmark (Denmark time is 1 hour ahead of BST)
Friday - 1st August 2008
Departure day - unfortunately.. it has been a brilliant week and this webpage can only give taster of the opportunities which have arisen this week ..........
Just when you think the international adventure is over - who should we meet at in the arrivals hall at Stansted airport, but "Scouts of Russia"...., time for a quick photo call.... 
09:00 Jeff has taken a Group photo, after breakfast, just before we said "au revoir" to Chris & Laura who are catching a flight before lunch to Paris.
As David types this Diane, Yvette & Elaine are busily starting the clean down process to ensure we leave this excellent Scout Center as we found it. The next Scout contingent moves in today at 3 pm. Mike & Ian have weighed our packed rucksacks to ensure they are still under that 15kg load. One of the contingent has just added to the events of last Saturday, and Alex is starting to collate photos from various digi cameras, for that souvenir DVD (or 2); there's loads of them photos........
Our coach is due to pick us up at 13:30 to take us on the one hour jouney to Billund International airport to catch the 16:40 flight back to the UK.
Thursday - 31st July 2008
At varying times the contingent started out on the 7 km walk to the Viking Centre. A room inspection the night before determined the distance the drop off points, along the route, where contingent members would start walking. Explorers being Explorers opted to walk the full 7 km, though the female members had (once again) the best room.
After a guided tour of the viking centre, the youngsters were able to cook bread, view and try out some craft making (Viking style), viking style skittles and view a falcolnery display before walking ino Ribe to spend the remainder of their Kroner. (Most had already bought Lego kits the previous day).
A camp fire rounded off the day, with the Explorers & Scouts giving every leader a personal and handwritten thank you for their individual contribution to the DK expedition.
Wednesday - 30th July 2008
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The excitment had been building since we arrived in DK. Shortly after 10 a.m our coach offloaded us at the studded gates to Legoland where masses were queuing. Within minutes, we were in the park, split into small groups, given rendevous times and set loose. From mini land, pirate land, imagination land, legolaredo, adventureland, knights kingdom Scouts, Explorers & big kids alike then enjoyed the Legoland magic for the next 10 hours.
Pictured with Aimee, Ben, Katherine (Explorers), Chris & Laura is the newest member of the Ely Contingent..
During the day Carn (from Cambridge), was invested as an Explorer Scout by John on the Lego canoe ride (a water chute) accompanied by Nancy, Aimee & Ben. Photo taken .....
Tuesday - 29th July 2008
Shuttled by cars to the local train station, our tickets validated, the Arriva train arrived on time, and within 45 minutes we were in Esbjerg. Ian & David set off for the local Tourist information office for maps. Jeff and co led the contingent on a "long, hot & boring" tour of housing estates (apparently) en route to the "Swimming complex", which Ian & David arrived at via a shorter and more interesting route about the same time....!!
Decisions made, most took advantage of the cooling welcome of the pool complex on a very hot day. Some opted to walk back into town for retail therapy (sounds expensive...). The contingent regrouped in the the town centre around 4pm. The shoppers opted to catch the 5.07 train back to base, the swimmers opted to shop and catch a later train.
After a late evening meal, we prepared for Legoland.
Monday - 28th July 2008
Another hot day...starting with a 2 km walk to the Vadehavencentret for 10 a.m. to meet Michael, a marine biologist, our guide for the day. An informative overview of the Wadden Sea, which stretches from the Danish to the Dutch coasts with tides which come and go every 6 hours, 12 minutes.
Time quickly evaporated after the film showing the raging storms that the Danish coast has experienced over the past 4 centuries and the damaged inflicted on the population.
With shrimp nets in hand, the contingent boarded the tractorbus, for the trip out to Mandø(Pronounced Manoo) Island .... The tractor bus began its trek along the low tide road lined on both sides by Maple sticks for several kilometres. The tractor bus dipped and dived on the undulating sand roadway washed in places by the sea.
After a rapid tour of the island, our guide took us over the dyke and down to the beach for a coastal wildlife safari.
Today we've also seen a very positive news article in today's Danish "daily" newspaper of our "twinning visit". Jeff Parker is also now famous as the first leader to have pitched a tent on the roof of the Degentoften Scout Centre.... !!!
From Katherine and Bradley "On Monday we went to Mandø Island. This could only be reach by a tractor bus at low tide on the lower road, Mandø Ebbevej, and by cars at low tide on the higher road, Mandø Laminysvejen. When we got there we were shown round by a marine biologist, whose name we forget. After our tour, we had lunch and then explored the mud flats. We found loads of interesting creatures including; shrimps, crabs of all sizes, mussels, tiny fish, oysters and cockles, which bury themselves in the sand once you leave them in quiet, water covered place. We went back the same way we came but this time we sang lots of songs. It was great fun."
From John (an Ely Scout) "The holiday so far has been absolutely action packed. I have met fellow scouts from Denmark and Germany and forged friendships with people from our own and Cambridge Districts. So far we have had an informative tour of Ribe, walked through the countryside and camped in the woods. We have played on the beach and learned about the tempremental coast of Denmark. We have played countless games and met countless people. The holiday so far has been a true experience of Scouting fun and fellowship."
Sunday - 27th July 2008
Another hot day........
From Nancy & Aimee (Explorer Scouts) "The seven Explorers and five older Scouts spent Saturday night at Lillebjerg and set up a campfire and a shelter to sleep in with the help of some German ‘Rover’ Scouts. They sang us some German songs and told some strange riddles. It was all going well until about 2.30 a.m. for those who were awake and the rest- Aimee, Ben, Robbie, Rebecca, John and a couple of the Germans who were fast asleep. Suddenly, the Danish Scout leaders turned up with a ‘surprise’. They told us we were going for a night hike. After pulling many Explorers out of the warmth of their sleeping bags we set off equipped with torches and a map from Google maps – labelled incorrectly! The fact that Robbie had managed to stay out of sight and was back at camp sleeping made this even more infuriating! Nevertheless we did find 2 of the 4 check points, only to come back to find out that there were questions at the points which we were meant to answer. The foreign Scouts sent us back to find the 1st question, in Morse code that no one could answer anyway!
An hour and a bit later we then were given cake, and finally allowed to go to sleep under the hand-made shelter, which we managed to squeeze 13 of us into. After a very cosy night’s sleep we had to take down the creation and set off back to base, the fastest way possible aka cross-country – well through a couple of maize fields." Explorers arrived back at Degnetoften, around 11.15 a.m. (Sunday)."
Robert (Sutton Scout): "The Explorers, Germans and honorary scouts got woken up and told to do a night hike. There was 4 bases to be found and riddles on each post. The district explorers all went as 1 big group and the Germans went alone. We went to all the bases but we didn’t do the riddles because we didn’t know about them. So we had to go around again and do the riddles. When we got back (after the second go) we had cake. It was about 2 O’clock in the morning when we got into bed."
Scouts led by Kurt & Japser, returned to Degnetoften from Egecentret in a 3 km walk, accompanied by David & Yvette.
The Scouts and Explorers returned, dirty, smelly and tired but happy! After compulsory showers (a first for some) and a leisurely lunch we set off for the short walk to the beach.
With the Wadden Sea tide out (by some 4 km), sand life (many crabs & shrimps) were discovered in the sandpools, around the beach which was covered in a thin layered of very warm water. Of equal interest were the pools of water left behind the ebbed tide, which soon become a favourite for games...by youngsters & adults alike who had a good time. Sometimes the adults just have to be big kids too, joining in the fun.
The volcanic-ash like mud souvenirs were mostly washed away before leaving, with more showers for all being the order of the day on return to base.
Our new found German Rover Scouts returned, along with our Danish Scouting hosts, for a traditional English Sunday Roast meal, an international game of rounders and a campfire to round off the evening. We hope the link with the Dortmund Rover Scouts will lead to other international opportunities.
From Katherine (Explorer Scout) "Saturday night, after the rest of the Explorers and older Scouts left, the younger Scouts and I set up bivouacs out of plastic sheeting, poles and ropes. Then we toasted marshmallows over the embers of our fires we had cooked our tea over and settled down. After a while the Danish leaders left and we all went to sleep. The next morning, we got up, at scattered times and spent half an hour talking and messing around. Breakfast consisted of cereals, bread and a selection of spreads. We then packed and walked back to Degnetoften and spent a peaceful afternoon at the beach."
Saturday - 26th July 2008
Having learned that unearthly hour rises were not the most brilliant of ideas, everyone started the day refreshed after a good nights sleep. A full day of surprises had been promised, along with Danish style Scouting. by 9 a.m. all had been advised to pack sleeping bags, plenty of water and everything needed to fend of the heat of the day... (upto 30 degrees C expected).
By 9.30 a.m. we had been joined for the weekend by 8 German Rover Scouts staying near Bramming, to add an extra and unexpected international slant to the weekend.
By 10.00 Scouts & Explorers had packed their ruck sacks, torches, suncream, water & esssential supplies for a hot days venture into the unknown.
The Danish Leaders then outlined their plans.... for the contingent....
With the contingent split into patrols, and the 5 oldest scouts made up to be honorary Explorer Scouts, each team had quickly to devise a Scout, to be heard throughout the weekend.
The new teams initially built bridges over a stream, then were given guidance in using GPS compasses. With the first set of co-ordinates input teams set off at intervals into the forest to find the first of 5 bases, and the tasks they would be set.
Communications, Semaphore, Memory & a water task (with crash helmet and dustbin followed)....More details soon....
With the sixth base, being a English/Danish dictionary for translating a coded message from English to Danish, the Scouts along eventually reached the Egecentret (another of Rive Hviding Scouts 4 HQs); which translates to Oak Centre. Under guidance of Danish Leaders & German Rover Scouts, the contingent removed turf to build open fires before cooking their own evening meals, and then lean-to bivouac shelters in which they spent the night.
Friday - 25th July 2008
Shuttled into Ribe, by cars, the contingent met the Mayor of Esbjerg ouside Ribe's cathedral where he presented us with souvenir caps.
Richard & Sven then provided us with an interesting guided tour of Ribe and its history, its culture and how the city has prospered and is soon to celebrate its 1300th birthday. During the tour contingent members were shown around the cathedral and sat round the Mayor's table in the town hall.
Various members, including some leaders, then attempted the 4 indoor climbing walls at the local activity centre.
As the 10-12 km walk back to Degnetoften progressed, the pace of the contingent members who had decided to play football at around 4 a.m. began to sag.....
After the heat of the day (26C) the evening was rounded off by an Explorer Scout led campfire.
Departure Day - 24th July 2008
Thursday 24 July 2008
The main contingent travelled by Milken Coach, to Stansted Airport. Lunch was the main event whilst awaiting airport check-in. With 37 Ruck-sacks checked-in, an uneventful passage through security scanning all then had chance to look round a few shops & get much needed drinks (on a very warm day). Airborne on FR5172 for 80 minutes, clear views of shipping over the North Sea, were soon followed by sandy beaches as our flight began the descent to Billund. Met by Kurt & Jasper, our Danish Scouting hosts, Degnetoften & a late evening meal were a very welcome end to the day.
Contingent 2, with with Jeff & Jane, arrived at the Hook of Holland around 07.45 after an overnight ferry sailing from Harwich. By 18.30 and 450 miles later they arrived at Degnetoften.
Wednesday 23 July 2008
Contingent 1, including Elaine & John, extemely tired after the drive starting shortly after midnight (Tuesday) from Ely to Dover, the 90 minute sailing across the Channel, and the 600 mile drive north arrived at Degnetoften around 8pm (local time).
