martial arts training : karate events

Karate Events

1st SMA Summer Camp 2007	14-07-2007
The location for the first SMA summer camp was the beautiful Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. The event was supported by 45 students, parents and friends of the academy sharing 15 tent pitches in the idyllic Whitemead Forest Park, Parkend Lydney. Our first port of call was the Pedal-a-Bike-Away cycle centre where many chose their transportation for the sponsored bike ride. Having got our bikes helmets bicycle clips shades and puncture repair kits we felt ready to hit the trail. Yep with vigour the teenagers were out of the cycle centre first and on the road while the rest of us followed as best we could until someone who actually studied the map we were given shouted wrong way!
Yeah teenagers. You cant get them to lift a finger at home but give them chance to show off a little and theyre away - in the wrong direction! Back on track and we enjoyed 10 miles of breath taking natural scenery - I borrowed that phrase from the brochure. The trail was entertaining and challenging at times but within 2 hours all were back at the cycle centre enjoying tea and ice creams in the sun.
Whitemead Foest Park was just a 10 minute drive awayand soon we were all engaged in tent erecting mode. There was everything from 2 man pod to 2 acre palaces. Geoff and Gerry were creating fire using two sticks and dry grass - well a gas cylinder and Swan Vesta actually but Im trying to paint pictures with words here. Soon the smell of smoke was followed by the smell of food smelling like smoke. The words foods ready was then followed by a land speed record attempt by Penny Kent who no doubt wanted test it before allowing others to eat. Following our fill of all things dead and burned the kids challenged we adults to a Softball match at which we so called wrinklys administered a sound thrashing. We wanna play football now - yep, same result.
While the kids licked their wounds the adults circled the wagons to chew the fat, or any other remaining clumps of flesh they could suck from their gums and played charades and name games until the early hours before turning in. Some jumped in their sleeping bags others just wrapped it around them as the rain began to pour. Morning and still it rained but Chef Geoff provided comfort in the form of bacon butties and hot tea. See part 2 for the rest of the report and more pics. Enjoy the photos.