MacRitchie Hike - 21st April 2012

This was to be our first hike of the year - a 5 km hike in the MacRitchie Nature Reserve, starting from Venus Drive all the way to the MacRirchie Reservoir Park, with a picnic to round it off, and a slide down the grassy slope.

Al;as this was not to be. When we assembled in school at 7 am, it rained cats and dogs. As with rains in Singapore, we all thought the rain would stop in time for us to start the hike. In great hopes, therefore we boarded the buses at 7.45 am, but instead of going to the starting point, Akela decided to go to the end point. This was because it was clearly not possible to start at the original start point, without knowing when the rain would stop. However, there was still hope that we could all do some hiking at an alternative trail nearby.

Again we were disappointed as the rains didn't let up. Akela then decided to let the cubs eat their picnic food in the sheltered activity area. Although not exactly hungry, the cubs nevertheless went about finishing whatever that was packed for them by their parents. Food could only keep the cubs occupied for so long, and when they became restless, Akela then played a game which required the cubs to be observant and to know information that was available in the sheltered area. Akela then asked a series of questions, and points were awarded to the teams who knew the answers. They were several speed rounds, which required the cubs to locate Kaa and then lined up in front of him to give the correct answers. Results were as follows:

Platypus    - 94
Wallaby    - 85
Koala        - 82
Possum     - 80
Wombat 1 - 77
Echidna     - 76
Kangaroo   - 70
Bilby          - 64
Wombat 2  - 59
Kookabarra- 58
Emu           - 33

Emu scored the lowest because they incurred penalties for not following the rules of the game.

By then time the game ended, it was about 11 am. The rain seemed to get lighter, until it became a faint drizzle. Akela then decided to let the cubs get out to feel the light rain, and finally it was time to slide down the grassy slope! It was not easy to slide using our raincoat, but some of us managed to go down smoothly, but others got stuck halfway or they ran into some mud! It was all too short, and it was time to return to school. What a day!














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