Days 1 & 2: Travel out
The trip started with the long drive - all 900 miles of it - down to the Ardèche. We got the ferry from Dover to Dunkirk and stopped in northern France for the night.
In summer 2008 K2 travelled in four cars and "The Van" down to the Ardèche region of the south of France for two weeks of canoeing, canyoning, high ropes and various other silly things in the baking French sunshine.
Day 3: Les Blachas
For the first day we settled into our home for the next 10 days, Les Blachas campsite on the banks of the Ardèche river. What a great place!
Day 4: Vallon and Dragon's Den
We spent the morning in the nearest town, Vallon Pont d'Arc, where the Explorers were set the task of researching attractions for our own Dragon's Den.
Day 5: Canoeing
We set off to canoe down the Ardèche river for two days, but due to illness this was cut short to just one day - was still fantastic though!
Day 6: Free day and Bad taste party
We spent the day chilling after our canoe trip and in the evening put on our most horrendous clothes for a bad taste party.
Days 7 & 8: Canyoning/High Ropes
We split into two groups, one travelled up into the hills to jump of rocks and waterfalls in a river, the others visited the local high ropes course.
Day 8: Big Butcher
Head of Evening Police, Butcher, pulled out all the stops for his own version of the hit TV show Big Brother. See the videos here.
Day 9: Holiday Camp & Cave visit
Despite the late Big Brother the night before we were up early with exercises on the beach, Punch & Judy, a mystery trip and a talent show.
Day 10: Ready Steady Cook & Nu-Rave
We sent the Explorers off with the task of buying ingredients for lunch which they'd planned and then had to cook. In the evening we had our Nu-rave night.
Day 11: All Day Beach Party
We spent a relaxing day in the river, playing boules and then got into our Hawaiian outfits for the beach party proper with a BBQ on the beach.
Day 12: Montelimar visit
For our last day in the Ardèche we travelled to Montelimar, a nearby city, for a look around and our last supper at a fancy restaurant.
Days 13 & 14: Travel home
Finally came our long journey back home. We broke this up with a day in Lille and two nights roughing it in bivvies and cars!
Explorers' views on Ardèche 08
Will - "It was a once in a lifetime trip. I'll never forget the memories that we forged there."
Rebecca - "Ardèche was fantastic! It was so much fun with loads of things to do and I would definitely go again."
Danny - "I thought the Ardèche was good because it gave me the chance as an Explorer Scout to see a different country from a different way, I also went to Vallon where I saw other French Scouts doing the same as me."
Paddy - "It was one of the best times of my life and I thought that it was amazing how everyone got to know everyone and made new friends!"
Eddie - "Visiting France was an amazing experience which opened up new opportunities for me that I could never have experienced without Explorer Scouts. I had the chance to do new activities and visit a foreign country with friends my own age."
Stuart - "The Ardèche was a place of outstanding natural beauty. It was truly spectacular."
Kris - "Fantastic two weeks, great experience, a real adventure."
Sam - "Best experience EVER."