2nd Ahoghill Company Section made a long awaited return to Dunseverick for an overnight camp followed by a day of water sports.
It was our first camping trip since our Dunseverick Camp in 2019, and there was an eager buzz among the eleven boys who met in the church carpark.
After hitching on our newly rebuilt trailer and loading the boys’ gear into the van, our convoy was on its way northwards. The drive was a pleasant one, with sunny blue skies and clear views of the landscape when we reached the coast. Thankfully the narrow, winding road leading to Dunseverick harbour was free from traffic, and the van and trailer had a clear run down to our chosen spot in the carpark.
With the van and cars parked, we headed off on foot along the coastline to scout out a spot to set up camp. It was the first time putting up a tent for some of the younger boys, and our location was a picturesque classroom in which to learn from the older boys and leaders.
Once camp was set up we walked back to the carpark to chat around the barbecue and enjoy a selection of burgers, sausages and chicken, before turning in for the night. The excited chatter from the boys’ tents gradually faded, and the rhythmic crash of the waves eventually lulled them to sleep ahead of the next day’s activities.
Saturday
We awoke to another beautiful day with sunlight bathing the walls of our tents. When ready the boys returned to the carpark for their breakfast, where the leaders had strung up a tarp to act as our basecamp for the day.
After packing up their tents the boys spent the morning fishing – some used rods to go sea-fishing from the rocks while others used crab nets in the nearby rockpools. The smell of the barbecue lured the boys back to basecamp for lunch, after which we launched the canoes into the sea.
The water was a little choppy and made fishing from the canoes difficult, however we could still paddle around and explore the inlets and bays along the coastline. One of the leaders had brought his spear-fishing gear, and the canoes gave the perfect vantage point to watch him search for and dive after the fish. He was rewarded with a catch of one flat fish and one pollock, which were gutted and grilled on the barbecue.
Our last watersport of the day was coasteering, and a group of boys and leaders donned their wetsuits to climb, jump and swim their way around the rockpools west of the harbour. On their return we rinsed the saltwater off the equipment, packed up basecamp and loaded the van and trailer ready for the journey home.
We made our traditional stop in Bushmills to eat chips beside the river before continuing to Ahoghill to be greeted by a carpark of waiting parents.
It was another successful outing to Dunseverick and a fun filled weekend for the boys and leaders. All being well we won’t have to wait two years to make our next return.
