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| The Paris Gathering Story - GAP 2000 |
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The start of this trip seemed like any other - 'coaches will leave at 6:30
sharp', but as Venture tradition states the coaches were still sitting in
the car park until 7:00 waiting for someone who had forgotten their passport
- typical. This aside we left rainy and windy England and crawled along the motorway towards Dover, hoping for better things to come. As usual the coach journeys were to prove very interesting, with familiar songs with unusual words that only Ventures can do best!. The traffic made us late for the ferry and by the time we boarded, a long line of Ventures worked its way to the bar, which experienced its highest sales in years. The weekend itself was excellent, even though arriving at the campsite at 5:00 am on Saturday with the prospect of having to put up tents did seem beyond human possibility. Due to the late arrival it was decided to have the Monopoly Run on the Sunday and leave Saturday for Sightseeing. This began with a free trip up the Eiffel Tower, with the rest of the day left to do what you wanted. That day saw the start of what was to become the focus of the campsite, the evening Karaoke and Disco. This informed the rest of the 2 acre campsite that the Ventures had arrived, and I was later told our music was heard on the other side of Paris; this was only the beginning. Sunday saw the Monopoly Run. A well organised outfit of leaders armed with chance cards roamed the streets of Paris waiting to pounce upon unsuspecting ventures. I am convinced that all they carried were 'go to jail' cards! The event was well organised and I hope they find some way to improve it for the next gathering. Sunday evening was probably the highlight for many ventures with our very own drag competition. The results were slightly distressing and I am sure my mind has been permanently scarred by the event. This followed with music and other laughs into the night, I am not sure if the campsite had known what they were letting themselves in for. Monday arrived and it was unfortunately time to pack up and leave. Before the ferry left we went to a place where many British tourists stop when coming to explore France, the Hypermarket. The alcohol and gifts were loaded onto the coaches with the suspension straining under the pressure. The ferry back found not the bar full, but the restaurant, with every venture savoring proper food for the first time that weekend. Arriving back at the campsite everyone was universal in agreeing that the gathering was a complete success. The pressure is on for an even better one next time. Richard Cooper, Goblin Venture Scout Unit |