Malibu Creek 10-Mile Hike & Bike Ride

As all 35 of us pulled into the campground on Friday night, I was very thankful that I had put my rain cover on my back pack before I had tossed it into Mr. Barragan’s exposed truck bed. While it was more sprinkling than raining at Malibu Creek when we got there, that quickly changed and I was happy to know that my sleeping bag and jacket were staying dry. The second we found our campsite, Scouts and Scouters were running this way and that, some searching for their rain gear, others unloading trucks, and some “supervising”. While I toiled beside Julian and Jessie to get lanterns working and trucks unloaded, Nick L. pitched two tents for the four of us and we didn’t need to be told twice to get all of our gear inside. Once we made sure that everybody had tents and the bikes were protected from the rain, I settled in to fall asleep in a tent much too small for me. My feet were sticking out the door.



The next morning, (most of) Troop 104 rose with the sun to find that the campground was covered in fog and dew and that some of the troop Assistant Scoutmasters had fallen asleep in Brian Sears' car. After a filling breakfast of French Toast, we began to prepare for the day ahead. While the Troop left on a 10 mile hike that would take them more than a few hours, myself and Venture Crew 104 set up a 1 mile compass course that some of the younger scouts needed for rank advancement. When we were done setting up, the older Venturers headed into town to pick up some supplies while Cassandra and I strapped on our packs and headed out to meet up with the Troop. The whole big, bad group met back at the campsite for lunchtime. After lunch, Venture Crew 104 taught the younger scouts how to navigate using compasses and then sent them out on the compass course to test their skills. In a few instances, they ended up moving in the exact opposite directions that they were supposed to go, but once they learned that compasses had to be held level in order to function properly, they got the hang of it. While the younger patrols ate their dinner at the benches with Mr. Krueger telling them stories, the Rubber Duckies lounged on a tarp in the middle of a grassy field and ate a delicious tri-tip cooked by the talented Nick L. As the sun fell, Mr. Part went home with the two Lady Venturers, Liz and Cassandra (I guess us boys smelled really bad). That night, all the Scouts congregated around the campfire and sang loud and told stories while others played cards and the Venture Crew feasted on Apple Cobbler. And alo that night, our tent was facing the right direction and I was able to sleep in comfort.



On Sunday morning, we rose, ate, and set out on a bike ride in search of a water hole. We traveled paved and dirt roads, muddy and sandy trails, and over a fair amount of rocks on our adventure up and down hills. When we finally found the water hole, scouts scattered in every direction, picking a rock and climbing to the top of it. Soon, we were out of time and headed back to the campsite, where we held a rushed Scouts’ Own and headed home. No rain did stop us, no hill was too big, and in the morning, deer grazed in the empty campsites.




Good fun was had by all, and all should be sure to check for ticks.

---Jonathan R., Troop 104 Historian