Page 37 - Mercian Eagle 2016

AT Cpl Ball, A (Grenadier) Company, 2 MERCIAN
During deployment as part of the permanent range team in early 2016, members of A (Grenadier) Company, 2 MERCIAN were sent to Kenya to assist in the live firing exercises and play enemy forces. Although this was a really hard graft, we were able
to get some well-deserved adventurous training during the 7 week overseas deployment. I feel adventure training is a crucial part of the training package and gives you the chance to challenge yourself and put yourself in positions that really make you think whilst under pressure.
To get to our AT location, we had
to take a long journey in the back of a number of TCV’s over some tricky terrain. Eventually, we arrive unscathed at a place called Savage Wilderness; it sounded very ominous!. Their main base is in a valley down by a river with good lodgings, a pool, a bar and decent food; it made a real change to Archers’ Post and LAB-East!
At Savage Wilderness they run a number of activities, such as rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking and white water rafting. Three of these activities can be done from the accommodation, including riding bikes straight out of the camp onto
a great cross country route involving more than a little technical downhill sections. We
Here we gooooooo!!!!
were surprised at a planned stop by a lone Kenyan who produced ice cold Coca-Cola and Fanta out of nowhere. Kayaking was run on the river next to the camp, whilst rock climbing was a short minibus ride away.
Of course, we instantly flipped the boat.
White water rafting was the activity I enjoyed the most. We had the opportunity to travel down a gorgeous river, in the sun, able to see a load of animals ranging from monkeys to snakes; I’d recommend it to anyone. Our instructor was South African and had us paddle down a waterfall to see who could hold on the longest. Of course, we instantly flipped the boat. The best part though was what we saw after resurfacing – a pair of shorts quickly drifting down the river with a naked Cpl Gines swimming frantically after them!
Savage Wilderness was a brilliant opportunity to try out a number of different types of Adventurous Training and was a great way to both relax and be challenged finishing what was a taxing deployment to Kenya.
Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!
We survived! Wait, why is he naked?
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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