Credit where it's due and some proper big boy fun.

The rain was off this morning when we woke and everything was soon drying out in the warm sunshine including then trampoline and slide, so by the time Callum and Logan had finished breakfast they were soon out having some more fun in the play area. This was good and it let Joyce and myself get the van tidied up. We used the facilities and it has to be said this is probably the best campsite we have been in this holiday, particularly in regard to the amenities. A huge investment has been made in the Moen campsite. The showering, toilet and washing facilities would not be out of place in a pretty decent hotel. A lovely big clean and fresh building with underfloor heating, beautifully tiled shower areas and full washing and drying facilities, if your camping in this valley then it has to be recommended. It cost 350NOK all in, so no more expensive than some other much less salubrious places we have had the fortune to find. It was 10:30 by the time we drove back into Hemsedal centre and found a place to park. I chatted to the campsite owner and it was her Mum and Dads business previously, they are open all year, the winter season is the busiest, motorhomes and vamper vans come here all year round and the many little hytte's on site are full then too. I loved the one which had a fence around it made out of old ski's-very cool!!

We went in to the Hoyt & Lavt Klatreparker aerial assault course, I am not quite sure that Callum knew exactly what he had let himself in for. Logan had decided yesterday that he didn't want to participate but he had changed his mind by this morning and now wanted to join in the fun, no such luck with Joyce however, this is not her thing. Logan had his (thick heel) hiking boots on today so he just about reached the 110cm height marker (I am pretty sure he was a couple of cm's short of the mark) so he got a green band allowing him onto some bigger obstacles and zip slides the same as Callum. We got into our harnesses, fitted lanyards and pulleys and then had a full briefing and demonstrations on how to use the equipment, a lot for small people to take in. The instructor was quite confident the boys would manage. It was quite awkward for me taking both of them, particularly on the zip slides. the instructor recommended Callum went first so I could help both him get set up and zip away, and also get Logans kit fitted and ready behind me once I shouted to him he knew to come down. This worked fine but Callum was struggling to get the pulley back off the line after the slides so a couple of times someone needed to come to his assistance as I couldn't zip over until he was off the line. It actually all worked out fine and took a good deal longer to work our way around the course than I had though it would, the boys were loving it. Some of the obstacles were quite tricky, and some actually quite strenuous but both boys coped admirably, Callum only struggled on the cargo net and Logan pretty much managed everything, his height or lack of it being the only thing that gave him any issue. He is so good at looking at a problem and working out a way around it.

By the back of 1pm we were all hungry and Joyce who had been on photography duty and had also been into town shopping met up with us and we all headed in for lunch, which actually turned into our main meal for the day. The boys both decided they had had enough action for the day. Hemsedal Cafe's food was good, their pizza's are definitely recommended and Joyce had pasta which was also tasty. We went back to the van and soon after the boys were gently persuaded to do some more of the course, we had pretty much only done the basic course but the next level and the one I suspect they were maybe slightly too young for had a very long zip slide on it, they could do that with their green bands. So, harnesses back on and with some assistance we got up to the platform, this time the instructor reckoned I should got first and she helped Logan and then Callum onto the line, I could catch them at the other end. Over I went and then Logan came over hooping and whooping away. Soon after Callum came over, both had loved this bit. Next up was a mesh that we went over, easy but high, however the next obstacle, swinging logs high above the ground were definitely too much for them both, their arms were tired after the mornings activities. So a little bit of time and effort was expended reversing a little of what we had done and then gently coaxing them onto and down the vertical ladder and off the platform. With my instruction from the top and Joyce and an instructor at the bottom we got them down. Me, the big bairn had to continue and get my moneys worth and completed this section of the course-it was just as well the boys bailed when they did.........when they are a wee bit bigger they can come back. It was great fun and an early birthday treat for Callum and both he and Logan I think really enjoyed it. It's the first time they have ever done anything like this, or had climbing harnesses on and had to use any technical climbing equipment, it won't be the last. Interestingly I have just had a look on a similar type of activity website based in Aviemore and the minimum age to participate is 7 years old.........so I guess we will just need to head else where for a good few years yet if we want the boys to enjoy this type of fun place.

Back in the van at 5pm, we were now behind schedule, Joyce wanted to go back to the same campsite and do 2 big days of driving but I was keen to try and get an hour or so down the road, an hour today means an hour less tomorrow or the next day so we drove till around 6:45pm which I was happy with and found a lovely area to park up. There are 3 other vans where we are and 3 out of the 4 vans have kids so the boys had new friends to make and play with this evening after a light tea. All good and another great fun day!!