Date: 14th – 20th June 2003
Site: Hallowtree Campsite
Location: Ipswich
Present: Daz, Sharon, Chappers, Cat, Steve, Charlie, Simon, Mike, Amy, Andy, Em, Barry, Haze, Antz, Jen, Kate & Tom
Saturday
We all met at the Union for 10am and set about packing the minibus roof rack with the aid of the Mountaineering Club tarpaulin. We managed to leave Loughborough by 11:30 and didn’t stop till we got to the Cambridge services where we had lunch in Burger King. We then continued our journey towards Ipswich and arrived at Hollowtrees campsite by mid afternoon. After we had pitched our tents people started making dinner whilst some of us went about using spare pallets to make a kitchen table and benches. After we’d finished the curry we headed off down to the estuary and walked along the beach until we had a good view of the Orwell Bridge. We then turned back as the sun set to meet everyone back at the campsite.
Sunday
Breakfast was being cooked by 9am and by late morning we were packed up and ready to head for Thetford Forest. After quite a long drive in the minibus we arrived and were keen to stretch our cramped legs in the forest. We walked to Grimes Grave Flint Mine where we stopped for lunch before looking round the visitors centre and then heading down into the cool dark mines to see the mysteries explained. Upon resurfacing into the temperatures above we didn’t have to wait long before Barry returned with the minibus and we made the return journey to the campsite. Dinner consisted of Spag Bog and after our food had settled we made use of the onsite assault course and climbing wall. As the evening drew in we started a campfire and proceeded to drink and sing into the night.
Monday
The morning activity consisted of a visit to the Sutton Hoo Saxon Burial Ground which we walked around and then checked out the visitor centre. We then had our picnic lunch on the hexagonal benches outside before heading off to visit a place called Woodbridge. There we wandered around the shops for a while (where some of us bought water pistols) before going to a mill for a milkshake. On our return to the campsite we made good use of the water pistols during a water fight before having dinner (Risotto). We spent the evening sat round the campfire again (although I spent a fair while up one of the nearby trees looking down on everyone unawares) and then crept into our tents in the early hours of the morning.
Tuesday
We awoke to find that it had been raining and after a late start we headed into Ipswich to see the town and do a little shopping. We had lunch in the park where Simon and Barry went about collecting chestnut shells for their little scheme and then split up to follow our own agendas. On our return to the campsite we had sausage and mash for dinner whilst all squeezed into the mess tent to avoid the rain. That evening we jumped on the minibus and headed for a pub in Ipswich to avoid the rain.
Wednesday
Once we’d made the necessary preparations we headed for the seaside. We set about digging a hole, with the aim of fitting all of scogui in it. Once we’d taken photos of our accomplishment we then set about filling in the hole with the chair persons past and present in it. Once there was nothing left but their heads to be seen we left them to struggle free as we changed our clothes and headed down the beach. We stopped on the Pier for a light refreshment and then headed back to the minibus to meet everyone. We dropped Charlie off at the station and then went to Tescos for some more shopping before returning to the campsite. Whilst everyone settle down to cook chilli for dinner I went for a meal with Amy and her dad (who was passing through the area) in a local pub.
Thursday
I awoke to the smell of eggy bread and after filling myself with much breakfast we jumped in the minibus with the intention of going to the Zoo. On arrival the majority decided it wasn’t worth the entry fee and we headed into Colchester where we had lunch in the park and then went into town to do some more random shopping. In the afternoon we went to the local water park where we shot down the water slides, bathed in the Jacuzzi and drifted round the lazy river. We then went back to the campsite to cook a concoction of bacon and pasta and blow up 100 balloons to fill Em, Chappers and Cats tent with. After a bit of tidying up we sat round our last campfire of the week and chatted over the weeks events and the plans for our
Friday
We awoke to the feeling of relief and sadness on our last day: Time to return to reality. We packed away all our belongings and then loaded the minibus up. The return journey wasn’t too bad and many people took a well deserved nap. Back in Loughborough we said our farewells and went our separate ways for the summer break. That was until the Oxford Rally, but that’s another story.
Another great summer camp with many a quote worth remembering 
Written by Andy Brewer
