I attended Gordonstoun School so was always aware of D of E and its importance. I did my Silver and then Gold award in my final year of school. I remember staying in a bothy near Skye in the pouring rain, sitting by the fire trying to keep warm. The next morning everything was water logged. We had to push our loaded bikes to Kinloch Hourn to the slip way where we crammed our bikes and gear onto a little motor boat. We were cold, hungry and drenched, but that shared suffering was somehow fun. We laughed at our plight together. The experience sticks in my mind perhaps more than if it had been sunshine and beautiful weather during our expedition. The idea of a journey in the outdoors excites me more than ever and I am often planning micro adventures with my young family by bike, foot or some kind of water craft. I now lead expeditions for D of E at the Secondary School where I work as a PE teacher.