Wanderers have passed almost every test that has come their way so far this season, confounding critics who tipped them as relegation certainties.

So the hard-working Super Whites could have been forgiven for craving some time off with no Premiership game this weekend.

But boss Sam Allardyce had different ideas.

He took the first team off to the Lake District for a stamina-stretching two-day trip alongside picturesque Lake Windermere.

And the BEN was there to watch every sweat-inducing moment -- without, of course, actually taking part.

During their 48-hour adventure, the Reebok heroes slogged their guts out mountain biking around the hilly terrain and canoeing across the lake.

But there was also time for a bit of fun with the players taking part in a 'toilet race.' This involved professional footballers racing each other while sitting on motorised toilets!

The event began at the Low Wood Hotel, near Kendal, with the players being given their task -- to find the keys to the cellar or go without alcohol!

And to make life interesting they were split into three teams -- Warhurst's Trojans, captained by midfielder Paul Warhurst, The Celebrities, led by Neil McDonald and Supera Mora, headed by assistant manager Phil Brown.

The first task was a paintball competition with the players competing to win games to give them an advantage with their tasks later on.

And the lads soon got stuck into each other, both with paint pellets -- and exchanging jokey allegations of cheating.

After lunch, the teams were then given tasks with each team using mountain bikes, speedboats or an amphibious craft to get around the lake.

But the winners of the paintball game were allowed longer to study clues than their rivals.

Sam Allardyce's team were certainly keen to get on with it.

They left their fuming manager behind when he turned up late for a six-mile bike ride. After each task, the teams swapped over their mode of transport and did the tasks all over again.

And in the next day and a half, they also had to canoe across the lake, mountain bike through a gorge, build a raft and complete other tasks in their attempts to find the keys and the prizes -- crates of champagne.

Big Sam certainly seemed impressed. He said: "It is just something different to get away from our everyday routine.

"Five of the players are on international duty and there's a couple of players who have gone home to see their families.

"The rest didn't need heavy training this early in the week and at the end of the day, we just want it to be good fun with plenty of banter and plenty of stick."

And what of the players? Club captain Mike Whitlow said: "We're all enjoying it. It is good fun, good for fitness and good for the mental side of things as well." But as well as good fun, there was a serious side to the exercise, which should help the Wanderers during the rest of the season.

Tim Berry, from Onesimus, which organised the event, said: "The whole idea is that it shows the players that they can do anything if they work as a team.

"Bolton Wanderers can do anything they want if they work together."

Fellow organiser Jane Knowles said: "They wanted the team to have a good time by doing something which would keep them fit.

"They also wanted to test other things, such as their courage, stamina and mental skills."

Sam's men will need all of these qualities to make this season a continuing success.