Sorry - I'm struggling with labyrinthitis and a bit of a chest infection. I'd hoped one or both would improve, but no...
Pots of aluminium, brass and steel. We all think that is more valuable, given the amount of gold we throw away collecting the base metals. Enjoy yourselves!
Some random pics at 8AM today. The caravan is ours. My days of small tents is sadly gone. Together with most disks in my back . Had a tiring trip up. Stuck in traffic on M62 for ages but we got here and was greated by John. More to follow.
Well after a 3.5 hr trip home ( should be 2.5hrs), we have had a lovely weekend. Poor Anne was full of a cold but still enjoyed the company. Camp site was very nice and we may use it again ourselves. John cooked for lunch yesterday sausages and croissants!( seperately). I didint have the sausages but the croissants were great! All in all a good weekend. I ran out of energy and missed out on the evening chat( fast asleep!).
I was on site before the others, pitched my tent and shamelessly selfied, but an 80-year-old Canadian (Coleman 6H Forester) photo-bombed me. Organiser of the weekend, long-time CCS stalwart Ian (@Ian). Thanks Ian! I soon had my British Military No.6 on brew duty. @igh371 Ian stoking his early-pattern Sirram Volcano. Night fell. The heaters came out. @Twoberth Duncan basking in the heat and light. Townson and Coxson military No.3 twin burner on brew duty. @G1gop Alan and his wife Anne, lunch Saturday. Many thanks to you both for your company and chat, not to mention the freebie stoves you entrusted to new custodians. Saturday I strolled into the nearby village of Leyburn. View back to the campsite entrance. Nearly there. Remembrance Sunday the following day. What’s this? I followed the arrow to the heritage railway’s former locomotive-fettling shed. Where I was greeted by proprietor Chris. … and delicious samples of four gins and a rum. 300 and 100-litre propane-fired stills, sourced in Portugal. ‘Botanicals’ - juniper of course. Coriander seeds. Orange peel. I was as lit up as the sunset over Wensleydale when I’d finished the samples. Steak grilled on my Biolite for dinner. Fondest of farewells made on the Sunday, we headed home. I had a late breakfast of soup heated on my Vesta 540. John Lovely to see you folks!
Despite the cheerful countenance, I was suffering a bit from a couple of ongoing ailments when that pic was taken and by lunchtime on Saturday it was obvious that the best course for me was South so I bowed out, struck my camp and went home. My regular camping buddy, Nick @brassnipplekey went down with covid-like symptoms on Wednesday; I should have heeded the omen. I suppose I could've made a case for not going at all but it would have been a bit rude to drag a bunch of pensioners out into the middle of nowhere and then not turn up myself. Thank you all that came, Alan & Anne, Duncan, Ian & John and hopefully I'll be in better shape next time. There's half a year between now and Newark, (fingers crossed).
@Ian, many many thanks for having organised such a wonderful meet. What a breath of fresh air (very fresh as it turned out) to be up on that hill shoulder with such fabulous views and superb facilities. Just what was needed after all these months of isolation
