SPRING BANK HOLIDAY RALLY
BRAITHWAITE SPORTS FIELD – 28TH MAY TO 1ST JUNE
Well 3 weeks after the event we have eventually got round to finding time to write the report for the rally so here it is better late than never!!
We arrived on Friday evening in glorious sunshine to meet you with our neighbours Richard and Margaret who had saved us a pitch in the bottom right hand corner of the field. We were closely followed by Peter, Michelle and Jip the dog who pitched up on the other side of Richard and Margaret.
As it was such a nice evening we decided to erect the gazebo between our caravan and Richard and Margaret’s motor home and dine el fresco. We enjoyed a wonderful 3 course meal thanks to Margaret which was nicely followed by wine and cheese in the hall for the welcome meeting. We spent a quiet evening partaking in a few alcoholic beverages, chatting and catching up with friends.
After a leisurely start on Saturday morning we walked into Keswick, sampled the local fish and chips closely followed by the local beer and then browsed around the market making a total purchase of 2lbs of Lancashire new potatoes. We were assured they were very good and at a bargain price otherwise we could get our money back.
Back at the caravan the weather had changed and there was a light drizzle. It had been suggested at the welcome meeting that weather permitting a group barbecue might take place on the field. This now did not look promising but we decided we were hardened caravanners and a bit of rain would not stop our barbecue from going ahead. Richard suggested that if he put out the canopy on the motor home and the gazebo was moved between this and Peter and Michelle’s caravan we could then all remain undercover and barbecue at the same time. This move was to do us a great favour during the night to come. We had a lovely barbecue accompanied with the above mentioned Lancashire new potatoes, followed by a few drinks, a bit of crack and then retired to bed.
Billy and I had a wonderful nights sleep!! Unfortunately the rest of our company did not. They were woken by the extremely strong wind and rain at I think around 3.45.am and worrying about the stability of the canopy and gazebo were scurrying about outside dismantling the camp. They didn’t get a lot of sleep after this and were somewhat blurry eyed when we eventually surfaced at about 9.00am. As a penance for not partaking and being totally oblivious to the night’s activities we were tasked to cook the breakfast.
Following bacon and sausage sandwiches a route was plotted on the ordnance survey map for a walk to exercise Jip our four legged friend. We went down the lane next to the hall, over the fields and then followed the river back to Portinscale. Walking through the village we had to pass the Farmers Arms so thought we ought to call in for some liquid refreshment. The refreshments were so good that we decided that on the way back we would go through Braithwaite village to see if the Royal Oak could meet the same standards and sample another. Back at site it was time for a chill, relaxation and another barbecue followed by yet more drink and midge bites.
Monday morning was glorious which is a change for a bank holiday, everyone was out on the field basking in the sunshine before flag at 11.00am. After flag we had brunch before slowly packing up and left the rally at about 3.00.pm.
They say life is what you make it and the weather may not have been brilliant throughout the weekend but it didn’t stop us doing anything and we all had a great time. Our thanks go to Sinc and Carol and John and Linda for organising the rally and we look forward to attending again next year.
Bill & Joyce Murray