The weekend started on Friday night with the group meeting in
Allensford Country Park camp site, Castleside, near Consett. The group arrived and put up there tents and the evening’s entertainment commenced with good banter and drinks and some skiffle tunes on the ukulele-banjo from Brian.
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| 3 spits and a mazda |
On Saturday morning suitably dressed as Gangsters and Molls the group assembled for the run which was organised by Lisa and Steve.
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| Gangsters and Molls |
After a slight delay on the start due to the group having to wait for me due to my over reliance on Google, we headed off for our drive across Country Durham, Weardale and Teesdale stopping for lunch in Middleton-in-Teesdale. A recommendation from a local meant some of us headed to a local café called 1618 for some lunch. A very good recommendation if you ever in the area.
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| Mafia deal? |
After lunch it was time for some more driving heading back towards Stanhope with some 17% down hills and Monte Carlo style “S” bends, you could literally smell the brake the brake pads. All credit to Steve and Lisa I never knew we had such wonderful empty roads less than 15 miles from where we live. I will have to investigate them again.
Back at the campsite we chilled with some food and drinks, and watched the campsite bingo / disco. Chris Fish even discovered a use for the grill on the disposable BBQ he had taken apart.
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| This could be a bonnet vent |
About 7ish the band arrived, Ken, Sandra, & Lindsey had promised that there would be entertainment, but we didn’t expect the excellent band that turned up. The Attic Band a three piece group with banjo, guitar bass and percussion were truly excellent. They were well briefed by Lindsey of our theme and therefore played a good mix of songs from the 30’s, 50’s and 60’s.
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| The Attic Band |
With the music flowing across the campsite other campers started to gather around the marquee and were made welcome by the TSSC group. There was dancing and singing and the Attic Band were almost upstaged by a man with a budgie, but carried on regardless.
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| Budgie Man |
The music was followed by a very funny blues brothers skit by Brian and Pat
, a quiz and celebrating Mick’s birthday with chocolate fountain and cake.
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| Brian and Pat - AKA Jake and Ellwood |
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| Happy Birthday Mick |
The evening started to draw to a close with a group of drinking whiskey and planning future events.
The next morning saw the group pack up and head home, I had clearly picked up a bug and it had nothing to do with a certain Jim Beam, needless to say my lovely wife drove us both home in our Herald, no pressure as she has never had the opportunity to drive it before.
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| Catherine drives home |
This is a camping weekend that won’t be forgotten for a long time. A massive thank you goes to Ken, Sandra, & Lindsey for all the great entertainment and to Steve & Lisa for a faultless drive out on roads I never knew existed. This was my first camping weekend with the area and it comes highly recommended, so if you haven’t been to one get yourself there for the next one.
More pictures in the photo gallery.
Aaron
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