Tough Northerners Summer Camp 7 to 10 August Cumbria

[Muzorewa]

We hope to pop along for the day (probably Saturday) if thats ok and say hello and take a look at all your fab Bongos - we are future owners, still looking for the perfect van, but we only live around 40 minutes away.

That should be ok, it's what we did several years ago before deciding to take the plunge to the world of the Bongo

[mikeonb4c]

We're packed and good to go, with my bad back, her dodgy shoulder, and an interesting weather forecast. Ah the joys of growing old in the UK

See you all there tomorrow early on hopefully.

[mikeonb4c]

Now here and having a fab time, the views are spectacular and the company even more so.

[mikeonb4c]

Back home safely and gear packed away after an absolutely fab weekend in great company at a stunningly beautiful site. Great to see so many old friends and to meet new ones also. The scary weather forecast didn't really happen and instead just gave us beautiful dramatic skies to go with the landscape. Big big thanks to Ian and Marianne for organising a splendid weekend and to Matt and family and his many assistants for the delicious chilli, Apple crumble and rhubarb crumble. Hope we'll make a Scottish event next year as I've a longing to get up there again if Trish and I can get the time off. Might need to have renewed my passport by then

[Jillygumbo]

Back home after a loooooooooong journey down the M6 and M5. Wonderful campsite fantastic views and excellent company. Will upload photos when I can

[zippy]

Hi guyz,

Bertha ensured we had all the weather you could imagine.

Really nice weekend, and really enjoyed it for meh! first time, van'in.

Thx Matt for the grub, Adrian (after a clued on to who he was ) for once over on bongo, and Ian for last minute electric slot.

Matt, if it's ok to post the video of Thomas and Alex dancing, I will.

Click on pic for more photos.


Would have posted something sooner, but went to my nans on way back and took her out for lunch and some shoppin'

[Northern Bongolow]

thats a good pic mate .

i also had a superb time, the night in the pub being one of the highlights. (hope ian is ok).

we had better weather than we expected but still mild for tough northerners .

thanks to matt, fred, and marian for the brill grub. well done ian and marrianne for another top meet. .

thanks to all the camping buddies for another great time.

thanks ady.

[MountainGoat]

Back home safely after a wee hiccup. Ian the bongomeister to the rescue after my posh motorhome refused to re-start for me after we stopped to make some adjustments outside Sedbergh. Breakdown service arrived within the stated time, the mechanic started my motorhome on the button then said that he could not find a problem. Did I feel small, Ady will have more to say about my driving after this. I am sure that it was a spot of damp.

For a change I managed to take some photographs:


June and I went on a little walk through the campsite and Dent after our arrival on Thursday


The local museum on the other half of the campsite across the road


A walk along the river bank. June was not finding it too comfortable


A walk with the crowd led by Harry. To the pub at the head of the dale of course


The Dales Way


A cottage just down the road from the bub


The cottage again


At the pub


On the way back to the campsite by a different route we found paradise


Brian chickening out of crossing the stepping stones, he said that they were too wet. Most of the wet was behind his ears me thinks

A great week end with old and new friends. The campsite was fine but hell to get there in a motorhome down those narrow country lanes .

Tony

[briwy]

Great weekend, it seems it doesn't rain all the time in Cumbria.

Few pics from us.






Matts kitchen corner


Breakfast time


Setting off on the "short" walk to the pub


Dent church, very big for such a small place


Following the "Boss"


Dogs eh, who'd have 'em. Henderson needing a helping paw


Looking back towards Dent


The cross country route, walking through the thistle forest


Dentdale, not a good place to be a mole


Through the fields to Cowgill, Dent station on the hillside


Cowgill bridge


Harry's rabbit hat, mustbe obligatory wear for mountain rescue members


The end of the walk, or not.


The Tougher Tough Northerners decided to walk back to Dent by a different route.


And to Tony's delight came across this until he found out it was shut


Back through the fields by the river


Crag Hill from the dale


The Tougher Tough Northerners make it back to Dent,


for a well earned drink after a 10 mile hike.


Meanwhile the kitchen staff had been hard at it,


slaving over hot Dutch ovens and producing this



Everyone enjoying the fruits of all the hard work at dinner time






Brilliant meal from Matt and the helpers.

[Jillygumbo]

Fantastic photos and memories of a brilliant weekend. Seems like we had so e of the best weather of the country!

[mountainmummy]

Hi

Great photos, the chilly looks tasty sorry we missed it Matt.

Big thanks to Tony and June for Ishbel's pony toy, she's played with it a lot and has told everyone she got a present.

Sara, Donald and co.

[bongobaz]

Great time thanks all.

[ginger rat]

Really enjoyed our first Bongo bash. Although we didnt get to meet everbody due to the rain and us arriving later than planned on Friday, still had a great time and looking forward to the next one

[Bob]

That's what Bongoing is all about.

[Driver+Passengers]

We didn't go into the museum, take a walk along the river or drive up and over to Ingleton. There will be plenty more to see when we go back!

But what a weekend it was! Once we discovered that Alex will fall asleep quite happily in the buggy, Saturday night bedtime went so much better than the previous two nights. Thomas is outgrowing the cab bed already, so it looks like I'll be putting the ceiling back in just shortly.


Here's a picture of the "camp kitchen" being set up. Three windbreaks later... I thought it was quite funny that Margaret had to come all the way down to find the 20-odd folk sitting having dinner - hidden away from sight!




And the next two of the happiest little camper on site...






Cooking was a real pleasure. Thanks to Ady and Harry for the extra windbreaks, Brian and Chris for the loan of the burners, Margaret for the extra space , everyone who watched over the kids for us, brought ingredients and/or lent a hand at some point or another, breakfast or dinner, set up or take down...

But, Marion and Fred - I cannot thank you both enough!!! I am indebted to you both for the skill and experience you brought and the hard work you put in (over several hours!) to help prepare Saturday night's meal - it all came together really rather well.

Muz, I enjoyed your bottle over the dinner I cooked for my folks on the way back up the road - second-day chilli, tacos, mushroom/rice-stuffed peppers, rhubarb crumble and custard. Thanks, again!

(Edit: oh - Sedburgh had no fuel station open, wasn't sure if we should risk the 15 miles up the motorway to the services or go 6 miles into Kendal. I've seen where the needle sits when the engine stops and we weren't far off. With no sat nav and apparently clueless locals, we were toiling. Round the one-way, pulled over in the center of town, only to find an Iceland. 14 litres of rapeseed later and we were off... )