Alston run

     September was a quiet month for the club. We had our meeting as usual with a good turn out. Our spring 2016 holiday is already booked and deposits paid for 10 cars.

     On 27th 9 cars (5 B’s & 4 F’s) met at Sizergh Castle cafe for breakfast before heading north east to Alston. It was a beautiful  day with blue skies and warm sunshine so the hoods were down. As usual we kept to minor roads skirting around Kendal to Tebay , Orton then on to the very picturesque village of Morland for coffee at The Mill Yard cafe. It was time to move on and tackle the steep climb to Hartside Summit. Passengers were rewarded with stunning views whilst drivers needed to concentrate on negotiating the numerous hairpin bends on the way to the top. We had a very good lunch at The Alston House Hotel before returning via Hartside. We joined the A6 at Penrith and headed south to Kendal but not before stopping at Lowther Park for ice creams. Once back at Kendal we all went our separate ways.

        Thanks go to John B and Jim for organising a fabulous day!

Sizergh Castle

 

Lunch at Alston House

 

September drive

 Sunday the 27^th  will be our September Drive,

As usual the suggested meeting time is 10.00 hrs to depart at 10.30 .

This time it is planned we meet in the Cafe at Sizergh Castle, it opens at 10am the parking is free, the Bacon Buns come

highly recommended and there are toilets all of which make it far better than the existing ‘meet outside the  pub’.

To access the cafe drive passed the Strickland Arms continue along the road and drive through the obvious entrance to the Castle,

follow the narrow drive to the car park and walk to the Cafe.

This change should make our drive to the lunch stop a more leisurely affair.

August activities

    Summer is slowly slipping away and autumn is knocking on the door but hopefully we’ll be able to fit in a few more outings before winter sets in. We had a very productive meeting on the 4th as well as welcoming four new members. 

     For the 19th Brian and Sue had organised an evening picnic cruise on Coniston Water. We were instructed to provide our own picnic with spare to share.  The allotted day arrived and disappointingly so did the rain. Fourteen members met at the Bluebird Cafe Coniston Pier. When we boarded the launch we were met with the words  "I hope you have a vivid imagination” as by then the mist had descended. So amidst the abundance of sausage rolls, pork pies, quiche and home made cakes we cruised Coniston and had a thoroughly good time. We rounded off the evening with drinks at the Church Inn Torver.

A motley crew!

      On the 23rd 1 MGB and 5 MGF’s left the Strickland Arms and headed for Fairfield Mill via some unclassified roads passing Old Hutton, Killington Lake and Sedbergh. Following coffee and getting to know new members we travelled north to Ravenstonedale along the east side of the Howgill Fells to Orton,Shap and finally to Lowther Castle for a late lunch and to meet other members. Post lunch the group split , some going to Dalemain and the Cumbria Classic Car Show, others returning to Furness by driving along Ullswater over Kirkstone Pass and down the east side of Windermere …..ice cream being consumed by some on the way !!!!

Coffee at Farfield Mill

Lowther Castle