Tough Northerners, Clitheroe Lancs, 22/24 March (Club Meet)

[MT Tank]

Pixie and the moon
Chris and Jo
I can't find the link to your gathering in May.
Trish

[PixieAndTheMoon]

Trish, go to the board index - uk groups - NorthWest, it is there

Jo x

[briwy]

Hope everyone got home safely
Plenty of the snow on the way back, managed to get over two roads with Closed signs up in the Peaks. Biggests drifts I've seen for a long time in the UK, nearly Bongo height in places. Spent about an hour digging to get the van back in so all warmed up now.
Thanks for a good weekend everyone.
Brian & Chris

Just watched the news, snow on Arran makes our drifts look tiddly, good luck Muzzes

[MT Tank]

Hi
Had a great time at the bash, apart from the freezing wind.
Good job there was a club house that had good food, including breakfast all at reasonable prices.
The shower block was lovely and warm and hot showers.
A big thanks to Hotpot Anne for stepping in on organising things.
Would happily go there again.
Must not forget the wonderful company, lots of good laughs.
Trish

[Bongoplod]

Pixie and the moon
Chris and Jo
I can't find the link to your gathering in May.
Trish

Hi Trish
Click on linky for May meet,think all the hook ups are gone though,but Jo may advise otherwise.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 25&t=60054

Brian

[loneranger]

Hello Brian, I had the same experience,both the roads from Chapel-en-le-frith were closed. I decided to risk driving around the closed sign on the A6,rather than risk the A623 to Baslow.My thinking was if I can get through to Buxton it would be safer to overnight there than at the side of the A623.The snow was blowing of the fields before Doveholes and the road had about a foot of snow on it.I came to a line of stationary cars which were skidding in the snow,I thought if I stop behind them I wil not get going again as I was towing the Eriba.The bongo just sailed past them without any problem,right at the front of the queue was an Audi and a BMW being dug out. I enjoyed the looks of amazement from the drivers in the queue when the Bongo just sailed past them in a foot of snow(and towing an Eriba as well).I got into Buxton after a couple hairy moments when I could not see the road and the roads were clear all the way back to Baslow when it became problematic again.When I got home like you I had to spend an hour clearing the drive to get the Eriba and Bongo of the road.Thanks to Anne for stepping into Ian's shoe (a massive task). I was glad that I was able to help with the route for the walk,and thanks for all who came on it.As I have posted on the fancy meeting up thread I rate Clitheroe as #3 in my top seven meets for deserving the title Tough Northerner's in vest title. #1 being Craster # 2 being Cartmel all for different reasons none of which the Southern Softies Bongonaughts would attend .Ian will have to come up with a sticker for all of us Tough Northern bongo owners who drive through deep snow to get to a meet.I think that a good time was had by all who attended including Terry and his wife from Marple who were on their first Bongo meet and now know how much fun can be had by owning a Bongo and joining Bonofury.Cheers Michael

[Muzorewa]

There can't be many of us who have done the Cartmel, Craster and Clitheroe meets Michael, probably just me & thee, can't think of anyone else

[briwy]

Glad you got back OK Michael, we did wonder hoe you got on as you said you were following the A6. We got to the queue at Dove Holes and it was blocked solid so went round the back roads.
Some pics of the weekend.

On the way there. We did begin to wonder if we were going to make it.



A515 Ashbourne to Buxton road, 12 miles from home and road blocked


Off down the back roads


A6 Buxton to Chapel en le Frith, Bongo rocking about in the wind and visibility down to zero at times with the blowing snow but the snow got less as we got further north.


Ready to set off on the walk to Clitheroe on Saturday


Very posh hotel down the lane from site


The bridge over the Ribble at West Bradford


Off the road and onto the muddy path by the river to Clitheroe


Nice walk on the Ribble Way, very cold in the wind though

Some of the sculptures along the way. Sorry, can't get some of them the right way up.









Clitheroe Castle


The Norman keep dating back about a thousand years. The big hole in the wall was allegedly made by the Devil throwing a stone.


Looking over to Pendle Hill and witch country from the castle


And back over towards the campsite


Castle Street


Cowmans famous sausage shop


And the sausages, about 60 varieties apparently


Looking down Castle Street towards the library.

Sunday morning, no snow but bitterly cold









Some are tougher than others

On the way back, got worse again as we got closer to home, as Michael said, lots of the roads were closed.

Hayfield to Chapel road, closed




A6 between Chapel and Buxton, followed plod round the closed signs


Side roads which we took to avoid the completely blocked A6. Van driver chickened out and turned round


Back towards the A6 round the blockage






A6 between Buxton and Bakewell


Dug out and the Bongo back home

[Muzorewa]

Epic - Well done

[derek.roscoe]

Fantastic you made it we chickened out sadly, We missed a great time by the look of those brilliant photos thanks for letting us see them. see you at the next meet in wilts. D&J Liverpool

[Ian]

Glad you all had a good time and sorry we could not make it. Hats off to Hotpot for stepping in to our shoes, and Lone Ranger for leading the walk.

By the way, although the site are unable to offer refunds, anyone who notified us (or the site) of a cancellation before 6pm on Friday will be offered a FREE weekend later in the year.

Well done everyone!

[Northern Bongolow]

good ones brian, the bongo looks like its garaged in the alps .

[briwy]

Yes Ady, got a bit worried it was going to be garaged in the house at one stage, bit slippy along there

[mikeonb4c]

Fantastic you made it we chickened out sadly, We missed a great time by the look of those brilliant photos thanks for letting us see them. see you at the next meet in wilts. D&J Liverpool

Hmmmm. By the look of the photos maybe.

Personally, I think behaviour like this is bonkers and shows signs of social aberration. But then that's Bongo owners all over, gawd bless 'em.