Taking Part
The Boulter Gang – James and Reuben
The Crowther Gang – Chrissie, Pebbles, Geoff and Islay
The Missions
The Boulter Gang – to bag various summits before they get covered by wind turbines.
The Crowther Gang – to attempt to tire puppy Islay out each day with some shorter (4 or 5 miles) walks.
THURSDAY
The Crowther Gang set off for Scotland and spend the night in Wet Sleddale.
Weather
Dry, bright and cool.
Crowther Walk
4.5 miles near Shap, taking in both the tiny village of Keld and Shap Abbey.
Evening Meal
Piri Piri chicken, roasted Mediterranean vegetables and new potatoes.
FRIDAY
The Crowthers continue their journey to Scotland, meeting up with the Boulter Gang at Dundeugh Forest.
Weather
Dry, bright, fresh, arctic wind.
Crowther Walk
4.5 mile circular wander from Moniaive, over Bardennoch Hill.
Evening Meal
A delicious spag bol, made by James.
SATURDAY
All move to a new wild vanping spot near the Water of Ken.
Weather
Absolutely p*****g it down all day, with strong winds.
Walk – Both Gangs Together
An hour’s wander around the forest, with the dogs all charging about like nutters.
Evening Meal
A delicious chilli, made by Geoff.
Surprise Event
The Crowther Gang get word that, in their absence, there has been an attempted burglary on their house. Some lovely friends ring the Police and sort everything for them, so they don’t have to rush home. Apparently, the village had a rash of both attempted – and successful – burglaries on the Friday night.
SUNDAY
All spend a second night at the Water of Ken.
Weather
Hail, rain, wind, sun, rain, hail, wind.
Crowther Walk
4.6 miles up the valley of the Water of Ken and back, taking in the Chalk Memorial Bothy and the deserted farmhouse of Lorg.
Evening Meal
James – Posh Pasta
Chrissie and Geoff – fish cakes with minted peas, fresh veg and new potatoes.
MONDAY
Both Gangs start making their respective ways home.
Weather
Dry, bright, cold breeze.
Crowther Walk
4 mile Glenkiln Sculpture Trail, near Dumfries. A bit disappointing, due to the fact that over 50% of the sculptures are no longer in existence.
Evening Meal
A delicious fry up – comfort food.
Strange Event
The Crowthers start off wild vanping in Wet Sleddale but eventually feel so uncomfortable, due to a car with four guys (adults, not teenagers) in it behaving in a very strange way, they decamp to a lay-by in the centre of Shap.
TUESDAY
The Crowther Gang finish their journey home.
Weather
Rain, snow, hail, sun.
Crowther Walk
Supposedly a couple of hours walk in the Howgills, setting off from Ravenstonedale. Ends up only being a 90 minute walk though, as the Crowther Gang get fed up of the snow storm which starts shortly after setting off.
Evening Meal
Cheese and onion/steak and ale pies, fresh broccoli and carrots, and new potatoes.
And The Crowther Mission Is Accomplished
Dixie 
Wow, fantastic stuff, looks as if one and all had a brilliant time. Impressive, there is much to be said for this vanping m’larky. Looks like we are heading down your way in May.
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I was going to say get Mike to bring you over, but we’re actually off to Scotland for the whole of May! Need some better planning here….. 😉
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My two favourite photos are, of course, the cute doggie one at the end and the one of the man and dog looking through that window of that old building!
How awful for your friends to hear about that burglary when they were far away and couldn’t sort it – thank goodness they had friends who could. Very stressful!
And, I’d have waited till after the wind turbines – that was you get a great track to take up the hill 😉
Carol.
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😏
That was Geoff and Pebbles looking through the window – Pebbles is such a nosey monkey!
It was actually our house that had the attempted burglary. They’ve totally wrecked the garage door, so we’re now waiting for the insurers to check it out, then we’ll hopefully get a new one fitted. Bit of a nuisance as through the garage is one of the main ways into the house and we can’t currently use it. Could have been worse though!
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Poor old Reuben is still tired after last weekend, although he is still keen for today’s stroll through the woods!
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Well of course he was walking twice as far as ours each day – Islay will be catching him up soon though. Pebbles is currently snoring like a very loud thing on the sofa, blissfully unaware that we’ve just ordered some panniers for her…..
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Actually, if you’re ‘vanping’ ‘cos you’re sleeping in a van, I must be ‘carping’ when I kip in the car!
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Good word!!
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Made the best of pretty grim Easter weekend, doggies seemed to enjoy themselves at least
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The doggies had great fun – although Pebbles does like to have her waterproof on in heavy rain or hail……. 😀
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