We attended both rallies.
We arrived at Troutbeck club site on Friday teatime to be given a warm welcome by the Turner family and Mel Wright and Jasmine who were the marshals.
It was a small rally but very friendly.There was a welcome flag the first night and a closing Flag on the Tuesday with a glass of wine instead of coffee!
Between the Friday and the Weds morning we were free to explore the area.We found the dog walk on site up on the fell excellent as well as visiting Ullswater and Dalemain House.
We were well looked after and were very impressed that this was the Turners first experience of being a marshal assisted by Mel and Jasmine!
We followed on to the Lowther caravan site rally for the Penrith Winter droving.This was marshalled by Mel, Jasmine and Alan and Jackie Wright. Again the welcome was friendly as is usual from Cumbria centre.A welcome flag was held on Wed evening.A meal was arranged for those that wanted to go to the Crown Hotel ,Eamont Bridge,on Friday evening with quizzes after the excellent meal.
There are lovely walks through the Lowther estate direct from site,and we also enjoyed visiting Acorn bank NT before going into Penrith for Droving.The market square had music,fairground shows and rides including a big Ferris wheel. Street food and entertainment was available from noon. In the evening there was a wonderful parade of large paper cows,dogs, foxes,etc as well as drummers and drovers including our marshals dressed up in masks. It was Brilliant.
Flag was Sunday morning where prizes were distributed to winners of the competitions and for lucky van draws. Coffee,tea and biscuits were available.
Our thanks go to the marshals of both rallies and to all the ralliers who gave us a warm welcome.We understand the centre will hopefully run this week’s rally in the schools October half term Next year...we look forward to attending!
Carol and Ronnie Elliott
Northumberland centre