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It could even be referred to as DASQ camping, as in:

• Where are we staying?
• What are we going to eat?
• Does the tent need to have ‘Hippy Hut’ on the side?
• Why is there a badger hiding in that cupboard?

The answer to all of which is of course, ‘don’t ask silly questions’.

On Saturday night, Jennifer got back from BRI with the news that she wasn’t to be there on Sunday after all, and would be going on night shift from Tuesday, and suggested camping in Swaledale. I, of course jumped at the chance to head up into the Dales.

So at the ungodly hour of 10am on Sunday morn, did we mightily bimble in the general direction of the Dales, up through Addingham, and onwards up to Kettlewell, where we stopped to buy bacon and bread rolls — important camp breakfast items *nods* — then leisurely drove on over to Hawes, then after much delectation and healthy debate over a newly purchased O/S map, Jennifer’s little Saxo did potter over the Buttertubs Pass, with much protestation from its engine. Though to it and Jennifer’s credit; it managed it without dying once!

We found our camp site easily enough - Usha Gap near Muker in Swaledale. There was no answer at the door, so we went on to Gunnerside and found ourselves a cafe, and in fine Yorkshire tradition you could purchase a pint of Yorkshire Tea, which amusingly was cheaper than a pot of Tea for one, at £1.10 vs £1.20. We have documentary evidence. Unfortunately the soft drinks were a little overpriced, but with real Lemonade I suppose that can be overlooked. Neither of us had had any mobile signal since Hawes, damn T-Mobile! So a public telephone had to be employed, I was horrified to learn that Jennifer had never used a public telephone before. Needless to say it was duly rectified, on the second attempt we got through to the campsite and off we went.

Camp was made in about 40 mins, from parking to relaxing with a mug of freshly made Rooibos tea. Ah the joys of Campingaz. With not a jot of bickering or wrong assembly, I must say the ‘Hippy Hut’ for all it’s dodgy naming and branding is a fine tent; simple, strong and watertight.

We discovered our local, and had food and beer. I did not sleep much that night, due to a migraine, I got some paracetamol at 3am but it was only a stop-gap it came back a few hours later, by which time I was freezing due to not having brought a proper sleeping bag. Just a woven rug which had been sewn into a functional sleeping bag, though not for cold weather it seems.

We got up at 6am and cooked breakfast and made coffee. Real coffee while camping, we’re coffee snobs ;), we toddled down to the local shoppe to get me some Ibuprofen, and Jennifer Kendal mint cake, and looked into Swaledale Woolens while we were at it.

Drove into Reeth for Jennifer’s nostalgia’s sake, and also mine incidentally, I didn’t recognise the name but I’d definitely been there before. I had a gorgeous slab of Rhubarb Sponge Cake with Coffee in the Copper Kettle. We went to look at the Craft Centre, which Jennifer hadn’t appreciated was more than just the rather twee thing which sold clay dogs and sheep etc.

There was a cool metalworker, who made animals from bits of scrap metal, and lots of wood carvers.

Then back into Hawes, for the Ropemakers, which is always fun to go into. We found lunch, in the form of giant Yorkshire pud filled with roasted veg, which Jennifer promptly threw all the courgette out of. I was sensible and had gravy with it. We stopped at the hiking/camping shop on the way to dinner, and found a bargain sleeping bag for me, @£16 for a reasonable mummy bag. FTW. I had to stop in at the cheese shop at the Wensleydale creamery, and bought some of the cheese I’d been searching for since I was last there! Ewe’s milk Wensleydale. Not that I couldn’t find it anywhere, but I wasn’t entirely sure it was the one I remembered, but it tasted good. Jennifer sulked outside in the hallway, allergies are annoying.

We bought food to cook at camp from Spar and headed back to the campsite after a quick look in the Pottery shop, Jennifer promised me a pot as Kitty didn’t get me one from Saudi.

Tea! ‘Dirty’ aka ‘Bachelor’s Savoury’ Rice with hot dogs, cooked on the campstove. Though not in the traditional style, i.e. in the tin. Thankfully!

We discovered in the local pub later that the only pint they had that was drinkable was the OP. Best pint of OP I’ve ever had bar in the Fighting Cock. Even the Black Sheep tasted odd, and the Guiness was awful, though I don’t think they sold an awful lot of it, so that explains that, but still, it was nearly £2 for a half pint. Compared with halves @ ~£1.50 for the real ales.

I slept much better that night, and was thankful for the mummy bag, it kept me mostly toasty warm, my feet got a bit cold towards the morning. I certainly didn’t want to get out of it into the cold air in the morning, even if it was to cook bacon sarnies.

Camp was struck in 40mins, we paid up the day before; for the camping pitch, the lady charged us DoE prices when we asked if she had a student discount, quick thinking from me to ask her! £4 off the total isn’t bad. £16 instead of £20 for two nights.

Made it back to Bradford in 2hrs 5mins - only 70mi, but we were only going about 30mph on the Dales roads, especially over Buttertubs Pass. We took the motorway route as Jennifer had to sleep before going on night shift at BRI.

More camping! It’s fun.