National 18 Plus presents a Summer at Dalesbridge, Yorkshire or as we like to affectionately Nickname it;
S.A.D.Y.
Fri 17 - Mon 20 June 2005
£35 per member

SADY was a small relaxed affair, offering a great atmosphere, three nights camping, BBQ, Mega-Quiz & much more

Question: - What do you get if you add lots of Plussers, plenty of alcohol, live bands and a field in Yorkshire?

Answer: - a damn fine weekend!

yes folkies - that was the weekend that was "SADY"

Friday evening found seven intrepid Plussers from Coventry joining up with other members from around the Federation at Dalesbridge near Settle in Yorkshire. Our car arrived whilst there was still daylight enough to pitch our tent (although other cars turned up later!). Setting up camp was painful - the midges and mites turned up in force to partake in the human buffet that had just turned up.....

After setting the tents up, we entered the venue where a thumping good disco was underway, several conversations in the hallway and a few drinks later, it was last orders time and we retired to a gazebo for late night chat, gossip and even a little flirting....

Saturday morning and the campsite was greeted with a very off key rendition of "Morning has broken" Yep, the Biggles monster had woken up and had to share the sensation with everyone there!

Not having had the foresight to pre order breakfast, several of us descended to a little cafe near the old petrol station (several hundred yards from the venue) and had a greasy breakfast (just what one needs after a bit of a boozy night!).

Following breakfast, and having watched several hiking Plussers set off for the sights of footpaths, meadows and other hiking type scenery, the rest of us lazed around for a bit untill it was time to enter the Compass bar for the Mega Quiz. Our team came third and other teams did better or worse accordingly!

After the quiz, it was time for the BBQ and a fine selection of meats and jacket potatoes, yummy! After filling our tummies with this mega feast, we sat down in the Compass bar to watch "I Robot" on a projector screen - good film but the band setting up behind the screen was a little distracting......

The DJ started about 8pm and the band came on about at 9:30pm for an hour long set - They were "Somerset Avenue" and played some banging tunes! Much dancing went on as a result!, we finally staggered away from the Bar around 1am and returned to the Gazebo for the usual reasons (it was daylight before some of us went to our sleeping bags....)

Sunday started off similar to Saturday, The Biggles monster rose from his den, looked out unto the camp site, opened his lungs and was greeted by a "don't you f**** dare" from an anonymous onlooker. (Sigh, some days the audience is hard to please!)

The Ramblers rambled, the lazy lazed, until it was lunchtime and the local pub started serving food - so a short walk later we all met up there and had our meals in the beer garden.

A few hours passed, a few beers were rented, and the sun beat down on us as if we were somewhere foreign (except the natives spoke English and we had proper food on our plates....)

Back to the camp site and a few hours later, the DJ started up again. Sundays band were "Live Wyre" and they were LOUD!!!! The played a similar set to "Somerset Avenue" which just showed that they knew the sort of music we liked!!! Being Sunday we were kicked out of the venue about midnight, but the Gazebo was still available.....

Monday morning rolled round way too fast and we all had to be off site by 10am (some people actually managed this!!!!!) Several car loads of Plussers decided that they were not yet ready to say their goodbyes and so travelled in convoy to Skipton, This small town had a large market going on along its high street and many bargains were found, we ate award winning fish and chips from a local fish bar and spent several hours walking around, doing the touristy thing....

Many thanks to Corrina and the rest of the organisers of this weekend away in the Yorkshire dales - If you plan on running it again next year, then I will be first in line to Book!

Iain Parkes
Banbury 18 Plus

Thanks

E-MAIL THANK-YOU NOTES.

Organised by Corinna Teale

Dalesbridge Outdoor Centre
Austwick, Yorkshire LA2 8AZ map