Kielder Star Camp 2007... & Adele's birthday!

All images copyright Gain Lee

As is the case on the eve of any adventure, Gain was far too excited for sleep and caused the expedition to wake exhausted and in no fit state for departure. In spite of our fatigue, we departed in good time and set our sights on Kielder Forest in Northumberland and the Kielder Star Camp 2007.

A birthday surprise detour to the Lake District and Ullswater for a romantic trip aboard the Lady Wakefield was to be our first stop (after taking on provisions at Manchester).

Gain had done jolly well to think of such a thing, and indeed to get us aboard in good time. We stopped in Glenridding for a spot of tea before returning by boat to our car and continuing the journey North.

The constant drizzle that can only come from sitting in a cloud was to surround us for the first forty-eight hours at Kielder Star Camp, but the fewer the stars, the greater the party! We caught up with a number of friends and were introduced to new, northern faces.

Adele's birthday dinner was cooked as dusk fell, on our trusty little burner atop a picnic table. After darkness had descended upon us, Gain illuminated a little birthday cake by festive candlelight and gave sporting renditions of 'Happy Birthday' and 'For She's a Jolly Good Fellow'.

We rose on Saturday to head directly for the vendors (an occasion that is hotly anticipated by most at any astronomy convention) who were based in the rooms and grounds of Kielder Castle. On investigation it transpired that Kielder Castle was in fact an old hunting lodge, improved upon at the orders of its Duke to reflect his success. It is rather small but very sweet and was only a three minute walk from where we slept.

The Duke's Pantry is a cosy cafe based at the castle, and the benefit of being smack centre of absolutely nowhere is that all the cakes had to be homemade. Yum yum! We had to wait until Sunday afternoon to be hungry enough for cream tea, but it was worth the wait.

No phone signal was accompanied by no television/satellite reception. Eager to support our team, we drove ten miles to the nearest off-site pub for the England v Estonia European Cup qualifier. We missed kick-off at 3pm but were in time to see two of England's three winning goals.
Complete with bar snacks and resident cat snuggling into Gain's coat, the cosy afternoon of football in a pub on a cold day was picture perfect.

The drive back to the camp site took us on a forest road along Kielder water and was stunning. We arrived back in time to accompany friends to The Angler's Arms, the on-site pub and restaurant. England were playing France in the Rugby World Cup Semi-final and we continued our sporting Saturday by enjoying their last minute win. All was merriment and we went from chalet to caravan to tent to outdoor barbecue before finding our way to pillow and blanket on the naughty side of 4am.

Sunday ought to have been more subdued but, with farewells drawing near and the sun finally replacing the incessant drizzle, everybody was keen to make the most of this final day. Having decided to stay for darkness and the anticipated clear skies, we decided to take an excursion to Hadrian's Wall.

We viewed Chester's Fort and Housesteads Fort before resolving to revisit the history of the wall and return at a later date to hike a portion of the trail; Watch this space!

Back at Kielder and we trundled up to The Duke's Pantry one last time for afternoon tea with some friends.

The clear, blue afternoon transformed into a starry night and had us captivated - and cold - until 2am, when we were forced to pack up and commence the four hour journey home.

In bed by 6am. Another weekend stretched at each end for a very happy and truly excellent adventure!