The Fleece Ruleholme and the Barn Scorton
The end of October saw Mick and Barbara lead us up through Cumbria and to the Scottish border and, indeed, to cross it when they organised a trip to the Fleece Hotel outside Carlisle. In a past report we tell of a trip to Carlisle Airport, and the Vulcan bomber, on which we stopped for coffee at the Fleece, then a rather rundown inn but now a magnificently refurbished hotel. They took their new MG Cyberster followed by a B and an F but, I’m afraid, there was a Mercedes – and a Jaguar – interloper …
As we took the old route over Shap, the rain slowly cleared and we reached a garden centre, surrounded by cafes built in an old Italianate style, for coffee and arrived later at The Fleece in time for dinner. Rested, the next morning we visited the Devil’s Porridge Museum, the Scottish Solway shoreline site of First World War cordite manufacture: beautifully presented yet, at the same time, deeply moving. In the afternoon we drove to Vindolanda, by Hadrian’s Wall and the atmospheric fort excavated over many years, and also with another lovingly curated museum. All in all, two excellent day’s driving and thought provoking visits, convivial company and meals together.
The second event to report for November was the run Richard had planned but unfortunately was unable to lead after Angela suffered a gardening accident. However Mick and Barbara kindly stepped up to the plate and took over. Other pressing engagements also caused Neil and Janet, and Gail, to cancel — so it was a rather diminished band which set out from the Old Stone Trough on this last run of the year, on a rather murky November day, and joined once more by our guests Mark and Janet. But, despite this rather unpropitious beginning, the weather changed to reveal a cold but bright and sunny day for our drive drive, firstly, to The Old Sawmill Cafe near Clapham for the mandatory coffee and cake — essential on a cold day — and then on, through the picturesque autumn lanes via Wennington and Wray, to The Barn at Scorton. Unfortunately, on the way Nigel and Elizabeth’s ‘B suffered an episode of misfiring which caused some anxiety but, nevertheless, they didn’t fail to proceed and the MG soon recovered its composure. Lunch was taken at The Barn and a very good lunch it was too! An excellent end to our touring year and next up, after this month’s meeting, will be our Christmas festivities at the Old Stone Trough.
