KickStart (the end of Lockdown #2)

After another long lockdown in Scotland due to COVID19 it is exciting to be allowed to travel around the country again. The first job was a big clean as after a winter outdoors the van was very dirty and the solar panel on the roof covered in algae. That was last weekend’s job.

Our first trip this season was to Kielder Forest Campsite which is about 100 miles due south and ever so slightly (2.5 miles) over the boarder into England. We hadn’t been to Kielder before ( or so we thought) and also it was a lot quieter than the campsites North where it seems everyone else has had the same idea to go camping. The campsite is quite basic but pretty and so close to the mountain bike trails that you can cycle from the van which is exactly what we wanted to do.

Our first ride on friday night was a supposed to be a quick spin around the “deadwater trail”. A decision to take the black route led to a long climb up to the radar station but the views were worth it.

After a cosy night in the van we awoke to the pouring rain that had been forecast. The excitement of feedom meant that nothing was going to stop us and so we put on our waterproofs and headed out anyway. We had a great day and although the bikes and waterproofs were covered in dirt, we stayed lovely and dry. Once back we enjoyed a game of chess and re-discovered “angry pigs” on the ipad as there was no phone signal and no-wifi so we had to find other ways to spend the evening. It was quite fun.

Sunday was much brigher and we enjoyed the ‘Lonesome Pine” trail on the other side of the valley. More long climbs but rewarded with amazing views at the top and lots of fun singletrack. What a great weekend. Can’t wait for the next one.