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A few friends and I decided to spend a weekend at Rookin House Farm, doing activities like quad biking and shotgun shooting. Here we assemble in reception, ready for action. |
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We chose to stay in the Luxury Camping barn at the farm (to avoid people arriving late, cars breaking down etc) on Friday night. On a lads holiday, most people are hammered when the go to bed and the curtains matching the quilt cover is hardly an issue. Fantastically, it featured a pool table !. On the right of this picture is a stalwart all terrain vehicle, that I had previously driven. |
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Frank and I arrived earlier than everyone else, so we were able to go Pony Trekking. I have sat on one many times, while someone led it, but this time, I wanted to “take the reigns” myself. The horse I was riding, was called Minstrel. I found a web site with some horse riding instructions here. |
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Riding, really is a fantastic way to see the countryside. The horses are virtually silent, and can travel over almost any terrain. Sometimes my horse didn’t want to go so I had to talk to him. It was great the way I could “steer” the horse with the reigns. |
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With a few hours left, before everyone arrives, Frank and I decide to try out hand at fishing. We borrowed the relevant equipment, and got started. To be honest, there were hundreds of fish, and you could practically put your hand in and pull them out. In any event, we were delighted, when we actually caught one. |
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This is the fish that we caught, it was nearly a foot long. A very manly hunter/gatherer moment, turned to farce, as the Fish flapped about (he wasn’t the only one flapping at that moment !) and we realised what the fishing priest was for !. |
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With my Bushcraft experience, I was able to “prep” the fish, and here, I eat it for breakfast. |
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On Friday evening, we had a big party ( a £10 night out, who could argue). Saturday morning, I cooked everyone a big breakfast. It was going to be a hard day for a group made up of mostly office workers. A short walk to our first activity, Archery. My friend Jon Knight, pictured in the Archery Barn |
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The weather wasn’t great, so we were able to do Archery indoors, which increased the accuracy of our shots (no side wind). I had a go at Archery some years ago, and realized that although right handed, I “bow” left handed. I surprised myself, by coming 2nd at the Archery. |
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Everyone poses with their bows. In the end, it was my super competitive Brother David who won the Archery. Since then, I have actually done a course where I made my own bow and arrows. |
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Next we had a ride in an Argo Cat. Its an all terrain vehicle, which is also amphibious. It was really exciting riding in it, but if you had too many the night before, it could separate you from your breakfast. |
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While up there, we decided to visit the The National Mountaineering Exhibition the the exhibition had closed for the day when we arrived. The exhibition, is hosted in the Rheged centre and since we were there already we decided to have a look around. We were delighted to find a real ale festival was taking place and the non-drivers got involved in that instead. |
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When I have been to Rookin House farm before, I have always been fascinated by the zip wire. This time I decided to have a go for myself. |
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You have to climb to the top of a wooden tower. Then your harness is fastened to a safety rope. Its then a matter of sliding down the rope. The best part, is when you slide over the lake, and you can see it between your feet. There is a mechanism, so you come to a comfortable (comfortable !) stop at the other end. |
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Next up, Quad biking. Here Alistair, shows us how to operate the “quad”. |
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Of all my hobbies, I think quad biking is probably the most exciting. Its the freedom to travel across the country side, at high speed that exhilarates me the most We went driving all around fields and forests and ravines for 45 minutes, it was excellent. |
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I tried my hand at clay pigeon shooting. We were using over and under guns with auto ejectors. There were a few jokes about me coming from Manchester, and never having fire a gun etc. |
| My brother David, distributes the ammo. |  |
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The instructor was a really nice chap, and taught us many useful things about shooting. For example, when hunting duck, you go for the legs. |
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On Saturday evening, after the days activities, its time for a night on the town. Keswick is my favourite Town in the Lakes and only 20 minutes drive from Rookin House Farm. We visited several local pubs but spent most of our time in the Keswick Lodge ,my favourite pub in the area. A few of my friends have Children, and don’t get to “do their own thing” very often. The evening really brought out the best in them. While out, I saw Steve Smith from Woodsmoke. After this we went to the curry house next door to the Keswick lodge and had a fantastic meal. After closing, a few of us went to the “loft”. A crime against God, which purports to be a nightclub. Looking at the website, you would think its quite nice. Its not. |
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Next day, it was up early, and then paintballing. Everyone gears up, with face protectors, and NBC cammo clothing. |
| Me and my friend Lee, preparing for combat. |  |
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What a brilliant weekend. I want to thank all the people who came along, especially Danny and Ash, who drove up on Saturday. I would also like to thank Deborah at Rookin House Farm, for Organizing everything. |