The
other day a new Northumberland National Park Visitor Centre, called the
Sill near Hadrian's Wall, opened. Its in Once Brewed, next door to the
pub Twice Brewed ( no, me neither).Mrs Ken and me fancied a day out so
we went there yesterday. Noting there was a shop, I said " I wonder if they sell any local bottles of beer" She sighed and rolled her eyes. Sure enough, beer bottles from the Muckle Brewery.(no me neither again!).
They
are a recent start up in Haltwhistle and the beers on offer were a
Stout, a Red Ale, a Golden Ale and an Amber Ale. No IPA!! Respect !
Anyhow, bought a bottle of stout then noticed at the other end of the
centre was a Youth Hostel. Very Smart. I last visited a youth hostel the
day Elvis dies ( in Cambridge - the Youth Hostel, not Elvis).
So stared musing about the good times we had when we were young, single and carefree.
A
group of us lads stayed in Kielder Hostel at the end of the 60s. The
area is now buried under water but in those days it was a small building
run by a old bearded warden with one leg. We felt really guilty as we
had booked to have meals provided. Little realising he ran the place
himself, including doing all the cooking while supported by a crutch. Us
healthy lads being waited on as he balanced the plates.
Fast
forward to 1973 , three of use decided to walk the Cleveland Way,
starting in Helmsley, up through Guisborough to Saltburn, then down the
coast to Scarborough then Filey. It would be a combination of hosteling
and camping.
Reaching
Guisborough on the 4th day, we found a field, pitched the tent and set
off down to the pub, which I think was called the Fox Inn. Its still
there. Anyhow, got pissed and headed back to the tent. Were just
settling down in our sleeping bags when we heard this snorting noise
then suddenly the tent shook. Sticking our heads out of the flap, there
was this huge horse kicking the bloody tent down. We beat the world
record that night for taking a tent down, running over the lane to
another field and putting the tent back up. Not been back to Guisborough
since - too scared.
A
few days later found us in Scarborough Youth Hostel . The three of us
met up with this German - Swiss student. The first night we caught the
bus into town and had a few. Now in those days Youth Hostels closed at
1030 but two of the lads want to go clubbing. I couldn't be arsed so got
the bus back with the student. I was well away and was finding it
difficult to converse with him in English. So I thought, I know I'll
give German a go, having been taught it at school. So I proudly stated I
used to speak a little German and as an example managed to blurt out
the word for pencil (bleistift)
"Sehr Gut"
he said. at least that's what I thought he said ! To this day, I do not
know why I picked the word for pencil on a Friday night bus in
Scarborough!
Anyhow,
I said to the lads I would leave the communal bedroom window open so
they could climb in later. My bunk was next to the window so helpfully I
put a chair under the window so they wouldn't have to jump onto the
floor when they climbed in, The major flaw with this was I they didnt
know about the chair.
2
o clock in the morning, the open window opens wide and in climbed mate
number one. Hitting the chair with his leg, sending it crashing to the
floor followed by himself.
I learnt a lot of new swear words that night ! Happy days
.
