National meet No.11, 3/4/5TH JULY,2020,OR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER..UPDATE,PG.6

[Flyingfifer]

I honestly dont see this going ahead, the economy may not be locked down (completely) by that point but its highly unlikely there wont be ongoing and significant restrictions in place on gatherings etc.
In terms of a vaccine if its here in 2 years we will be doing extremely well

[craig3.2]

I honestly dont see this going ahead, the economy may not be locked down (completely) by that point but its highly unlikely there wont be ongoing and significant restrictions in place on gatherings etc.
In terms of a vaccine if its here in 2 years we will be doing extremely well

Hey,Willie..how are things?
Long time no see/hear from. How's life mate, all good I hope.

As for the restrictions,hopefully they will be relaxed enough to allow this to go ahead in some way,because as Business/Industry experts have said,if businesses like Hotels,Restaurants, etc etc don't get back to being open by June,then a lot(thousands) of previously profitable businesses will go under,putting the country on an even worse footing.
I do expect /hope the government to allow us to go out and about more,stay in Hotels etc,if we wear Masks,as with other countries round the world. The only issue with that is,lack of supply of proper masks!

I think it comes down to getting the death rate and people testing positive numbers down.

Fingers crossed the government announcement on Hotels,Bars,etc and the like comes sometime in early May

Anyway, how are you mate?

[Flyingfifer]

Hey,Willie..how are things?
Long time no see/hear from. How's life mate, all good I hope.

As for the restrictions,hopefully they will be relaxed enough to allow this to go ahead in some way,because as Business/Industry experts have said,if businesses like Hotels,Restaurants, etc etc don't get back to being open by June,then a lot(thousands) of previously profitable businesses will go under,putting the country on an even worse footing.
I do expect /hope the government to allow us to go out and about more,stay in Hotels etc,if we wear Masks,as with other countries round the world. The only issue with that is,lack of supply of proper masks!

I think it comes down to getting the death rate and people testing positive numbers down.

Fingers crossed the government announcement on Hotels,Bars,etc and the like comes sometime in early May

Anyway, how are you mate?

Alright fella
Ducking and diving trying to stay alive! hahaha Hows things on your end?

Can only hope that things progress nice and smoothly and we all get back to normal sooner rather than later

[craig3.2]

Wee bump for this,lol......
Strangely low uptake on this years meet,Usually have about twice this many by now

Hopefully things regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic will ease up in the weeks ahead,and numbers of deaths etc in UK are falling rapidly as of last couple days,so let's hope things can start easing up re lockdown,and closed businesses, etc.
We will have to wait and see.

Hope everyone is keeping well,and stay safe,Folks

[craig3.2]

Hey,Willie..how are things?
Long time no see/hear from. How's life mate, all good I hope.

As for the restrictions,hopefully they will be relaxed enough to allow this to go ahead in some way,because as Business/Industry experts have said,if businesses like Hotels,Restaurants, etc etc don't get back to being open by June,then a lot(thousands) of previously profitable businesses will go under,putting the country on an even worse footing.
I do expect /hope the government to allow us to go out and about more,stay in Hotels etc,if we wear Masks,as with other countries round the world. The only issue with that is,lack of supply of proper masks!

I think it comes down to getting the death rate and people testing positive numbers down.

Fingers crossed the government announcement on Hotels,Bars,etc and the like comes sometime in early May

Anyway, how are you mate?

Alright fella
Ducking and diving trying to stay alive! hahaha Hows things on your end?

Can only hope that things progress nice and smoothly and we all get back to normal sooner rather than later

Yeah,all good mate. Be great to catch up with you at some point this year,and as you say,hopefully things can start getting back to (more like) normal sooner than later

[craig3.2]

As per header,
An Update for this years National....
As of now,the Crooklands Hotel has replied to my email,re expected reopening, and they have informed me that ,while the Government expect to allow Hotels,Restaurants, etc open by 4th of July, they have had a meeting with their Local Authority the other day,where they were told all the covid-19 rules for re-openining ,and as a result,they don't expect to be able to re-open until late July/early August,so are gearing up for a 1st August opening.
With that in mind,I have asked if they can let us know if that changes,or if they can Accommodate, at least some rooms for us,at some time in early August??
Will await their reply,and keep you all updated.

ALTERNATIVELY,
The Caravan/Campsite are expecting to be up and running by 4th of July, so we could do something that weekend at least a Late Saturday drive out and the usual Sunday area drives??
Just would mean people would have to look at staying at the Campsite or a nearby b n b??

Let me know your thoughts.
Also,I will speak to John about this,and get his thoughts,as he is co-organiser.

Cheers,and hope you are all keeping well.
See you soon,hopefully

[bladeowner]

Some optimistic news Craig, well done. Re the campsite if they could let us pitch up on Friday the 3rd, we would only need the toilets open as we can bring our own beer. We then could have both drives.
If it was moved to August would it not be too busy as the schools will be off again (in England anyway)? I don't think people will be going abroad much this year, the area could be rammed.

[Keyper]

Some optimistic news Craig, well done. Re the campsite if they could let us pitch up on Friday the 3rd, we would only need the toilets open as we can bring our own beer. We then could have both drives.
If it was moved to August would it not be too busy as the schools will be off again (in England anyway)? I don't think people will be going abroad much this year, the area could be rammed.

Schools are off just now and are due back in August the 11th in Scotland, however in England It maybe September before the schools now reopen, so I’m unsure if the July or August date is relevant for how busy the roads will be tbh (on a school point of view), I would suggest we move it to August, there is more chance that family can babysit by then

[craig3.2]

Some optimistic news Craig, well done. Re the campsite if they could let us pitch up on Friday the 3rd, we would only need the toilets open as we can bring our own beer. We then could have both drives.
If it was moved to August would it not be too busy as the schools will be off again (in England anyway)? I don't think people will be going abroad much this year, the area could be rammed.

Yes,that's my thoughts re both the campsite and the roads being busier in August.
Hoping we can at least get something done in July,as planned....will depend on Campsite and Hotel/other Accomodotion nearby though.
Fingers crossed mate

[craig3.2]

Some optimistic news Craig, well done. Re the campsite if they could let us pitch up on Friday the 3rd, we would only need the toilets open as we can bring our own beer. We then could have both drives.
If it was moved to August would it not be too busy as the schools will be off again (in England anyway)? I don't think people will be going abroad much this year, the area could be rammed.

Schools are off just now and are due back in August the 11th in Scotland, however in England It maybe September before the schools now reopen, so I’m unsure if the July or August date is relevant for how busy the roads will be tbh (on a school point of view), I would suggest we move it to August, there is more chance that family can babysit by then

True,another valid point,Keyper.
Will have to wait n see I guess?

[jimbo1958]

July,August,September.....I'm still in.

[Keyper]

July,August,September.....I'm still in.

That’s the spirit Jim

[craig3.2]

UPDATE....
I have been in contact with both the Campsite and Hotel over past few weeks or so,and as it stands,the Hotel have been told that they will have to put in a lot of work and extra measures to be allowed to open at all,despite the government saying 4th of July!!
Their local authority, in Cumbria,has said to do this nthat and more,and as a result, the Hotel are not expecting to be able to open again until 1st of August.

The campsite is easier for them to comply,as they are mainly outside accommodation,lol.
They can put us up "whenever".

Given Scottish schools go back on August 11th and English schools,in limited number form June,but only limited ones,and won't be fully back Until September, it probably wont have too much difference re tourists on roads,hopefully??

Difficult to say though,as its a double edged sword/catch-22 situation...if we wait Until August/September, when Lockdown restrictions will be eased enough to allow All UK Countries to freely move Around the UK and possibly even to some foreign destinations, eg Greece,etc,then that will probably mean more traffic than Early July,when some restricted movement will still be in place,certainly from all UK,bar England??But,Unless Scotland,N.Ireland and Wales,and England all have easing of Lockdown,then we will find it very difficult to accommodate a weekend meet anywhere,possibly??
Who knows??

I am currently waiting on word back from Crooklands hotel,to see if they can give us at least half a dozen rooms at some point in August,etc due to potential cancellations!!
We will have to wait and see on this.
As it stands,they won't be open in July, so anyone wanting a room will be out of luck!!
We will need to wait and see if we can get Hotel rooms,if not we have the option of more Camping,if they want,or we try to book up nearby B n B's??

WE WILL BE DOING SOMETHING IN FORM OF A MEET,EVEN IF ITS NOT OUR USUAL 20-30 CARS TURNOUT,
But it will be two days of : fun,social distance socialising and some food/toilet stops along the way,even if we need to get carry out liunches /fish n chips,etc somewhere,plus some fun driving:

Also,after talking to John(Sammyz), ,we have the following proposed dates,for those attending....

Either AUGUST 14TH/15TH/16TH,Friday,Saturday and Sunday... Or

SEPTEMBER 4TH/5TH/6TH.

LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS,THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING,CHEERS

P.S, going by PMS,etc we can decide,as a group on AUGUST or SEPTEMBER New dates,as above,OR If the majority wanting to come Still want to do it in JULY,As some have indicated to me,then we are happy to go with Majority Rules,lol.
THE ONLY PROBLEM FOR JULY,IS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO GET VARIOUS B N B's Booked up,nearby,Individually,and Definitely Not Be in the Hotel...And the Campsite won't be able to be open for guests Until the Saturday ,Not the Friday we would need?!
OR ,wait until August/September,and Maybe/Maybe not be in the Hotel??

Awaiting your thoughts/votes


Let the floodgates open,haha.....

[bladeowner]

Thanks Craig.
Similarly to Jim July, August, or September is OK for me.

Some points for all 3 times:

July - Potentially good weather, quieter roads? Accommodation Issues.

August - Potentially good weather, busier roads? Accommodation available. Saturday 15th is VJ day

September - Potentially cooler wetter weather, quieter roads? Accommodation available.

As I have camped at Watersedge in September in the past and had some wet weather, being cooler it took longer for the roads to dry and so my preference vote would be for August. Preferably for the week before or after the 14th due to the VJ celebrations as from a personal point of view our community has come together during the lock down and VE day was a great success and VJ day could also be something special. I understand though if the dates are fixed.

[Pbondar]

Hi Craig, I know you've been pushing this one as they say like water up hilll!

This issue, IMHO, is all the IFs..

If you look at Scotland's more formally documented approach as opposed to the UK's next hurdle approach, in reality they are not far apart..

In Scotland tommorrow you can have a coffee with a family /friend in a garden ..ie phase 1

Unlilkely under any circumstances to get to phase 2 before the 3 week clock cycle

Only then in phase 3, probably in 6 weeks time minimum can Scots drive more than 5 miles and also have a beer outside..

So however you look at it early July seems a non starter..IMHO

IMHO the chances of the UK going faster without setbacks seems slight..

So its either August or September according to your logic..

Give that UK people can't fly / won't fly for summer holidays, as soon as people can either camp and / or hotel the UK is going to be rammed upto the point the English schools go back..only then can you go for a drive..

Therefore, IMHO, September seems the best option, even then its got lots of IFs and i think old f$%kers will hang back to see how the death rate changes..

The yoof, as already documented don't care..

Based on the last 3 years of attendance you won't have many of those!