roughing it

for a change-up, we decided to take an old-fashioned weekend camping trip to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. we found a perfect little campground about 15 miles up a dead-end, 4-meter-wide country lane in the middle of Nidderdale (nidd being the river, dale being a very, very steep valley).

it was the end of the road, literally. after passing charming farm after charming farm, we climbed up a 25% grade to Middlesmoor village where there is a sign that says beyond here "road not suitable for motor vehicles." although there were two pubs within walking distance and our campground had electricity, a shower room, and a hair dryer, we really were remote for british standards. there were no shops, supermarkets, petrol stations, or services of any kind for 15 miles. that's a big deal for a country where at any given moment you are always within 70 miles of the sea.

our camping neighbors commented on their love for camping and yorkshire, but it was too remote. too barren. too desolate. there wasn't even cell phone coverage. yeah, if you're from anywhere else on the island, this place was a right boondocks.

so, you can imagine our absolute astonishment when, as we were setting up our tent, a big blue van pulled in the campground and stopped across from us near tent pitch #17. the van was, no kidding, a grocery delivery van from Tesco Direct. the driver hopped out and began unloading a BBQ grill, beer, and probably some milk, eggs, bread, tea, a take-away tandoori dinner, an evening newspaper, and God-knows what else! roughing it FAIL.

after growing up in a land where camping means a 30 to 60 minute drive off the side of a mountain, or at the very least a Forest Service campground complete with picnic tables, a hole in the ground for pooping, and a honesty box for paying the fee, i was shocked and amused by Tesco's appearance in Nidderdale.

that night, as we sat around our (highly against the rules) campfire/cooking fire eating our home-packed meals and drinking our ice cold ale, we kept hoping that we'd see the Domino's man pull in next.