A Quick Escape Home and a Decision - 30th March ‘22

Well the weather eventually turned during the night. I woke to rain on Brunnehilda’s roof and the steady hum of the electric heater doing it’s best to warm us up.

Up and out in double quick time. No breakfast, no shave, no shower and only a cursory wash! Thankfully there is no one to smell me - except the dogs and they don’t seem to mind!! Mind you, when you consider they spend most of their life with their nose up another dogs bum, I would have been particularly offended if they had given me and my odour a wide berth!?

It took me about an hour to get packed up, fluids away (yuk!), electric off, stays up, locks off and car hitched up. I finally found the farmer at home to give him the requisite £30 and thanked him for his hospitality.

I drew out onto the A6 at about 10.15. Sat nav took me right through the middle of a busy Chesterfield but apart from that it was all good. The sleet at the start of my journey soon abated and give way to good old fashioned British drizzle! I parked up with the HGVs at Tibshelf services on the M1. For a lot of my boyhood I wanted to be a lorry driver when I “grew up” so I must admit I quite like being amongst all those big machines and yellow jacketed men!

A Plant burger and toffee late from McDonalds saw me back on the road with a full stomach. I arrived back at the farm at about 1pm. For some reason, it took me ages to un-hitch the van? It was as if the ball was sticking? Finally released it as my patience was starting to fail! I “tucked” in Brunnehilda in her spot and left her for a bit of well deserved rest.

So, what of my Teutonic Valkyrie’s future? Lovers of bullet point lists are going to overdose now … firstly my rating of the site and then, after following my old mate Rusty’s advice, I did a pros and cons list for keeping Brunnehilda. Your welcome …

Topley Head Farm:
Pros: 

1) Great 4G, 

2) Lots of space, 

3) Just Off A6 but quiet

4) Walks from site

5) Great views

Cons:

1) No waste recycling

2) Unnecessary Entrance gate

Definitely be back - one of my faves.

Brunnehilda:

Pros:

1) Easy get away when I want to escape

2) Family can use / I can take boys away

3) Many nice memories of time with Kim

4) She’s a perfect size and has everything I need

Cons:

1) Cost - £1400 / year without a wheel turning

2) Prep and pack up are no fun on your own

3) So much Kim included, it brings back the feelings of loss very easily and regularly

4) Eating and drinking out is no fun on your own

Number 4 is nothing to do with Brunnehilda it’s just what it is and may get better with time. Number 3 could be minimised if I …

- bring the dogs with me

- avoid places we’ve been to as a couple

- avoid places where she loved and have lots of middle aged empty nest couples (like market towns, beach walks, coffee shops)

- do stuff that she wouldn’t have enjoyed - long hill walks, risky sh*t, kayaking etc

So, I’ve lost one woman I loved in the last year, I don’t see any reason why I should give up another female I love. 

I’m going to keep Brunnehilda for another year and see how much I end up using her.

Castleton and Sheldon Walks - 29th March ‘22

With cold and rain at home, Derbyshire did me proud and produced a glorious sunny morning with a pleasant afternoon. 

And what a splendid day it was. I hadn’t realised how beautiful and accessible this part of the world is - I’m definitely coming back!

I was up and washed soon after 9am. Breakfast was bagels and tea. Not the famous Kimbo Brunnehilda Omelette but it fulfilled the need of a full stomach to start a busy day. I think I better point out … Its not that I am not capable of cooking an omelette it’s that I suspect Mrs Michelangelo was handy with a paint brush but she didn’t bother to try and paint a masterpiece? Once you’ve tasted the best why bother with the rest!?

I picked out a nice drive to Castleton. Ignoring the sat navs’ suggested route in preference to a slow and pretty one. I had spent sometime searching for a walk on line with not a lot of success so I thought I would just head for Castleton.

I arrived at about 11.15am. They is a nice big car park with Visitors Welcome Centre on the edge of the village. I strolled confidently into said centre and asked for a recommendation for a longish walk that dogs could be off the lead. The lady, who clearly forgot temporarily that her primary job was to “welcome” was a bit short with me. She thrust a £2.80 guide in my hand and said there were no walks where dogs could be let off the lead as there was a lot of stock in the fields. Oh sure I said, they’ll be on the lead when sheep were around. It’s not just the animals she snorted. It’s the nesting birds too. I must have looked quizzical so she added that they nest in the grass! My mind was screaming well any flippin bird that nests on the ground doesn’t really have the necessary evolutionary requirements to make it through with or without Ben and Tilly’s help! I didn’t - I paid the £2.80 and told her my dogs would be firmly shackled at all times. I’ve got to say, the locals have all been lovely - apart from her! A bit ironic given her welcoming role?!

I bought a load of drinks and snacks adding up as I went to make sure I got the necessary 4 x £1 coins for the car park - “A” Level maths not wasted after all?!

The 5 mile walk took about 2.5 hours and was bloody magnificent. I soon stripped down to my tea shirt for the long haul up the hill. There was virtually no sheep in the fields but in deference to the birds and twitchers (not the welcome lady) I kept them on the lead for most of the first half of the walk. They were off the lead for most of the down ward half. 2 pulling collies are good for going up hill but not so advantageous going down hill!! 

Got to say … there was no problem at all with sheep or birds!! The map shows were we went - it was all wonderful.

The dogs loved it and so did I. Not many folks around but greeted all with a smile and a typical British comment on the weather. 

Arrived back at the car back at about 1.45. I had a quick but disappointing walk around the village. I was looking for a pub or coffee shop where I could drink outside with the dogs. I didn’t find one! My plan at this stage was to head back to Brunnehilda for a cuppa. I decided to go via Bakewell to buy some puddings for friends and family at home.

Bakewell was busy and seemed to be completely full of 60 something couples chatting happily browsing the shops and drinking coffee. This used to be very much my/our sort of place but somewhere I now avoid like the plague. So I illegally parked flew into the Original Bakewell Pudding shop, bought 4 puddings, parted with £32 and left!

I went the pretty way home going through a lovely little village called Sheldon. On my way out I was passing a lay-by with a couple of footpath signs. I Wasn’t planning to but something made me pull over and I suddenly found myself parked up and heading out into the beautiful Derbyshire Dales with my 2 delighted companions. 

And what a walk. I didn’t meet a soul. Went over some very steep stiles (the dogs needed throwing over!), went up a very very steep hill, only passed through one field with sheep in and came out at the wonderfully atmospheric Magpie Lead Mine.

What a place? I think I must have inherited some of my fathers love of industrial archeology, so I found this 300 year old deserted Lead mine such a fun place to poke around. There was lots of useful information dotted around the site to answer all my questions without referring to Google! Talking of this … everywhere around here has great 4G connectivity. It must be because it’s so high up??

Home to Brunnehilda and I’m now on my own - the other van has gone! I tried to find the farmer to pay him but he must have been out farming!? Another episode of Ken Burns’ Civil War and then off out to Buxton.

What a lovely place. Kim and I had never stopped so I hadn’t appreciated that it was a proper old fashioned spa town - a la Leamington, Bath and Harrogate! Only problem was that here again the town was infested with happy couples! I had planned to sit in at the Simply Thai Restaurant. I didn’t. Like all the other restaurants it was full of middle aged couples enjoying their evening meal. I ordered a take away and left them to it.

The takeaway was more than adequate and despatched of with the speed of a man who had walked 10 miles over the dales after only consuming a sausage roll and packet of Salt and vinegar since breakfast!

More Ken Burns, chats with the family on WhatsApp and then off to bed. The weather is due to turn tomorrow.

So, what about the big decision? By 5 o’clock I had convinced myself that Brunnehilda was here to stay. Doing stuff that Kim wouldn’t have done - all that hill walking and impromptu forays into the unknown countryside were not her cup of tea - seemed to work best. Visiting pretty wee towns with nice shops and lots of coffee shops and restaurants to peruse is not so good! And, I am beginning to realise I am never going to enjoy my own company for dinner! I’m not sure I can blame Brunnehilda for this or for that fact that 60 something couples (ones I don’t know that is) seem to send me in a downward spiral of sadness, envy and then self pity. Oh well, at least I know what to avoid.

One funny and related story. As I sat on a bench waiting for my takeaway a couple of middle aged ladies approached me and asked me where the cinema was. I explained I wasn’t a local and didn’t know. She seemed quite surprised! As they were walking away, I realised why … I looked like exactly like one of those old men (locals) that sit alone on benches and watch the world go by!! 

The fairly miserable evening couldn’t take away from the fact that I’d had a bloody wonderful day.

Buxton Ho - 28th March ‘22

The first trip out with Brunnehilda of 2022. And quite an important one … as a result of this trip a decision will be made about my future relationship with my gorgeous Teutonic Valkyrie. Well that’s the plan anyway!

And what a shitty start to the short 3 day break. I had made a last minute booking at Topley Head Farm a Caravan Club CL site at Blackwell near Buxton. All seemed good - the lady on the text last night was very helpful and friendly. Started well as I arrived at Brunnehilda at about 10.30. Then it happened! I tried to release the tow bar and I could hear it catching on the newly fitted bumper! So no tow bar appeared. Arghh! A quick call to the Bodyshop then a manic drive into Northampton, a 60 minute wait while they cut an aperture in the bumper. Picked up the dogs again and was finally away at 13.15 - Over 2 hours later than planned.

Arrived at Topley Head Farm just before 3.30. It’s gorgeous. Lovely views, a working farm so lots of animal activity and smells and only one other caravan in the enclosed wee paddock. The dogs loved it. Roaming around as I set up.

Once set up, the dogs and I set off on a smashing late afternoon walk in the warm sunshine. We walked from the farm, over the A6 onto the Pennine Bridleway and then a big drop down to the Monsal Trail and the River Wye (who knew eh, another River Wye??).

We had a nice long walk along the river with Benny wading out up to his tummy and just enjoying the simple pleasures of freezing cold water on his belly. He bloody loved it. Tilly not so much. We shared some Bourneville chocolate and then back the way we came up the steep incline and home to Brunnehilda.

From 6.30 to 7 the dogs and I enjoyed sitting on Brunnehilda’s steps and watching the sun go down over the herd of cows just going in for milking.

Then in for a bit of tea - microwaved Chilli and Sainos Raspberry Trifle for me! WhatsApp’d all the family and then settled down to watch (for the 4th time!) Ken Burns’ American Civil War box set. Early night tonight - I’m pooped.

But what of the progress in the big decision? Far from conclusive I’m afraid. On the van set up and walk I was bombarded with Kim memories. I try not to dwell on them or over analyse I just try and work through them and move on. They came at me thick and fast today though leaving me a bit on the ropes. I feel her so strongly around Brunnehilda, and while the memories are not unpleasant, because they come so frequently, it’s hard to throw off the feelings of loss and anger! However, the quiet evening with the dogs, the kids (via the iPhone) and Ken Burns was much more manageable with Kim memories much more sporadic and the lesser amount of them gave me more recovery time. This fcuking bed seems huge tonight though - let’s see what tomorrow brings!?