3rd day of 4 of my Derbyshire trip and another memorable one. It started with bacon bagels and a pot of tea. It’s a lot cooler today so no alfresco breakfast for me. I had let camp discipline slip a bit this morning and had turned a blind eye to the occupation of my bed by my 2 hairy travelling companions!
I have a new neighbour- that makes 3 of us now. Albeit this camper van is outside the gated area and amongst the sheep and lambs. I haven’t seen any sign of life yet though!
Out by 9.15 with a first stop of Tideswell. Jeannie and Pete have a cottage in the village and they had mentioned the local bakers that specialises in Tidza Puddings - in their opinion a cheaper and tastier alternative to the popular Bakewell Pudding. I can’t yet vouch for their taste but the £12 for 6 was a lot cheaper than Bakewell Puds.
Onto Castleton arriving to take one of the last places in the large public car park in the centre of the village at about ten past ten. My plan was to do the same walk I did in March but anti-clockwise - the opposite direction I walked last time. My logic being that the vistas would look different but I would still be familiar with the route. That non- adventurous approach wasn’t really sticking to my adage of embracing things Kim and I wouldn’t have done. This was me playing it safe - I justified it to myself as a result of Thursday afternoons stresses with cows, getting lost and walking conditions but I really think it was the fact that, after living with Kim for 40 years, it’s hard not to be just like her!
Now, I know it might seem obvious to you (the reader / observer) but it was quite a surprise to me that a Saturday in May was a lot busier than a Thursday in March. The weather was very similar but the amount of traffic - cars, walkers, dogs, runners and cyclists was amplified tenfold. This wouldn’t normally be a problem but as the proud owner of two paranoid collies this was to prove a challenge!
Derbyshire is super dog friendly in shops, pubs, cafes etc but they are quite the opposite in the great outdoors. The cynic in me wonders if this is because their owners aren’t spending money in the fields / on the hills! Every stile had a warning to keep dogs on the lead culminating in this one that seemed to suggest death and destruction would probably be the outcome of non-compliance!
I found this a little unfair as off the lead my dogs are as compliant as a Tory MP being asked to defend law breaking but on the lead they act, especially Tilly, like Vlad Putin after being poked in the eye with a big stick! So whenever we encountered another dog on a lead - and there was a lot of other dogs and 99% were on a lead - we got a great deal of barking, gnashing of teeth and straining on the lead! Don’t get me wrong, it was a pleasant walk but about 75% was on the lead. Now as mentioned before, 2 enthusiastic collies pulling me up the hill is a lot easier than the aforementioned muts pulling me down hill! Mental note to self - next time I come to Castleton (and there will be a next time) avoid the weekend!
The good news was that I’d spent so much energy and time on the walk avoiding canine clashes I’d forget to look out for middle aged couples and be angry / jealous - so that was a bonus!
The walk took about 2.5 hours including a long stop for snacks and WhatsApp calling Thom, Bobby and Laura. For those in the know, I went up the broken road to Blue John mines and then down the hill to Speedwell before looping round back into the village. I was planning to stay for a drink in one of the many village pubs but it was so busy I thought I’d just head home.
I got back to Brunnehilda at about 1.15. Another Ken Burns Civil War episode, a pot of tea, a Kriek, bagels and then a shower before heading out to the other side of Ashbourne to visit the Davis’ (for 4pm).
I used to work with Helen at Volvo Daventry and know her husband Karl as well as he too worked at Volvo many years ago. Including Pip (their daughter) they were tremendous hosts and made me very welcome. After a G&T in their back garden (with a view to die for!), a tour of the magnificent 7 acres (including dressage yard) and the 3 luxury holidays homes they’ve built in the yard, I got to meet Helen’s two horses - Winston and Tom!
We reminisced and put the world to right for an hour or so before retreating indoors for a magnificent home cooked tea. We managed to fit in a quick game of pool (which modesty should have prevented me from mentioning that the boys beat the girls - but it didn’t!) before I hit the road and the 35 minute journey back to Brunnehilda at about 9.15.
It had been a splendid afternoon / evening. It reminded me how lucky I was to have so many good people around me. Not just family and friends that I see regularly but people like Helen and Karl that I see very occasionally.
The usual evening finale of Ken Burns and Cadburys chocolate. No rain today but relatively chilly. More of the same is due tomorrow!
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