We'd booked these sites up really early as there was so much uncertainty
with Covid. We don't normally use the CAMC sites just the CLs but
since everyone seemed to be asking for money up front, we decided to stay
with our choices of these. VAT was also charged at the lower rate
which a lot of sites didn't do.
Saturday 4th
A leisurely drive up north with a break at the M1 services near Northampton. We arrived around 3 o'clock and after setting up, we did some shopping in Morrisons in Belper. The staff are really friendly there.
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| Cheers! |
Sunday
We decided to have a drive around Matlock Bath but couldn't get over how busy and noisy it was. Motorbikes, police sirens and the sheer quantity of people. We couldn't get parked to go up the Heights of Abraham so we drove over to Ashbourne which proved to be more relaxing and lovely weather. Time for lunch and sit in the shade. We found Beaumont's Café & Bar and it was lovely sat under the olive tree in the garden.
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| It was like being away in Greece. 😎 |
We certainly got the best weather.
Monday
We'd found that the market was on today in Bakewell so we thought that we'd take the pushbikes and have cycle on the Monsal Trail afterwards. It was free parking but all the car parks were height restricted and we wouldn't have fitted in with the bikes on top. Luckily we found a vacant bay outside the car parks. Again it was quite busy and there were long queues to buy Bakewell tarts. We didn't bother and we had lunch in the Farmers Feast café in the Agricultural Centre. Lovely bacon butties! The Monsal trail is on an old railway line so isn't too strenuous. It was steadily uphill until a tunnel, I never thought that we'd need to use the bike lights during the day. We got as far as as Monsal viaduct, there were some lovely views from it but not really any photo opportunities.
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| Mike is happy really, he's got a new saddle! |
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| Looking over from the viaduct |
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| The view back the way that we'd come through the tunnel |
Suitably refreshed, it was back on our
bikes and hit the trail. This was the first time Mike had been on
his bike since our trip out to Gowerton. This time he got a new
saddle and hopefully, he won't be getting saddle sore this holiday.
Tuesday
As we were so close to Denby Pottery, we thought a visit would be great. I've been after another large mixing bowl after Mike broke the last one but after a good wander around I couldn't see anything suitable. Very disappointed. We did buy a bird weather vane for the garden though.
We then thought a drive to Dovedale and maybe a walk would be good. After putting it into the satnav, we couldn't find it.
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| Dovedale, somewhere? |
It just lead us up a hill with no obvious destination. We went back down the hill and couldn't find anywhere to park. Time for a cuppa, so off into Ashbourne and the same café as Sunday, at least we can rely on that. 😊
After a meal in the Bridge Inn at Duffield, we went into Derby to watch a film a tribute to Peter Green. It was excellent. I'd seen an ad about in our local newspaper on at our local cinema but it clashed with our hols. But we found that it was a nationwide thing. Mike had been worried about Covid possibilities but in the end, the cinema was almost empty. It was like a personal viewing. (We bought the DVD when we got home)
Wednesday
We decided to have a walk along the canal from Whatstandwell towards Ambergate. We parked up at Whatstandwell railway station and started walking along the canal. It was so peaceful and quiet. The ducks were like mini ice-breakers having to forge their way through the duckweed covered water and leaving trails of where they'd been.
During the walk, we decided to catch the train to Cromford to have a look around there. It would save having to get parking there. In Whatstandwell station there were some school drawings of Whatstandwell is famous for: the Betty Kenny Tree, said to be origin of the nursery rhyme 'Hush a bye, baby on the tree top' and Florence Nightingale had a coffee shop cum reading room.
The train came shortly after and Cromford was just one stop down the line. Had another walk in Cromford and into the village where we had lunch in the garden at a side street pub.
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| I quite liked the wood effect in the background for our BBQ area so we had a photo |
Back on the train and back to the caravan. Mike had decided on a pizza cooked on the new pizza stone on the Cadac BBQ. As he was transferring the pizza to the table, he misjudged the chair back, the plate caught the chair and the pizza carried and landed upside down on the grass! Well, they say some things happen for a reason and this time it transpired that the pizza was burnt on the bottom. A quick clear up, phoned the local pub - The Spanker Inn and they stopped serving food in half an hour. A swift walk down the hill had us set up for the evening. There was a quiz starting shortly in the other bar so we listened and tried answering as many as we could. We didn't do too bad but then we didn't hear all the questions. The walk back up the hill to the caravan was a bit of an effort but it was worth it. The evening had been saved. Whilst we were sat in the awning afterwards, Mike noticed an alien from Men in Black behind me, I couldn't really see the resemblance. All in all, a very tiring day.
Thursday
We took the awning down in the morning then went into Belper for a look around. While we were there, I saw a wonderful flower display.
Whilst we were in the Belper North Mill Museum, the heavens opened up and didn't really stop until the evening. It looks like we'll be packing up a wet awning tomorrow. Never mind, it'll dry soon enough when we erect it again.
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| Better in than out |
Friday 10th
It looks like a lovely day to set off for the Wirral, certainly better than yesterday.
There's no direct route across the country and it proved to be a quiet uneventful journey. 👍😀
Saturday
Today, we cycled to West Kirby and Hoylake using the cycle trails. Mike's happy with his saddle now. At the West Kirby Marine Lake, we watching the wind surfers, we saw one that comes out of the water on an extended keel. We've never seen them like that before. It made me a bit envious when I used to do a bit of windsurfing.
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| These trees have grown like this probably because of the wind |
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| Hoylake Promenade Drinking Fountain erected in 1901 for Queen Victoria's Jubilee |
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| This made us chuckle |
When we got back, I decided to wash the towels. Never again, The tumble dryer must have been broken. I spent £2 on it and they were as wet as they went in. I went to complain and I was asked 'what do expect me to do about it?' I was fuming, I got my money back and we were left with wet towels and we still hadn't had a shower after cycling. Mike turned heating on full , opened the windows and they were soon dry after a couple of hours. Sod 'em, he said. We won't be going on another big site anymore, we much prefer CLs.
Sunday
Decided to go to Liverpool and Crosby Beach. We took the tunnel under the Mersey and carried on towards Crosby past all the old docks and industries.
You can see where all the money is being spent is in the centre by the Albert Dock. Outside that area it's all depressing, there's no regeneration there and masses of empty buildings.
Crosby beach had free parking and it was fairly empty. The Antony Gormley sculptures stood out and were a bit disturbing as if people were just walking out to sea.
We drove past the Liver Birds, but didn't stop as there wasn't
anything that we were particularly interested in. Covid
restrictions aside.
Monday
Today, we cycled along the Wirral Way to Parkgate. We had a bite to eat in a lovely café cum restaurant. Then back again, Mike went to our caravan while I carried on to the sailing centre and saw cars down on estuary probably collecting mussels. There were plenty of rosehips around so must pick some before we go home.
Tuesday
Off to Chester today. We took the Park n Ride into the city. We walked the roman walls before we got too tired and thought that it would give us a feel for the place. There are plenty of old buildings but wasn't cohesive with the new buildings.
While we were having lunch, we saw a couple of Roman Centurions with some new recruits.
I'm glad that we went but I still prefer York. I know Mike does but then he's biased as he's from Yorkshire.
Wednesday
Had a walk to the sailing centre, along the beach, coffee in the café then back. Not much else - just read and relaxed.
I found the Wirral equivalent of the Gormley statues. 😉
Thursday
Same as yesterday but the other way around and no café. We did collect some rosehips though. Lovely hot day although rain was forecast later on. While I was enjoying the sun, I noticed a strange orange fly on the arm of my chair. Apparently, it is a Scarce Orange Legionnaire fly which is quite rare.
Loud music in evening until midnight - must have been club at end of drive. Glad to be off home tomorrow.
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