_{SATURDAY 19TH}

 

_{Yesterday we left Castleton and drove through heavy fog, the  visibility was almost zilch in some places which was a pity because we were in some of the nice mountainous areas and} the villages in these mountains.  As the morning wore on it improved and by the time we got onto the main roads it was much better.  We stopped at Wimslow and vacuumed the car and then went through the car wash.  It was pretty dirty after 7 weeks of travel.  We then drove on towards Manchester Airport and finally dropped the car off at the car rental return depot.  This was not our original plan but we couldn’t find the hotel we had booked into so decided it was better to ditch the car and get a taxi to the hotel which is what we did. This took up the best part of the afternoon.  

 

This was taken on Thursday when we were driving up around the Edale area.  We sat watching for the break in the clouds and were rewarded when there was just a little bit of sunlight  in the valley for a few seconds.
 

This morning we are repacking the cases and making the sardines fit back in the can.  Things never seem to fit the second time like they did the first time.   We catch the plane tonight at 9.00 so will just mooch around the hotel for the rest of the day.  Of course it is showery and miserable.   We keep reading the updates about the fires in NSW.  They sound frightening and just hope that our family and friends are safe. 

We arrive in New Zealand on Monday so actually miss Sunday altogether.  How strange is that. 



CASTLETON

_{THURSDAY 17TH}

_{Today is has been much nicer that yesterday when in rained constantly all} day and we really just spent the day reading only braving the weather to go out and have a long lunch at a local pub. 

 

We made the most of the day today and started doing an underground canal boat ride through an old tunnel that was dug in the 18^th century when the lead miners needed access to underground mines.  We were 200 meters underground and finished in a big old mine.  The tunnel was very low and we had to wear hard hats and were glad of them if you straightened up out of the crouching position whilst in the boat.    We then drove up through the Derwent Valley passed two reservoirs or dams.  This is where the Dam Busters trained before they dropped the bomb over a dam in Germany during WW2.  I was interested in this because one of those known as the Dam Busters was from Manilla (NSW) where I grew up and Don Kennedy was an absolute hero when I was a child.  He was a solicitor and I worked for him when I first left school.

Later we had lunch nearby and as it was still fine, although overcast, so we decided to go back over the hills around us and we could see much more today than on Tuesday when we first arrived at Castleton.

 

TUESDAY 15^TH

_{I didn’t write anything about yesterday probably because it was such a miserable wet day I wanted to forget it last night.  Ian went off to do a walk that he had planned to do from Bakewell to Rowsley donned in his rain gear and hat and I later went for a walk up around the village.  I finished up getting wetter than him.  It was market day in Bakewell and the village was very busy.  Apparently it is not unusual for up to 40 coaches to arrive in the place on market day.   Later in the morning we went for a drive around the area however it was really hard to see much of the Peaks because the mist was so thick.  We had some lunch at Hartington and did a circle back to Bakewell.  Called and bought a Bakewell Pudding at the Bakery and went back to the B & B and just sat around reading.}

_{Today we left the B & B at Bakewell.  Although it was still overcast the rain had stopped and we drove to Eyam.  This little village was where there was a plague in 1665 and the village was isolated for a year.  Many of the residents died during that year  Geraldine Brooks wrote a book,  The Year of Wonders, which we had read and it was interesting going to the village and the Museum and reading more about it.  We also found the well and stone where the outside villages left food for the people in Eyam to survive during the year.} 

_{We then drove on to Castleton and had lunch here.  Over lunch we decided to stay here for the night as we are getting close to Manchester where we finish our trip on Friday.  It was a good decision as we were able to drive around the Peaks this afternoon and see the rugged hills and valleys that the area is known for even though it was still overcast of misty at least it was dry.}

Today we could see the multi layers of mountain peaks through the mist. There are many different shapes and levels.

 

BAKEWELL

SUNDAY 13^TH

It was still raining this morning.  We went down to breakfast at our appointed 8.15.  Yesterday the owner recommended the oat cakes so I decided to try them.  They were like a heavy pancake folded over a filling of bacon and cheese.  Very filling and not something I will try again in the morning.  Ian went off for a short walk around Bakewell and found the shop that sells Bakewell puddings, the main reason we are here I think and I am sure will be back there tomorrow to try one.

Later we caught the steam train from Rowsley South to Matlock, maybe this was the attraction.  It was only a 20 minute trip.  We got off and walked down through Matlock village.   We decided to eat in an Italian Restaurant for a change and had a lovely meal.  It was certainly a change from pub food.  We wandered back through the village looking at the various shops.  We are surprised at the number of Antique and Collectibles shops throughout all these small villages and they are very popular with the English people.  They use a lot of wallpaper in their interiors and flowery curtains which suit the old style buildings and heavy furniture.

When we finished lunch the rain had stopped and there was some faint sun however it didn’t take long for the dark clouds to come back.  We caught the train back to Rowsley South and drove back to the B & B.  We were both well and truly full from lunch and didn’t even need our usual snack at tea time.   The rain returned and continues again tonight. 

All he needs is the right accent

One of the many pheasants we used to watch in the orchard at Melbourne Hall.

YORK TO BAKEWELL AND MATLOCK

SATURDAY 12^TH

Time to move on again.  It was raining when we packed up and left Melbourne Hall.   It has been a nice week and we have really enjoyed the rural atmosphere and sitting watching the birds in the trees and the pheasants in the orchard. 

The rain continued all the way to Matlock where we intended to stay however couldn’t find a B & B with a vacancy so drove on to Bakewell where we were lucky enough to score one room for two nights.  The rain has continued since we arrived. 

We had lunch in a pub called Arkwright which really tickled Ian’s fancy.  He loved Ronnie Barker in ‘Open all Hours’   Don’t think the pub would open all hours though. 

At last I have some decent service with the internet connection and have been able to put on some photos and get the blog done without it cutting out.  Technology is great till it doesn't work well.   

FRIDAY 11^TH

This morning we went off driving to see if we could find the start of the Canal we had walked along earlier in the week however couldn’t.  We did find a lock along the way in another part that still hasn’t been restored.  This drive took us through a number of little villages and some farm land.  After doing some shopping in the supermarket at Polklington (the largest of the villages nearby)  we went back to the cottage for lunch.  Later in the afternoon we met up with Simon and followed him to his place where we had a lovely home cooked meal .   Before dinner he and Ian went for a walk up to see his shop and other things around their suburb just a few minutes out of York City centre.    We found our way home without any problems.

Part of a Canal that has not been restored.  As the restoration is by volunteers it is a long slow job as they are choked with grass and weeds.

THURSDAY 10^TH. 

We decided to go back into York today and left the car at the Park and Ride.  Ian went off wandering around the city again looking at the various old buildings that he had on his list and I went back to the  Shambles and did some shopping in the little shops there.  Afterwards I went to a couple of Department Stores however Department stores are the same the world over and I didn’t see anything that said ‘buy me’.   I met up with Ian for lunch and we then walked up to the York Minster, a beautiful old cathedral built between 1220 and 1480.  It is huge and easy to understand how it took over two hundred years to build.  There was a long queue to go in and, as we had been into it last time we were here, we decided to give it a miss.  The weather had turned really bitter during the day and started the misty rain so we went back to the car and drove home.   Up until now we had been saying how everything is overheated but we glad of the warmth when we got inside.



Roy.  Melbourne Hall Estate was a horse stud for many years and this man was the Groom.  When the Hall was sold to it's present owners he sold Roy a little cottage on the property to live in so that he was able to stay on.  Roy, at 83, likes to keep the place looking ship shape and 'besides, what else would I do with my day after I've fed my horses and check the stock on the place,  after all I'm only 83.  Not sure if you can see but he is wearing a white shirt and tie under the dust jacket.  Old habits are hard to undo.