Thursday, 21 February 2008

Baslow, Curbar, Froggatt edges, Grindleford, Horse Hay coppice



The new job I'm now doing usually precludes me walking, as I work weekends. However, I DO get Tuesdays off, so this week, Sue & I decided to get out. The previous week had seen a perfect day, but we had other things to do. This week, we promised ourselves a walk, and so we got out as soon as we could. Although visibility wasn't perfect, I decided to go up on the edges. Baslow, Curbar and Froggatt, to be precise. We drove the ten minutes from Bakewell to Bubnell and parked up.
The sight that met us was a load of ducks sitting on a stone wall. Like a real life shooting range!


Anything off the top shelf, sir!

One good shot along this line would take out several at once!
(The only shots I fire though, are with my camera).


This friendly cat didn't seem to bother the ducks.
They seemed to live side by side in harmony.

So, off we set, up past the golf course, and through this gate to the first edge, Baslow.
The obelisk on the top there is Wellingtons monument.
There is also one to Nelson on another edge.
As we walked forward, we got this lovely view of Curbar edge, where we were heading.

Here's Sue, standing on the edge.

Then she decided to sit down - slacker!


I was a bit more adventurous!

It was around this time that we decided to stop for lunch. We rested against one of the large rock formations, with the sun beating down on us. I couldn't believe this was a FEBRUARY sun, as it was so warm and strong! I even ended up a bit red-faced as I caught the rays - totally unexpected!
Although a lovely, sunny day, it WAS quite cold out of the sun, as the surrounding water courses proved;


The sun through the trees was wonderful. The woods were really etherical in this light.
This was the unfortunate result of some recent high winds.
What a shame two such stoic things, the tree and the wall, were both destroyed.

As we dropped off the last edge, we looked across to Grindleford church.

Look at this for an inviting path through Horse Hay coppice.
These flag stones were laid for the pack horses.

Another break Sue????


Looking back across the fields.

We then came to the river, a complete paradox in views, but just as beautiful, in different ways.
Froggatt bridge.
This was an early daffodil, on the verge of opening


This one was fully open, and what a lovely sight.
As you would expect, the snowdrops were well advanced and, along this bank, in great profusion.

A close study of them.

Towards the end of the walk, evidence of just how low the temperature still was, for anywhere out of the sun's caress.
No warming rays for this poor plant, not yet anyway.



One final look back along the river in the evening light before making our way home. The end of a very rewarding day. I'd forgotten just how good it was to stretch my legs and get my boots on. Today was a great reminder.

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Thursday, 8 November 2007

Monsal dale, the ridge, Tideswell Dale, Litton, Ravenstor



We decided to go for a walk yesterday, as it was such a lovely day. I can't tell you how good it was to get out again, it really was. I realised how long it had been since my last walk because of how the trees are now, so autumnal! It was like a spring day though, with a VERY warm sun. We sat in Tideswell dale in the direct light of it, and ate our first picnic since we started at the cafe.

Here we are at the start of the walk. We dropped into the dale, and went along the ridge top left of this shot.

Sue, walking along the ridge.

Looking forward - to HEAVEN!

Millers dale YHA, a ship in a sea of Autumn colours.

The lovely copper path.


Stupendous colours this year.


The avenue of trees walking up Tideswell dale after our picnic.


Litton village green. We stopped at the Red Lion for a pint.

Yours truly, happy with a few miles under his belt and mud on his boots.


Thursday, 25 October 2007

Sue's balloon trip



For Sue's birthday, I decided to take her up in a hot air balloon (well, I didn't 'drive'), as she had once planned to go up, but it was on the day Diana died, so it was cancelled and she didn't go. She had never re-organised it, so I thought it was time she went.
This is Sue and her daughter Amy, as the balloon was being inflated.

One minute we were taking photo's, the next - WHOOOOSH! we were UP!

A happy bunny


Whatstandwell, and the old wire works.
The Virgin balloon, which took off from the same place, but just before us.
Flying over Crich tramway museum

Crich stand, a memorial to the Sherwood foresters.
What keeps us afloat, the burner, and it was very hot on our heads!

Ogston reservoir.

Virgin balloon lands, after only 40 minutes - we had over an hour!

Looking down from the basket.


Still smiling, Sue and Ogston reservoir.
LANDED! A spot-on drop into Walton hospital grounds, near Chesterfield.
We were trying to hold the balloon from being blown into a tree behind it.

Here she is, the birthday girl after her flight.
Ride in a balloon - DONE!


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