Today we went into Bakewell, had the requisite Bakewell pudding, well you’ve got to make an effort to try these local dishes! Was extremely tasty, very almondy, nice light pastry and rich filling. We've also had mushy peas and curry sauce with fish & chips, so exotic! The mushy peas were ok but the curry sauce beautiful!! Went for a bike ride along another rail trail – I was just starting to whinge about how far we were going and we still had to get back and how the ride wasn’t that interesting anyway... and then we came to a hugely long tunnel. Was really impressive and fun to ride through – had lights all the way through and like the rest of the track was tar sealed. I’ve been through a similar one in NZ and there you have to have torches, and it has a rough floor with potholes... I guess there are advantages to having a big population. We turned round after the tunnel and I was pleased to find the ride back much easier, must have been a slight incline all the way there.
Next we went to see Chastsworth House, it was 3 pounds to park; Gus asked the parking warden how much the entry fee was and it turned out to be 15 pound per person – we agreed afterwards he should have said we didn’t want a suite for the night, just to have a look around! Anyway we decided that was a bit steep for us so the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire had to do without the pleasure of our company. We had lunch in the campervan in the car park – had to get our 3 pound worth, took a couple of photos and left.
Onto Peak Cavern – this was really interesting. There have been rope makers living in the entrance of the cave for centuries, until early last century. There was a village of little huts (still one there), all their pigs, various other livestock, must have been stinky!! I guess it was relatively warm and sheltered for them (although we found it pretty cold and damp) and close to their market, which was mainly the lead miners working further down in the caves. We were given a demonstration of how rope was made, Gus is assisting with this.
You can see in the second photo the cart that is holding the other end of the rope and keeps the tension on, and gradually is pulled closer, as it is spun (not sure if this the correct term?).
All the other paraphernalia in this photo is to do with the rope making too. Next we were taken deeper into the cave, in some parts we had to crouch almost double to get through. Early last century you had to lie flat in a coffin-like boat and get taken under a low ledge to get into the caves, but then Queen Victoria decided to visit (or Princess Victoria then) so they blasted a way through – they only made the passageway high enough for Her Royal Highness to walk under, apparently she was about 4’9”. Drove up through torrential rain over Snake Pass (a bit like part of the Rimutakas) to the North of the Peak District, now at Crowden.
Gus was a bit disappointed to find the Peak District didn’t have very big peaks, we were thinking about going for a bike ride but decided it was a bit cold and wet so decided to move on. Drove up through the Yorkshire Dales, where James Herriott set his books (and tv programmes!). Had to stop in at a grocery shop, we could barely make ourselves understood!
Very picturesque part of the country, lots of rock walls and stone farm buildings. They have as many Landrovers here as we have Toyota Hiluxes, every farmer has one; some seemed to have several of various ages. We even saw some sheep in a barn, possibly waiting for t’ vetinry...
Now in the Lake District (no photos yet), here for two nights. Took three attempts to find a camping ground that could take us, partly because they are so busy (very popular area obviously, and it’s the weekend), and partly because it’s so wet that they can’t put us on grass, we’d sink. They have ‘hard-standings’ here which are shingle or sometimes matting and seem to be all we are allowed on at the moment, would be different in the summer I guess. We can even see a little snow on top of the nearest hill, spring must be on the way soon! Apparently they have had the wettest April on record, yay!! There is a little 'beck' running behind our campervan - looks like a slightly flooded creek, hope it doesn't come up in the night. Is called Trout Beck, wonder if we might find something interesting for our brekky...
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