A break in travel notes to remember Dad

Sadly Dad died on 11th May, so travels suspended. I did spend a few nights in the van on the drive - a handy extra bed in extremis.

Lovely Leek and a good walk

I went to Leek for 1 night - it is a nice little town. I went to Buxton too – I am not sure why, it is a spa town with gardens, pavilions, and a theatre...hmmmm, I could have saved myself a trip there! I could have spent a fortune in Leek, it has lots of vintage shops and a lovely gallery. However it would have just been more clutter so I resisted.

I walked along a ridge called The Roaches on the Sunday; a long series of ridges in an area called the Staffordshire Moorlands, which I had never heard of before. It was 6.75 miles and 550m up! 

Along the way was a place called Lud’s Church which is a crevasse where Sir Gawain lopped the head of the Green Knight, if you believe in King Arthur etc. I just did some silly Monty Python voices.  Lots of lovely people about and an ice cream to boot. 

There was also a tree trunk studded with coins, but I don't know why. Then a few miles through woodland that was deafening with bird song!

I was accompanied at one point by this dog who was with the mountain rescue people, who were having a rehearsal. Much as I would have enjoyed being carried down by those lovely chaps, I was a bit put out that the dog assumed it was me who needed rescuing!

At the top!

On the down sides - the campsite was next to the A53, which is a lovely road to drive on but blummin' noisy to sleep next to, and the sodding van rear door won't stay shut! I had to lash it closed with some clothes line, as it was flying open after 20 mins on the road. Sigh. Let's hope it can be repaired easily - I really don't want to get rid of it :-(

Bring Me Sunshine - Please!

As I was going on a walk in Gargrave on Sunday, I thought I would go up for the weekend and booked in to a CL in Hellifield called Littledale Croft. The rain poured down all day and it was a bit hairy getting up in to the field, two goes and a bit of wheel spin and I was on. Rabbits and birds, but a very windy and rainy night kept me awake.

I was a bit worried if I drove off I wouldn't get back on the pitch! And anyway, there was no visibility for sightseeing, so I walked down to the station and got a day return to Morecombe for £14. 

Hellifield Station caff:

Morecombe was a real mixed bag - some lovely sights, but the poverty was obvious - I stuck out like a sore thumb amid the charity shops, betting shops, chip chops, broken pavements and boarded up buildings. Quite dispiriting on first sight, but someone is trying very hard to turn it around as the place was FULL of artworks! Bird sculptures on every roundabout, murals, stone carvings and poetry. 

Left: sculptures of the hills you should be able to see on a good day.

Above right: One of the local fat birds, and below - the Stone Jetty area, with the snooty Midland Hotel in the background (strictly residents only - move along, you hoi polloi)

Poetry and biblical verses about the flood (see the dove on the column to the right). 

Further on, a touching memorial to the Chinese cockle pickers from Fujian, who were drowned in the bay in 2004 - a rose planted for each of the 23 of them, and a poem  - you can read the words here. All arranged by the rescue services.

Near the The Welcome Cafe where I had beans on toast - wall art: 

And the statue of Eric Morecombe of course - the main reason for going. Even in the rain there wasn't a minute when there weren't people hanging off it or taking its photo. It's not exactly subtle, but everyone was laughing at all the catchphrases carved in to the pavements around.

Phew! What a day.

On the Sunday, down to Gargrave for the walk. But the weather was so bad, it was cut short to 3.5m (thank goodness!). Nice group, but very wet and muddy by the end so I came straight home.