Cancelled Due to No-show Snow

I was supposed to be meeting Paul and Sue near Lincoln, at a pub site called the Railway Inn, but an amber warning of snow was forecast for Harrogate, and also sleet all weekend at Lincoln. I didn't fancy driving in icy conditions, it's wobbly enough in the dry, so we cancelled. 

In the event the snow didn't show up this time. 

Later in the month I took the van in to have the windscreen washers fixed, but it was a 2 minute job so he didn't charge me! Maybe I could have done it myself - I must find out how to open the bonnet! I'll need to put washer fluid in at the very least.

Nithered in Matlock

Friday 7 Jan 

Oh my god, the wind felt like liquid ice on my face, it was so cold the water pipes froze on site. The gods were looking after me though because the van started first time after a week covered in 8 inches of snow, and sub-zero temperatures.

First time at the Lickpenny site, really nice characterful site, stepped in to the hill, lots of vegetation. Let's see how long til CMC homogenise it beyond recognition. View from the top of the site looked like it was going to be great, looking forward to it tomorrow. Heating on and stayed put.

Saturday 8th

No view, freezing gloom. Unusually for me I'd had to keep the heating on low all night too. Walked down a narrow busy lane to the bus stop for Matlock. Soup and toastie for lunch then a pootle round the shops, including the huge, stuffed, and well-known Matlock Antiques and Collectables which is a tourist spot in its own right.  This is part of the town trail, which goes through the park. Luckily I wasn't there in 1965 or I would have drowned.

Finally a short but steep climb up to Pic Tor, which has a war memorial on the top. 

Got off the return bus ride at Tansley, which left me a hell of a slog up a hill on a busy road without proper pavements. Hmm, now I appreciate the negative comments on the site reviews.

Sunday 9th

Short walk to the garden centre near the site entrance. Bit of an odd place out of season but I bought some fleece gloves and room scent for the van (to get rid of old curry smells!). Then more hunkering down and tea drinking. Still, nice to get away and decided it would be a bad idea to drive through Matlock in season, very congested even in January!

Teeside trip

 Back to Hartlepool to see the bits I missed during the folk festival. Tapas lunch at the marina (which had weird stalagmites in the water  - what's that?) Then a trip around the museum. All very nautical but some lovely engines. I drove along the headland road but the wind was too biting for a walk. 

Then booked in to Stockton on Tees camp site and a trip to Asda. 

Sunday

Next morning after a fantastic red sunrise I walked down to the Tees Barrier. Then along the riverbanks to the Infinity Bridge. Slicing cold wind. The barrier has 4 Archimedes screws! And massive hydraulic rams!

Monday - Mount Grace Priory

Really windy drive back. Finally got to stop at Mount Grace Priory, which I had been passing for years. Big open site but I think a visit in spring/summer would be fabulous for the gardens.