Subject: Day 85 - Pately Bridge Yorkshire - On the road again !
From: michael litchfield <m_litchfield@hotmail.com>
To: litchy1.codey@bloggert.com
CC:
Some morning pleading by Kev was good enough to get the one and only bike shop in town to have a crack at fixing my wheel even though because of business commitments it was likely to be a late in the day effort !
We checked out of our great guest house accommodation (not often you are served breakfast by someone in a Dickie bow !) saying goodbye to our hosts Dave & Dee and setting about to explore the beautiful Peak District for the day after dropping off my bike for repair.
Driving first to Eyam I asked whether H was current with his "plague shots" as Eyam achieved notierity back in the 1660's as a plaque village ! So deadly was its effect that the town quarantined itself by restricting outside access and by burying the dead on the various properties and not in a communal area.
A standing reminder to this today are the cottages where the plague started and a long list of those inside who died. Also a no. of graves are evident on private property.
Probably most poignant of all was a large stone' placed on the border between Eyam parish and the next village. The stone had 6 holes that locals filled with vinegar treated money in exchange for goods brought by the next village down the valley - a self imposed quarantine !
After Eyam we took in some fabulous views of the Hope Valley from high up before driving to peaceful Tiddleswell for lunch a village that H remembers only too well having staggered through here in 2011 on our way cycling to Hope.
Kev was beginning to show signs of not feeling well again, something that has dogged him on and off the trip.
With rain threatening we drove on to Monsal head a beautiful look out across the valley including a magnificent 8 arch former railway bridge that saw service on the London and Manchester train line between 1860-1960 !
Not only were the views sensational but we had a ring side seat for a huge approaching storm complete with rain, thunder& lightning a very eery experience.
We battled our way through water deluged roads (post storm) to Buxton to pick up one repaired bike wheel and rotor (now 100 pounds poorer) and make our way north towards the Yorkshire Dales.
Although only 100-120 kms the journey took a good 2 hours as we drove through Huddersfield, Halifax and Keighley. While the towns had highly compressed houses (Coronation street style) it was interesting to see that all had a visible green belt meaning that access to the countryside was not far away.
H was relishing the more powerful 5 door VW golf although he forgot he wasn't at Sandown doing 10+ mph over the limit causing me to go for the ejector seat on a number of occasions on some of the narrow winding roads.
Kev was starting to go downhill and by the time we reached our destination at Pately Bridge in the Dales he was a fairly sorrowful sight complaining of a combo of headaches and body aches yet again (me thinks a proper check up needed)
We were able to secure accommodation in a guest house in the main street of what looks like a lovely town but the plan for riding in the Dales looks very much in doubt.
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