Sunday was a gorgeous day. Spring was in the air and after an initial milkiness the sky above turned sapphire blue. Winter had crept back into its lair - at least for the time being.
With Clint's kind agreement, I headed south out of the city to Baslow and then on through Chatsworth Park, Rowsley and Darley Dale to Matlock. Through Matlock Bath and Cromford before filtering left along narrow country lanes that brought me eventually to the small upland village of Alderwasley.
I had never been there before and as I tied my boots I was looking forward to circumnavigating the district. There's nothing I like more than exploring unknown territory,
"You can't park here I tell ya ya daft oaf!" protested Clint.
I had parked in the little village hall car park that I had spotted on Streetview and chose to ignore the sign that said "Village Hall and Cemetery Parking Only". The lanes are so tight in Alderwasley that there seemed to be no alternative.
"Be it on your own head then!" sneered Clint who has been rather tetchy recently because he needs his annual service.
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| Hay Lane |
And so I set off on that crisp spring morning with hardly anybody else about though I did encounter a couple of other walkers in nearby Long Wood. They kept their distance as if I might be the carrier of something worse than leprosy. "Good morning!" I smiled as they withdrew into the undergrowth with pained expressions, as if they had seen a ghost. Perhaps I am a ghost. Casper The Friendly Ghost.
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| Senior couple admiring the view of Wirksworth |
Half the walk was through fields and woods and the other half was on lanes like Breamfield Lane where a couple of senior citizens were sitting on a bench enjoying the view of Wirksworth in the valley below. I also walked along a byway that would surely be popular with most female blog visitors and some male ones too - Knob Lane.
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| At Netherpark Farm on Jackass Lane (no kidding!) |
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| Bumble bee on dandelions |
You don't need any more details about my solitary ramble than that. In case you were wondering, there was no note or parking ticket on Clint's windscreen (American: windshield) when I returned to my faithful jalopy.
Driving home via Matlock Bath, I noticed that a couple of hundred motorcyclists had gathered there as they often do on sunny Sundays. Some were eating fish and chips but mostly they were just hanging out, no doubt chatting about the things that motorcyclists usually chat about - horse power, oil, tyres, leather jackets, car drivers and fatal accidents. There was no "self-isolation" going on that I could see. Perhaps I just dreamt about a pandemic.
Yes that's it. It was just a bad dream.
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| Procrastinating Donkey - for Jenny |
Sunday was such a beautiful sunny day it was hard to resist going out for a walk. I am not sure how long we shall all be able to take advantage of the great outdoors. We may soon all be confined to our homes.
ReplyDeleteThe Virus Police will drive around in vans with massive speakers on top: "STAY IN YOUR HOMES! ANYONE OUT ON THE STREETS WILL BE SHOT! BY ORDER OF THE BLONDE FUHRER!"
DeleteYP, much as I hate to be fair to Our Blond Leader I believe that it is he who has been fighting hard not to have a lock down and take additional powers. It is against all his ideological beliefs (as opposed to almost everything else where he only has convenient beliefs) and faced a revolt in his Cabinet after the disgraceful weekend behaviour by the populace. Powers will come and a lockdown will come and the uncooperative only have themselves to blame.
DeleteIt will be so annoying if the lockdown rules stop me from going on sensible walks well away from other people. The same may be even more true on your sparsely populated island.
DeleteI went to school in Wirksworth and some of my classmates came from Aldwewasley. It's a beautiful part of the world.
ReplyDeleteSadly you can't rely on the public to do the right thing any more, that ship has long since sailed. You have to make them do it. Why else would we need speed cameras and speed bumps?
One of our local dog walks is now no longer available to us. There were crowds of people there yesterday and now it's been closed off altogether. Previously there had been just a handful of dog walkers, keeping their distance from each other. It only takes a few idiots to ruin everything for everyone.
It's time the government realised that we're not all in this together unless they force people to tow the line.
How amazing that you know Alderwasley Jean! Though I have only been to Wirksworth a couple of times it seems like a good place in spite of all the quarrying in the area. Yesterday's walk was very safe. I didn't come within six feet of anyone BUT if I had broken down or had a car accident then I might have been kicking myself for creating contact situations. Can The Blonde Fuhrer really force us? It's nothing like China.
DeleteDefinitely my sort of walk too. I'm trying to remember why Wirksworth rings a bell with me. It definitely does though. Ah well I've got all the ironing to do this afternoon. Trying to recall Wirksworth should keep what passes for my mind occupied.
ReplyDeleteI've remembered. Around 20 years ago I was engaged to a lady who lived near Belper. I was thinking of moving down there. We looked at houses in Wirksworth. However I couldn't leave my Island and she couldn't return here. So we parted amicably.
DeleteYou are a dark horse Graham! Like a sailor with ladies in every port. It's nice that you parted amicably. That isn't always the way... NOW GET ON WITH YOUR IRONING! Is that crease straight?
DeleteEven that cow and that donkey are keeping safe social distances with a pained expressions on their faces. ps there is a dyke bottom in Shepley.
ReplyDeleteDyke Bottom? I bet you have driven up and down there countless times Tasker!
DeleteI love the dandelions with the attendant bee, sure sign it is spring. Do take Clint to the garage, apart from breaking down in remote places, he might report you to the AA.
ReplyDeleteI am not an alcoholic Thelma!
DeleteDo you think Bozza will be banned from Chequers because it's a second home? Smashing photos. Thanks for taking us on your walk YP.
ReplyDeleteBozza? I prefer to call him Johnson. The guy has got a third and a fourth home too. I think he should be banned for being Johnson. It was nice to take you on that walk but less puffing and panting please!
DeleteA grey stone house with a yellow door - that would be MY house!
ReplyDeleteIt was sunny here on Sunday, too, but a cold wind was blowing. Regardless of that, we encountered more people out walking, cycling and running than most other Sundays with fine weather. Sunday evening, it was announced that now not more than 2 people are allowed to meet at any time, anywhere, be it public, outdoors or privately. If more than two live in the same household, such as is the case with most families, they are of course still allowed to stay together. But so many over here seemed to be regarding this period as a pre-Easter treat of extra holidays, gathering in groups, that the government has seen this new regulation as the only way to slow down the spreading of the virus.
Your walk was beautiful! I really wonder if my sister and I will be able to come to Yorkshire in June.
We want you to come as you and your sister always boost the Yorkshire economy with your lavish spending. But somehow I doubt that it will happen this year. Sorry. You will have to explore Yorkshire through Google Streetview instead.
DeleteA very long bad dream.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, it is not a bad dream, it's a nightmare!
DeleteI can see lockdown being introduced soon. The measures are getting tighter with every day. Here in London, it is hard to go for a walk without avoiding people. Kay and I went for a walk in our local park/woodland yesterday and at first there was nobody there at 10am but an hour later it was swarming with people an nobody was making an effort to observe the 2 metre rule. We scurried home as fast as we could.
ReplyDeleteLondon is like a wormery with its inhabitants all wriggling together like noodles.
DeleteThank you for the donkey photo, YP! I wonder what he or she was procrastinating over? I like to think I have all the bases covered in that regard but I'm always on the lookout for more.
ReplyDeleteOur province has introduced stricter rules earlier than other provinces in Canada. No travellers even from domestic flights. No get-togethers of more than five people. Plexiglass barriers at the cashiers in grocery stores and pharmacies. Walking only for exercise, not socialization. I don't have a problem with any of it and only wish some of the restrictions had been in place earlier.
My mother is finally taking the situation seriously and is allowing me to pick up groceries and prescriptions for her. And she is staying home and telephoning everyone she can think of. Whew! Now that it's her idea, she's fully on board :D
I suspect that the donkey was procrastinating about carrot consumption. Good that your feisty mother has finally agreed to comply. I guess you will be equally as feisty when you are her age!
DeleteP.S. How many carrots do you consume in an average day?
0.14285..., or maybe in easier terms, one per week!
DeleteCorrection re travellers to our province - they are not banned, but they have to self-isolate for 14 days.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I've been meaning to ask how your wife is doing at her place of work with all that's going on. It's a scary time for health care workers.
ReplyDeleteFortunately she is in a health centre dealing with travel vaccinations, diabetes, baby health etc.. Still, she is apprehensive about going to work tomorrow. She is going to be extra careful about the clothes she wears at work.
DeleteBetter safe than sorry. I would be apprehensive too.
DeleteI like the names. Hay lane. I'm sure we could have many hay lanes but we don't name roads except in cities. Jack ass lane. I'm sure many roads here could fit that name....a few people too!
ReplyDeleteThere's no way your own street would be called Jackass Lane is there Red?
DeleteIt would be worth it to buy that home on Jackass Lane just so I could put it on my return address.
ReplyDeleteIn Sussex there is a lane called Dumb Woman Lane not far from where my cousin lives. Apparently Spike Milligan lived there for awhile.
Dumb Woman Lane? I bet that American politician - Sarah Palin must have lived there at some time. You of course must live on Nice Woman Lane.
DeleteYou are such a tonic in these tough times. Love those place names and photos. Reminds me how much I enjoyed Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island. Yesterday NZ was given 48 hours notice of a 4 week lockdown which may be extended. The DIY and Bottle stores were packed with tradesmen stocking up on essentials for the enforced layoff. Priorities sorted. Antarctica sent us a southerly blast last night for emphasis and this morning the Southern Alps are covered in the glory of their first snow. Daylight saving has not yet ended but there is a jonquil blooming in the garden? Best wishes to you and all your blog followers. No family celebration for my husband's 60th birthday tomorrow as it's Lockdown Day.
ReplyDeleteAt least up here in the northern hemisphere we are in early springtime looking to summer. I prefer that to your situation - descending into the cold, dark days of wintertime. Happy Birthday to your husband! It was my wife's 61st birthday yesterday. No restaurants open so we ordered chicken souvlaki meals from "The Greedy Greek". Love to New Zealand x.
DeleteWhat a lovely walk and beautiful pictures as well. I do hope you will be able to continue your walks. We are now under an ordered lockdown until at least April 30th but possibly longer as there are more cases of this virus in our area each day. It is starting to feel like a Stephen King novel around here.
ReplyDeleteI am going to try to keep on enjoying regular rambles. We are told that we can go out to exercise once a day but I don't know for sure what that means.
DeleteBack in the day when i lived on tother side of the Pennines . Matlock and White Peak were regular rambles . Now living in cabbage land theres not a lot to ramble
ReplyDeleteAre you referring to Lincolnshire Kate? I have never heard it referred to as Cabbage Land before! That means that you must be a Cabbage Patch Doll!
DeleteI imagine motorcyclists are anti-authoritarian enough to scoff at self-isolation. I love that there's both a Knob Lane and a Jackass Lane. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI am still unclear on how much walking I'm able to do under this lockdown. I get to go out once for "exercise" (and presumably taking the dog is OK) but is there a time limit? Can I be gone all afternoon? It's bewildering.