The Chatsworth House

Wednesday, July 4th....!@#$!@#$ fireworks!
Dunston Hall, England
less rain, more sun

Tomorrow Sheffield! The Post Office for my battery pack, The Mossbrook School for some history, and the Mossbrook Inn for my free night...or free meal...or free coffee:)

Today was the Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. It was incredible!! Like visiting the Louvre in many ways. But before I got there, I turned off the main road thinking I was going to some stables and met a fascinating man that used to work on the estate and is able to rent one of the "cottages" that are over the hill. And these cottages are stone McMansions. Blaze often is the instigation for conversation. He even gave me an idea for when I have to push her, how I can steer the front. He suggested using something stiff attached to the handlebar and I came up with my umbrella. Think it just might work.



So at the House, I did the full tour. I've learned that they are often worth the extra $$$ but I think here I should have passed it up. They had leaflets in most rooms with the same information she was sharing and she seemed to be running through the place leaving no time for us to look around after she gave her spiel. Then I took some time to tour the gardens which were unlike anything I've seen back home. Many different kinds of gardens, but my 2 favs were the rock garden with these enormous balanced rocks and the maze that many of us had a challenge figuring out.






Tonight I had a heck of time finding my camping spot. Nothing seemed right. EIther the grass was too long, too wet, too near the road, too public. Have faith. It will show up. And just when I pulled over to check out a wide shoulder, there it was: a grassy patch next to a garden center. Don't really know what it is. Folks have driven by, down the lane. Nobody's stopped to chat or ask me what I'm doing. Sometimes folks act like people camp in my places all the time.

It's been a wonderfully sunny evening, but there are threatening clouds on the horizon. Just enjoy it while it lasts.

We'll see what tomorrow brings!

BagLady


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"Now I've Seen It All!"

Tuesday, July 3rd
Rowsley, England
Bet you can guess the weather:)

9 am Uncomfortable night's sleep indoors on a sagging old bed. Give me the earth any old day! But packing up was easier:).

And now I sit at an outdoor cafe having my morning latte watching the skies darken. But it's not raining right now:). Weather report is for light showers later.

I think a lot about traveling alone vs traveling with a partner. I get to do what I want but I don't have the interaction and laughter. I observe, like looking through windows into others lives. Where are they going as they pass by? What's their life like? Are they happy? Where am I going? What's my life like? Am I happy?



Deep, huh?!! I have a lot of time to think. Some have said that my journal entries are really long. This is my connection. These are my thoughts and memories. If I don't write it down, it will be lost. Perhaps I need to make an Executive Summary at the beginning if each journal entry:). What would you want it to include? I'm not reporting miles any more because I don't care. Don't worry, they're not very many anyways:).

7 pm What an incredible ride today! Following a cycle maps route and not following it because the roads weren't marked. Figuring out where I am is a puzzle that I'm enjoying. Even when I go miles out of my way. The scenery is so beautiful - reminds me of Wales here in the Peak District. But I did manage to get on a road that was so steep and muddy I had to...had to... push Blaze up several hundred yards. Didn't think it was possible, but ya do what you have to do. And I did it the same way I climb steep hills: push...rest...push...rest. I almost lost here though. If I didn't brace her panniers with my leg when we stopped (I couldn't reach the hand brakes from where I was) she'd start to roll backwards and we're talking STEEP!



The hard part is steering her from back there. I can't wait until she responds to voice commands. But we made it! My legs are feeling so so strong. And when people say (like they did today) "oh, there's a steep one ahead", I just smile and say "we can do it"! I think it's really easier to climb those steep ones on Blaze - slower, but easier.

The villages I went through we're so different than anything I've seen yet.



Houses built like stone castles right on the roadway all clustered together with no shops. They looked medieval. And they all seemed to be down a steep hill to get to them. Perhaps to be built near water.

I pedaled and I smiled. I think one thing that helps is listening to audiobooks while cycling. It helps keep my busy mind busy. I'm listening to "Just Don't Fall" by Josh Sundquist, a Paralympic Skier. He's a very talented writer in this autobiography. I love his view of life when he was young - precious!

Camped in a parish rec site tonight. And got set up before the rain got heavier. The misty stuff is pleasant to cycle in and totally tolerable. Got it down! After I was set up a gent stopped by. I thought because I was here. Nope. He stopped by to do some training with his agility dog. Another interesting happening! I watched them work asking tons of questions. Jack is only 18 months old and been doing it for just 12 weeks. He was working on his jumps and weaves. The energy in that dog was palpable.


Ok. Getting long again. I'm off to read.

Quote of the Day: "Now I've seen it all!", said by a cyclist passing me on the road with my umbrella up:)

Hugs y'all. BagLady



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Monkeys? Really???

Monday, July 2nd
(or Nov 2nd. Hard to tell by the weather)
Ashbourne, England



First was the monkeys. Little ones. Cute ones. I stopped to check out a garden structure not realizing it held monkeys. Got video but no pics. Sorry.

Then just rain. Mist. All day. And I was trying to go on back roads which meant at every intersection I needed to look at my map app. Confusing but idyllic roads.

What I've noticed most about the architecture over here is chimneys. Lots of them on a house. Big ones. Really tall. Reminds me of Mary Poppins when I see them:)


But as the day wore on and I realized I really wanted to be dry, the idea of staying in a hostel (or something cheap) began to grow. And it made it easier to tolerate the rain because I saw an escape! Get to Ashbourne. And I did by late afternoon. And the Tourist Office suggested this pub. Price was in my range -25 pounds (about $37). I'll take it! By the time I showered and cleaned my gear, all the shops had closed. 5 pm the streets are rolled up. Have to browse them tomorrow.



Dinner of mushroom and leek pie with peas and chips and bread and butter pudding for dessert.



Yum! I've blown my budget today eating out twice and getting a room!! But in 5 weeks this is my 5th night inside. And it's been the rainiest June in over 100 years! Guess I've earned it!

BagLady


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