Manifold Valley

As forecast, Wednesday was to be the best day for going for an outing during the week. I was keen to see the Manifold Valley, so preparations were made for the visit. The web site http://peakdistrict.nationaltrust.org.uk/manifold-valley was particularly useful as it contained an OS map of the area. These I printed, together with a Google map and route to Wetton Mill. However, thinking that the roads around the area would not be that difficult to negotiate, I set the SATNav for Weags bridge on Larkstone Lane, Wetton. I imagined the Lane to be lined by pleasant country cottages. My plan had been to have had 'pit stop' at the pub in Wetton so that we might first find the car park and then back-track to the pub. Another 'however'. Once down to Weags bridge there was no going up and down Larkstone Lane.

This is a photograph of Larkstone Lane. It was taken by Irene as we drove back along it.

Irene was confused that the SATNav route we were following deviated from the Google route, but this was to be a blessing in disguise because we were to walk an interesting route. There was plenty of free car parking at Weag bridge. The only signs in the area were old footpath ones, signs warning of car thieves and a one at the bridge saying 'Weak bridge'. The trail was easy to see. At this point it was entered through a gate by a cow field and was a wide tarmacked path which ran along the route of the once busy ' Leek and Manifold' railway.

Brown Cows

The map clearly shows a that there should be a river flowing through the valley. This was our first glimpse of it.

Further along it was obvious that the water should have been quite wide.

At least the wild flowers did not disappoint us. We came upon some that we did not recognise as well as some that we did.

Unknown

Butter burr

Irene found out that butter burrs grow by the sides of rivers.

Also along the trail were interesting rock formations. At this side of Wetton Mill we came across this example of steeply inclined bedding planes.

On the other side of the Mill I saw an example of what I believe to be recumbent folding.

Not too far into our journey we came upon a sign near 'Thor's Cave'. We set off over the bridge by the sign, but it was not long before we realised that this was not for us.

The explanation board about the area

On the way down we did spy one of the rare butterflies, but I was too slow in pressing the shutter release. The next picture was taken on the way back, but shows why we were right to give up.

A little further on we came upon a lonely barn, but to the right is another cave which is above Wetton Mill.

It was at about this point that we began to hear the sound of running water and around the corner, at the mill, there was water and something of a river. The pictures do show the results of the long dry spell that we have been having. On the way back it was at about this spot when the sound of water ended. I guess that whatever water there was in the fenced off field was disappearing beneath the limestone hill.

The tea, after the proprietor had finished her phone call, was served in a somewhat elegant manner. It was tea-leaf tea with a metal spoon for the sugar bowl and disposable stirring ones. Basic, but pleasant food was on offer.

From the mill we set off through a farm yard

and on up along track which turned out to be a C road. There was no wonder that it was closed to traffic. The road took us past a field of sheep and quite newly born lambs.

Not too far along we turned off the road and sat at the edge of a field over looking the river. I was interested in the intertwined branches, as well as the shadows that they were casting in the water.

After walking a little further we headed back via the mill for further refreshments and the walk back to the car. Having attempted to exit the valley by an easier route it turned out that the only way out was by the infamous Larkstone Lane. But this took as back through the beautiful village of Ilam and home.

These are our final shots, taken by Irene has we returned home.

In the Mirror

Ilam

A Distinctively Shaped Hill

Wedding Weekend - Decorations, Dung, Dale and Digital

I expect that I am not the only one to have had a brilliant wedding weekend.

Joni arrived in the area sometime in the early hours. We were to see him later. See blog http://fiona-becomingagrownup.blogspot.com/. The first task of my day was to start on decorating the New Stapleford Community Centre (newscomcen.co.uk) ready for the evening 'Red, White and Blue' dance. Just before the magic hour of 11:00 (when most of the world would be glued to their TVs) I set off to pick up my new pair of glasses. It was a case of 'park where you want'. By 11:04 I was back to see the main event. It was certainly a spectacle. (Pun intended).

The afternoon was taken up by completing the hall decorations. We already had strings of union flags, to which I added streamers of the usual colours. I purchased the crepe paper in Rymans earlier. I let the helpful assistant guess which colours I needed.

The evening was very well attended with the majority of dancers suitable attired. Some of us had the privilege of receiving an appropriate bowler. I even sported a white carnation supplies by nan and Irene had a blue sash from the same source.

The Dutch buffet was enjoyed by all.

I thought that evening went well. I hope that everyone else enjoyed themselves.

Saturday - Moorgreen Reservoir

By Saturday morning Joni was home. While he slept mum and I popped off to Ilkeston. Her hope was to buy some wedding souvenirs. Mine was to trade two analogue train controllers for some more digital decoder chips. I got £30 for the controllers and purchased two more chips and a turnout. (See note on DCC below.) Before lunch I was able install a chip in one more engine. Joni was quite impressed by how easy the controller was to use. He enjoyed adding two engines together as a consist in order to haul a large train up the incline.

In the afternoon the three of us set off to explore pastures new and not too far away at a place called Moorgreen reservoir. Our neighbour, Jenny, told us about the bluebells that were growing there. This was not one of our best arranged walks. We found the reservoir and something of a place to park, but it was not clear as to where the footpath started so we drove off in an attempt to get closer to the woods. We found a parking spot and a marked footpath, but decided to stray from it into the woods itself. Firstly we came across a profusion of wild garlic. We noted that this plant seems to be taking over from the bluebells. We were to note this on our visit to Dale Abbey on the following day.

Joni and Mum enter the woods via the wild garlic

The light in the woods was certainly of the 'green wood' variety.

The dark woods opened up to larger road ways were logging was taking place. However we were not finding the promised bluebells so back to the car, back to our first parking spot and at last we found the path alongside the reservoir. The reservoir is private property (a fishery) and so we had limited views of the water, but we did find bluebells.

At one point Joni thought that it would fun to get in the way of my shot.

The mixture of blue and white was special.

We finished off Saturday evening with a game of Rumicubs. This a game that Joni excels at, usually, but mum won twice to my once and Joni's ....... We all sat and enjoyed our beer and chocolate while we watched 'Dagenham'. It was a film worth watching.

Sunday Dale, Dung and Digital

As usual the young can't hack it and need more time in bed and so mum and I set out for the dung heap. In a very un-church-like way we set off for the Bessell Lane allotment site where there is free manure available between 10:00 and 11:00. We collected our four bags and delivered them to our own plot and returned home for 11:00. Our next adventure was to be Dale Abbey. This a favourite spot of ours and another great bluebell viewing area.

I decided to take the minimum of camera equipment. I used the telephoto for all shots without the use of a tripod. The trick is to take only those photographs that the equipment is capable of.

This is the remaining wall of the abbey viewed at a distance.

On our way through Hermits Wood Mum and Joni spied a rabbit. For some reason it was a long time before I could see it. Mum grabbed the camera and this is her shot of the rabbit moving.

Here is my effort. It really is camouflaged.

The bluebell wood

We decided to walk down to the abbey wall itself. This took us past the church. All Saints Church must be the smallest church in the country. The attached house is far larger.

On the way through the village I spied these magnificent lilac blossoms

And finally to the Abbey. In the picture Joni is looking over the wall into the garden of the private house in which the abbey stood.

After a final go with the DCC railway we had tea and Joni set off ready to leave for Scotland the following morning.

A Note on Digital Command Control

A new era (for me) in railway modelling has just begun. Today I successfully installed a decoder chip into one of my locomotives and it runs under full control together with an un-chipped loco running under analogue.

The adventure began last week when I was able get hold of a very reasonably priced digital command control. A few weeks earlier I saw the price of a different manufacturer's unit and threw in the towel.

I did have one failure with the first decoder that installed, but today I replaced it and the new one is now up and running.

To do the conversion every other control unit has to be removed and under board wiring carried out so that every centimetre of track carries 12 volts. This is supplied by the unit and the rewiring is almost complete.

The principle is very much like remote control except that the rails that carry the current also carry the messages that tell each engine what to do. This means that more than one engine can run on the same section of track possibly going at different speeds and even in different directions. It is possible to couple two engines and run them as a single until in cases of pulling heavy loads or climbing inclines.

All the functions are carried out from one box and the sole power source is the transformer to the controller. All that is needed is to set the points to run the engine on whatever route is chosen.

It is so brilliantly simple.