First long road trip and other adventures.

[securespark]

As for the journey, it was a "one tank" job. We go up through Buxton, Matlock Bath, Bakewell, then follow the 610 into Notts.

 

[securespark]

Also went to Leeds for a birthday party, with a trip to see Harewood Hall thrown in.

Unknown to us, they had a food fair on at the time, which we had to pay extra for, whether we liked it or not. It (the food fair) wasn't special, a couple of examples were overpriced food (some churros cost £15!) and a cheese van selling nothing more than a few rather ordinary truckles.

You know why I took this picture...

"What?" I hear you you cry.

"You went all the way to Harewood and didn't take any pictures of the Neoclassical architecture or at least a picture of the geezer on the terrace with the impressive doodah?"

No, I'm sure I did, but I can't find them now.

That was another "one tank" trip.

 

[securespark]

Not sure if I'm repeating myself here, but we did a trip to the Cotswolds about this time last year with my Ma who is a long-retired English teacher and a Japanese friend of Mrs S.

We based ourselves at a purple hotel chain in Cheltenham next door to a Shell station with some beefy charging stations.

We went to all the places you can think of in the Cotswolds, including those we should really have steered clear of. The ones where the locals are peed off and the place is constantly rammed with traffic and people.

Bourton on the Water, the Slaughters (Upper and Lower), Stow, Broadway. We also went to Blockley, where Father Brown is filmed. Gloucester too.
And a dig Mrs S went on when she was a student at Crickley Hill.

We also went to Slad, to see The Woolpack, the local of Laurie Lee, writer of Cider With Rosie, amongst other books.

I didn't let on to Mum until we were almost there and she was amazed.

She had a pint of dry cider in the pub, sitting in his favourite spot!

A painting of the man himself.

His grave, in the churchyard over the road from The Woolpack.

Bourton on the Water

Looking out from Crickley Hill

The water at Bourton.

Gloucester Cathedral

 

[Ian Key]

@securespark It's a small world. Your trip to the Cotswolds brought back happy memories as my auntie used to live in Cheltenham for many years so we were able to visit the tourist sites out of season.

My brother was the Director of Employability & Enterprise at Nottingham Trent University and as I live in Derby, Matlock, Bakewell etc. are on my doorstep.