Wheels Around Europe . . . . . . . : A mid-week escape to the east .....

Wednesday 13th October 2021

The day started with a not too promising outlook. Heavy looking cloud, mist, drizzle and rain. All looking a bit miserable :(

Undeterred, I decided to set off anyway, and so glad I did.

By the time I got to Carsington Water the clouds were parting and bits of blue sky were appearing.

Actually I don't think it had even rained here, the grounds were dry.

So I had a walk around (part) of the lake before lunch, then a walk the other way later.

It's quite busy with twitchers getting excited about some birds they've spotted and lots of long lenses were pointing out onto the lake.

I asked what was causing the excitement, but didn't really get an answer.

Later I moved onto Cromford in the River Derwent valley.

This is a really interesting little town and was the home to Richard Arkwright, where he built Cromford Mill and who, with his inventions, the most famous being the first water powered cotton spinning mill machine in 1771, and so kick started the industrial revolution, right here in this sleepy little Derbyshire valley.

250 years later, you could wonder, was it all worthwhile ?

Of course it was, we couldn't all be farmers using a wooden pick and spade forever, but when you look at the damage to the planet, well it makes you wonder.

I'm parked up in Cromford Wharf adjacent to the Cromford canal which has the most amazing clear water.

So unlike the Trent and Mersey canal !

I'm not sure if you can tell from the photos but it's really crystal clear. Apparently it's fed from underground springs and not the River Derwent as you would assume from it's close proximity.

(You can't see from the photos how clear the water is, so I'll try and do better tomorrow with some different photos)

There's also a film crew here with Richard Hammond filming something about the canals.

I'd seen the guys with cameras, then walking towards the exit passed this guy who looked very familiar and just blurted out a hello, lol.

Edit : just had a wander around and bumped into the hamster again, so took the opportunity and got a photo.

He was very friendly and happy to have a chat.

I couldn't help noticing though that his Merc has a nasty scrape down the side though lol.

We laughed a bit before he and the crew headed off.

Anyway, a bit of excitement in Cromford.

The town is quite pretty with a selection of antique shops and cafes, a few artisan type food shops (posh sausage rolls and cheese mostly) etc.

If the town has one drawback, it seems to be on a route for the heavy road stone aggregate lorries that come thundering down the hill and judder to a halt at the traffic lights. Not just one or two but a continuous convoy.

Weekends are probably different, hopefully.

I'll stay here overnight, it looks to be a good safe place and should be peaceful, although there are chickens next to where I'm parked, I'm not sure if there is a cockrel, I suppose I'll find out in the morning, at just around dawn no doubt !

I've been joined by two other motorhomes so maybe we'll have a party later, only joking, lol party days are over.