If anyone is reading this in the distant future the restrictions on movements due to the Covid-19 virus finally started to ease again in May 2021, albeit with some limitations still in place. 😊
Since the last update I’ve made a few improvements to the ‘van. A new water tap and some rearranging means I can now get the water and waste carriers in and out easily. I’ve also added a 115w solar panel and a sun canopy, both mounted on a roof rack. The solar setup is intended to keep the coolbox running when I’m off grid or the ‘van is parked up, for example when I split holidays between camping and hotels. It’s a bit oversize for just that purpose but in the future (probably on the next camper) I may fit a larger battery and inverter so I can recharge the bike battery.
This trip is a bit different to normal in that I haven’t planned everything in exact detail (there’s still a spreadsheet though!) A lot of places aren’t open or need pre-booking so I’m not bothering too much about visits, the main aim is to just relax and get out and about a bit on the bike, hence the title. I had one disaster before setting off, the pint bottle of milk out of the freezer was “off” when I defrosted it but Waitrose at Leicester Forest services supplied a fresh replacement (and SubWay provided breakfast).
Of course I couldn’t come away without railways being involved. 😀 I was looking for somewhere to break the journey on the way up and while following the route on Google Maps (the high tech equivalent of Brown Sign Bingo*) I came across the Famous Trains Model Railway in Markeaton Park in the edge of Derby. As there’s also a craft village (which was mostly closed) with cafe it seemed to fit the bill. As I was a bit early for the models, and after I’d finally persuaded the app to let me pay for the car park, I went for a coffee, very good it was too.
Unfortunately the Famous Trains didn’t open on time at 11:00 due to a lack of volunteers but I only sat in the car for 15 minutes or so before they found enough bodies. It’s a slightly odd place but the main layout modelling is to a decent standard and some of the smaller scenes were interesting. It was certainly worth the £2.50 entrance fee and having been starved of exhibitions for so long it was great to see what others have done.
I was still a bit early to get onto the caravan site so popped in to the car park adjacent to the site at Carsington Water and had an ice cream before joining the arrivals queue. It’s always a difficult one, yes I had to queue but being reasonably early I’ve got a pleasant corner pitch with some shade from the trees (which somewhat negates the solar panel and sun shade!) After getting sorted I carried out a minor bit of bike fixing, changing the toe clips for shorter ones (I only have small feet) but otherwise it’s just relaxing and reading.
The intention tomorrow is to get the bike out when I can be bothered and cycle round the reservoir. On the way I’ll suss out the facilities including the bar for possible future visiting. Later in the week I’m hoping to explore some of the old railway lines that are now cycling and walking trails, the aim being to minimise use of the ‘van.
*I’ve used the Brown Sign Bingo term a few times in my blog. It’s basically seeing a brown sign for a tourist attraction and following it. I’ve found some great places that way but also been caught out by a railway museum that had clearly closed a few years before.
Shade, Tanglefoot and Kindle, life doesn’t get much better!
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