Late summer and some superbly warm days are spent out on the trails building those muscles, mopping that brow and cussing those muppet cyclists that as ever think its fun to buzz walkers from behind without warning. Inevitably 'Weekend Warriors' keen to load up their Argos bikes, bully their usually inactive kids to engage then head off in their masses to our locality
Numerous tales of contra temps to be had of us but why bother explaining multi use trail etiquette to them eh? Can't change em, mostly plain ignorant and as Blackie put it eloquently "Like putting wheels on a tomato Baldrick....Time consuming and utterly pointless"
We resign ourselves to only using these oh so fit for purpose walking trails to midweek use
The Monsal Head Trail
Sat with the sun on our faces here it wasn't hard closing our eyes and recalling the views over the Med
How symbolic is this?
Definitely says it all
The 'Nobbies' arrive and stay six days with us at Dethick
The weather was kind to us and we got out a bit mixing short picnic walks and a few interesting refreshment stops along the way
The Sycamore Inn at Parwich not too far from the High Peak Trail
As ever always good to catch up and bounce ideas off each other and we wish them well on their travels overseas. How we miss not going Guys...
A day pass is granted for me to go biking so I meet up with Malc & Bobby at their place and set off for a cafe stop at Market Rasen
Having realised that the ride could be extended a little they go along with the idea that Cleethorpes of all places would be a good additional destination
Our just rewards for what turned out to be a cracking ride albeit a full day out
Would this be the last proper ride of the summer?
Nina advertising Costa Coffee on a very warm day in Swaffham
(Taken from my Instagram account #petehudson0810)
A recent bereavement in the family sees us representing my late Mum and my poorly sister at my Auntie's funeral in Cromer. We seize the opportunity to have a couple of nights away and stay at the Black Swan Inn which albeit in sad circumstances was a real tonic for us both
Shortly afterwards Pat & Jane invite us over for a regular get together and take the chance at visiting a local hostelry for some proper 'pub grub'
The Staunton Arms at Staunton in the Vale is prebooked by ever efficient Pat and we enjoy a Covid Safe meal involving the best cuts of half a cow washed down with real ale
Girlies clearly enjoying the calm atmos....
The following week they bring 'Cis' their twin axle MH to Dethick for the first time to see what all the fuss is about and we spend a very pleasant three nights in their company
My return salvo in the 'Steak Wars' was to book us in to one of our locals namely The Boat Inn at Cromford which proved a hit involving a trio of stimulants
- Providing the entertainment by way of having to return 10 miles up the road to the last pub to retrieve my man bag after dropping the crew off at the Boat
- Battling on after entering the pub with two of the Dalton brothers sat chirping away at my stupidity and general heckling
- The arrival of some seriously tasty steak (Tomahawks) which although not as tender as the week before put up a good show and covered the porcelain....
All good fun and cracking banter with the bonus of some free beer courtesy of Mick
Grey hair abounds...I remember when we both had flowing youthful bonnets
An evening was spent with Pat and Jane trying desperately to learn Canasta their weapon of choice in card games. Every now and then a crucial game rule was tossed our way and we soaked it up only to find at the end our heads were fried and on some occasions I'd gone totally blank!
Really interesting though and apparently we were above average for newbies on the first attempt
No doubt it will be a feature of future get togethers so I'm thinking of investing in a croupier's peak!
Excellent few days spent with good friends. Hopefully any lockdowns are only temporary and we can get together again soon
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