After getting off the comparably fast Irishferries boat (2 hour trip this time) Wales put on a real show; mostly clear blue skies! First time really in the last 9 days we've seen them! Sadly it was only short lived and the heavy rain came down in no time. Fortunately it cleared pretty quickly and now, sitting in the tent just outside of Matlock (near Peak NP), I'm happy to report it's presently perfect camping weather (not that it's guaranteed to remain that way).
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| Lunch with the ducks on our way to Sherwood Forrest |
So yes, we're back to camping! This time we've stumbled across a real gem of a campsite; its in field adjoining a farmers home with rock wall fences and soft luscious grass for the bargain price of £12 for the night. It even came with free viewing of sunset hot air balloons (x3); further indication of the perfect afternoon weather! As a matter of fact, we spent time sunbaking on the QANTAS blanket in the field during the late afternoon! An unusual experience and a far cry from the Greek Islands; 20 degrees and mostly sunny. Pleasant all the same!
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| Our campsite |
The tent. Yes. Well I'd forgotten how mouldy our little french tent was until today when we set her up; small speckles of mould seem to have popped up everywhere!?! Oh well, not long to go and the mould won't impair it's ability to serve as a tent!
The adventure this arvo, as there's always adventure on the farm, was the rescue of a slightly simple milking cow stuck in a muddy water drain. After I got her out (Manda's suggestion) we then felt compelled to see if we could find her dairy, which we did. The bloke in charge (covered in dung top to bottom - who'd want to be a dairy farmer?!) seemed happy enough and was quite talkative after I asked him a few loaded questions pertaining to dairy farming. I think he may have thought I was a farmer too by the time we left! Interesting he revealed they are paid 24p per litre for their milk by the supermarkets. No cooperative. So he felt they were doing it hard compared to us Aussies and NZs.
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| Bessie the cow |
A brief visit to Chatsworth gardens and restaurant/gift shop come providore was fun. The gardens and stately home are that of the Duke and Duchess of Derbyshire. A gravity fed waterfall of sorts (see picture) was endless fun for the little kids (and Brad) and a maze kept me out of hair for a little while too! Saw our first pheasant amongst the gardens but had difficulty getting a decent photo as a little girl had just tried hitting it with a big stick repeatedly!?!
The providore was much more fun! A collection of preserves like I've never seen before; early rhubarb and orange, elderflower and gooseberry and many more. Not forgetting their huge array of mustards and sauces; one mention worthy being the game mustard with port! Yum! Slices and shortbread
A brief stop at the difficult to find Sherwood Forrest (presently 450 acres, previously 100,000 acres) brought back many childhood memories of Robin Hood and his merrie men! Seeing little kids getting around in their green felt hats (complete with feather) and their green "sacks" with bow and sucker tipped arrows complete the fairy tail like atmosphere. Funnily enough, none of the little girls were dressed as maid Marion, as a matter of fact I'm not even sure you could buy her costume?!
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| Sherwood Forrest |
The Major Oak was just that; a very large, very grand and very perfect specimen of an Oak tree. Interestingly they say an oak tree grows for 300 years, lives for 300 years and dies for 300 years. That said, Major Oak is estimated to be about 1150 years old it had a girth of 10+ meters, many hollows (some capped or lead filled), supports for it's weighty branches, a fence to keep people away from its delicate roots and special mulch at it's base to nourish it! That's TLC for a tree if ever I've seen it. Given Robin Hood was roaming these parts in the 1200s Major Oak could well have witnessed his activities!!!
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| Major Oak |
Sherwood Forrest was also memorable for shooting a longbow! A sign advertising it caught Manda's eye and there was no stopping her! I'll be honest, I was terrible, Manda however was a superstar!
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| Manda the archer |
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