Wednesday 27 January 2016

January workday

A reminder everyone - the next workday/ride will be on Thursday 28 January 2016. Meet at the Hulme End car park at 09:45 for a 10:00 start. I hope the weather is good! have fun!

Monday 18 January 2016

Multi-user path from Matlock to Rowsley

Happy New Year everybody!
I posted my previous update on the White Peak Loop last October, at which point the stretch from Churchtown, Darley Dale to the car park at Peak Rail's Rowsley South station (Phase 3 of the total MUP from Matlock to Rowsley) was being laid down. Soon after this, the Toptrek surface was completed and the path was ready to be used. I am pleased to report that this is now in constant use by walkers and cyclists, and although only 900 m long, I often use it as part of my route from home to the Monsal Trail. It really is very good. I rode it in the snow yesterday afternoon and the cold weather did not seem to have deterred anyone: it was as busy as I've ever seen it. Since the beginning of the new year, work has continued on this phase, along the A6 side of the car park, protected by a line of trees. I'm going to be away for the next few weeks and I'm looking forward, on my return, to seeing the progress which has been made; at the moment, my frequent visits to the site remind me of watching the proverbial paint dry, but that's probably my fault for going there so often! The guys working on the site there have told me that other gangs will be arriving "soon" to start the building of the other phases, all of which have been approved now by the DCC planning committee. Just to remind you, Phase 1 is Matlock to Old Road, Darley Dale; Phase 2, Old Rd to Churchtown; Phase 4, Harrisons Way to the A6 at Rowsley. More can be found on this on DCC's "Pedal Peak Phase II" website (click for details). Below are pictures which were taken between last December and this month.











Sunday 3 January 2016

Last workday of 2015




























Catherine and David, Paul Taylor and I met on the morning of New Year's Eve at the Hulme End car park. The weather was perfect for the time of year: sunny and dry, and relatively mild. We rode Route 549 to Beresford Dale, crossing the Dove at Frank-i'th-Rocks Bridge and climbing (including some walking) up the Derbyshire side of the valley, eventually arriving at Hartington Youth Hostel, where we turned and descended into the village. The Peak District countryside was stunning in the bright sunlight and we were reminded what a privilege it is to live in (or near) such beautiful surroundings. From Hartington, we travelled over the gated road to Pilsbury and up the steep hill climbing away from the Dove, ending our Route 549 journey at the crossroads below Pilsbury Lodge. Over this whole 13 km stretch of NCN we found plenty of signing to do and needed to stop frequently. From the crossroads we turned into the wind, which was much fresher than I had noticed all the time it was on our backs, and returned by direct roads to Hartington. There we had a well-deserved pint at the Devonshire Arms, before continuing on to Hulme End and departing on our separate ways. Pictures were taken at the ford in Beresford Dale, just a few metres away from the cycle route.
Next workday: Thursday 28 January.