InvictaMoto's Family Travels

Home day. After a really nice time away, we were up bright and early to get packed up and away  We had to be out by 10am, but with super speed we were off at 09.18am! We decided on the M1 route home and then the west side of the M25. There was a bit of confusion as we headed east as the satnav wanted us to head away from the signposted M1 (South). We followed the signs and joined at J26. Progress was good with the cruise control at 70mph for most of the way. I do wonder why some drivers wait until you are in an overtaking lane, then speed up. This leaves you stranded! A minute later you sail past them. First stop was at the Watford Gap services. There is some grass for Reggie to exercise his feet and have a pee. Claire bought coffee. We were there no longer than 25 minutes.  Then off. There is a reduced speed limit on the M1 from there to almost Milton Keynes. They are obviously building a smart motorway. But for thirty or so miles no actual sign of work. Not even any equipm...

Day 3 Part 2 After lunch we set off for Chatsworth..it's about 8 miles from the Stables. The house is closed but there are plenty of walks and for local school half term the children's play area is open. We had a little walk and then went to the estate farm shop. Some local stuff bought, but no pudding this time. We had dinner in the cottage including some Staffordshire oatcakes. Lovely. Day 4 We decided to go to another National Trust house at Kedleston Hall. We knew that Reggie couldn't go in the house but that was okay. They have a refreshment truck and loads of walking trails. First stop was coffee and then we set off on the short walk. It turned out very muddy and so we set off on the long walk that is all hard surfaced. Well until about 3 miles into it when we get down to the lake and there was deep mud. At least we had the right walking boots. Could have done with wellies for that section. (Photos to follow) After a loo break where I managed to clean most of the mud ...

Today started off pretty well. Ilam Hall and Dovedale to start with. Nissan Connect was actually able to locate Ilam Hall. We arrived in good time and parked up. The car park was free as we are National Trust members.  The sun is shining and it was a balmy 8°C. First stop Manifold Tea Room. Reggie not allowed in as he isn't an assistance dog. We sat outside and it would be right not to have a bit of Bakewell Tart.... Paul, one of the volunteers advised us against walking to Dovedale due to the local flooding of the Dove and the mud. He gave us a short walk along the river there at Ilam. Plus a bag of treats for Reggie. Walk acheived we drove to Dovedale. The car park was a vast sea of mud. It was packed as locally this week is half term. Plus Paul said that the famous stepping stones may still be submerged as they had been a few days earlier. We aborted. Set Nissan Connect for Chatsworth House. Or so we thought. It took us through Ashbourne towards Derby! Chatsworth is near Bakewel...

We had a bit of a broken night. Firstly it was freezing. It was raining when we got back from across the street at the Druids Inn. As a side note I can thoroughly recommend the pub for its food, friendly welcome to us and Reggie. For half the night we shared the bed with him. Then he went and either slept on the sofa or the floor in the lounge. Back again about 6.30am. So as we were up we had breakfast and set off for our first port of call, Bakewell.  We parked on an island in the river Derwent. It's a big island.  The river was a raging torrent and earlier in the week had burst its banks. The flood barriers in evidence all along the walkways. Of course, with no great sense of direction we walked the opposite direction to the town. As I had forgotten gloves on the trip we saw a Farm and Country shop - Torne Valley Limited, Haddon Road, Bakewell. A real Alladin's Cave. Anything you might want they seemed to stock. Plenty of gloves. I bought a pair. They are re...

Set off a little before 11am for the proposed 4h30m drive north to the Peak District and our stay for the next 4 nights at the Stable at Druids Farm in Birchover. With the car packed up we set off on a route to avoid the Dartford Crossing. This entailed the M20/M26/M25/M40/M42. We had a stop for Reggie to have a pee and we got a coffee. Plus a Slimming World busting biscuit. Both between us. Once we got onto the M42 after pretty much a cruise-control run from home, it all ground to a stop, then stop/start.   Nissan Navigation seemed to try and avoid the traffic and instead took us up some dead end seeming road. In the end we made it to the M42 further up. Southbound was solid for miles. We made a second stop at Tamworth Services. A chance for all three of us to have a widdle, and for the humans to get something to eat from M&S. We then had a magical mystery tour via Burton upon Trent and then to Derby. The back roads to Birchover took us along quite a few roads where we sa...

I checked the email to see when the balance was due and it is next week.  I decided to pay it today before we go to our staycation in Matlock. Once that was done the full address and details became available. That's one thing out of the way. We'll have to see which way to go. Google Maps shows several routes. But maybe anything that avoids the ridiculous bottleneck by Stonehenge is to be taken!!!