Watery spring sunshine in the border lands

 This month's workday focussed on checking signage along sections of routes NCR68 and NCR549. However, with reports that trees had fallen across sections of the Tissington trail north of Ashbourne we went prepared for a major clearing operation. 

Sadly my toolkit for major works was not required and came all 44 kms and 800mtrs of ascent, just for the ride! 

It was lovely to see Peter and Jill in the car park at Ashbourne before we set off, and to hear how they are finally recovering from their severe bout of long-Covid. Hopefully they will be back with us at our next work day. 

David, Catherine Brian and myself set off north along NCR68 up to the car park at Tissington for a coffee and a warm up. The edges of the trail are littered with trees that have fallen, but they have all been sawn up, presumably by rangers, and my bow saw stayed firmly in the pannier! Catherine and I rode ahead up the trail and were lucky enough to have, first of all, a large buzzard fly only a few metres ahead us and then, what we think was a sparrowhawk. A lovely brush with the natural world on a cold, grey morning.

The coffee at Tissington station was most welcome, but with a cold wind blowing it was not appropriate to hang around for any longer than was necessary. We carried on up the trail to Alsopp en le dale where we veered off down to Dovedale and the lovely ride on the Staffordshire side of the river up to Milldale, and then on to Wetton. 

We have stopped at the church tearooms in Litton before, but today we had the chance to have our lunch there (cash only). Very pleasant. After a big lunch the most appropriate way to go was down! It is a long way down from Wetton to Weags Bridge on the Manifold Trail (NCR549) but by the time we started to bike along the valley bottom a very watery, feint sunshine was peeping through grey clouds. I have never seen so much water in the River Hams; for much of the year the water disappears underground. Again, a lot of felled tres alongside the trail but not sure whether this was part of a grand regeneration project, or clearance of storm debris.

It is such a delightful ride along the Manifold trail and at Waterhouses there is the added attraction of watching the woolley pigs rooting around happily in knee-deep mud. 

We finished our ride by leaving NCR549 and heading back to Ashbourne via the lovely settlements of Calton, Throwley, Ilam, Blore and Mapleton. Water in the Manifold  still very high but just a few signs that Spring is just around the corner. 

We had a short detour into the very simple church at Blore, where David showed us the incredible sculpture that lies within it; we are not sure where all the hands went to. Brian ended up walking back the last 1/2 mile to the car park with a puncture but otherwise a great end to a lovely ride. All the signage seemed to be in pretty good order and so it was not a particularly onerous day work wise!

Low in numbers but high in achievement!

 It was unfortunate that, having already had to cancel the post-Christmas work day in January because of illnesses, etc, it proved difficult to muster a good compliment of volunteers for our February event. The original date was postponed because of the inability to get a quorem but then ironically even less volunteers were available for the revised date last Monday, 7 February! However, what we lacked in numbers we made up for with the amount we achieved in an extended session.

The February workday was once again centred around the corridor at Rowsley sidings. Marion from Groundwork was keen, as ever to get essential chopping back done before we are precluded from doing such work by the nesting birds. The session was focussed on a southern section of Rte 680 near the Peak Rail station that we haven't worked on for a couple of years. 

It was also an important session as we had the possibility of being joined by the new regional Sustrans Operations Manager, Jos Winter who is based in Matlock as well as two of the DCC officers who look after trails and cycleways across the county. In the end Jos was unable to join us on the day and only Carol PArsons from DCC could come along to see the work we have been doing in this area. she was very complimentary of our efforts and is going to look further at our suggestion of making picnic areas along the route corridor through the woods. she also updated us on the position ref the boardwalk section. The entire length is due to be replaced imminently with a structure that is more robust and fit for purpose than the existing one. Unfortunately she hasn't found one that can self clear itself of leaves and so that will remain an annual task!

Brian and myself were the only members of our Ranger group who were able to make it to the workday, but we were joined by Chris Allen who leads the Chesterfield Ranger group and who wanted to come and see the sort of activities we are involved with. His enthusiasm matches that of our own David S in terms of wanting to take on the clearing of trees that Marion though beyond our capability. Chris has a lot of experience of working within Sustrans and alongside ranger groups in DCC. He will be a valuable contact for us in the future and he is very keen to work with us. 

Once again we had a fabulos day and the trail was very busy with walkers, cyclists and joggers. Marion managed to recruit another volunteer to help maintain the section and so we look forward to meeting her next time we are on site, in the Autumn. 

I think we just about complete all the work that Marion had hoped to do on the day, including the trimming back of a particularly wild willow tree. 

Next work day will be Friday 4 March when I think we should visit a more central location. Details to follow later unless anyone has more specific thoughts on an area where specific works are required.

Happy cycling!

Christmas signing ride and World Peace cafe

 Our festive signing day (Friday 3 December) was cold and damp, but as always the group were in high spirits and good cheer. It was a fantastic turnout, with numbers sewlled further by Brian's son Gavin  and both Maldwyn and David's wives joining the group for the day too. It is a long time since we checked NCR 68 from Ashbourne down to Etwall, which lies at the very southern edge of our region. I recall that last time we rode this route it was a lovely sunny day!

Although this section of NCR 68 will probably be removed or reclassified from the network, so far we have had no instructions to do this and so we have diligently worked to maintain the integrity of the route and signage to ensure users do not get lost. One or two key signs had gone missing, but we had plenty of helpers on hand to replace them 

Thankfully the signing didn't delay us too much as we had pre-arranged to meet at the Tara Buddhist Centre's World Peace cafe for lunch. We have cycled past it several times on signing rides before, but today we rode down the impressive tree-lined drive way and enjoyed the hospitality of their cafe.  

The curried courgette soup was quite fantastic and we had no problem at all relaxing in the warmth of the cafe. A great place for lunch. 

Thanks to David and Catherine for making all the arrangements for the day and for getting us back to the cars by a different route, through Osmaston Park. It was a lovely ride and just the perfect length at 40 kms. Thanks also to Catherine for the delicious chocolate fridge tiffin, which really made an ordinary signing day into a very special festive one!

No plans for a work day in January yet, but how about we look at possibility of Monday 10th January 2022. 

Happy Christmas to everyone and I hope you all have a wonderful New Year. Many thanks to you all for the work we have done during 2021, which I know has helped to keep the Sustrans routes through the White Peak area well signed and enjoyed by many users. Well done

A double dose work day - Rowsley sidings

 

Once again we were so lucky with the weather for our autumn day of maintenance in the special environmental corridor we are developing at Rowsley sidings (Route 680). David, Catherine, David (S) and Brian teamed up with Marion Farell of Groundwork, primarily to rake up the grass and brambles that were cut down by DCC ranger last week, 1.5 metres either side of the track. It is important apparently that the vegetation is left a week so that everything in it can disperse properly, before it is cleared away and give the new growth under it a chance to flourish next Spring

Our task was to rake up the cut vegetation and create piles approx 10 metres apart, which the DCC ranger will then come and cart away. We had planned on it taking us all day but, in our normal efficient way we soon got on top of the job and had it finished by lunch time!

One or two trees and large branches had fallen close to the side of the trail since we were last here but yet again we were able to saw them into manageable lengths and move them back into the undergrowth where they will provide food and shelter for wildlife and the eco-systems. David was the "star" of the day in that he bought with him his battery powered hedge trimmer, which was just perfect for dealing with the many brambles that the mower had not managed to cut fully. Marion now wants one and we had difficulty prising her away from it!

Refuelling time - Marion knows how to look after us and we loved having Bounty Bars with our coffee. 

Such was the effectiveness of the morning work we decided there was still enough time in the day to clear the boardwalk of its leaves. After a very pleasant lunch break in the strong sunshine we trooped off to attack the carpet of leaves that make the boardwalk such a potential danger for cyclists. In contrast to the first year we cleared the leaves, when they were frosted onto the planks, yesterday's effort was a doddle. Crisp, dry leaves can be swept away very quickly and the whole job was completed in less than an hour!

Well done everyone; two really good jobs done in a single day. Next work day for your diaries is Friday 3 December when we hope to do a signage check of Rte 68 south of Ashbourne, and enjoy festive mince pies at the Buddhist retreat. 

Small, but perfectly formed

 No pictures from our October work day I am afraid!

Although there were only 3 of us out on the ride (David C, Naomi and myself), once we got going, and the last of the heavy showers had passed, we had a really lovely ride of just over 42kms.

As suggested by Peter, David and I rendezvoused at the Blue Lagoon cafe close to the National Stone Centre in Wirksworth. We didn't partake of coffee but from what I saw it really looked like a place that I would like to go back to and try out properly. Whilst we were there Naomi texted to say she was waiting up at Middleton Top car park and so David & I pedalled our way (very) slowly up the incline to meet her. It was definitely a bit unfair  to start  off at the bottom of that hill! 

We met with problems paying for Naomi's car parking and so she had to get back into the car and rendezvous with us some time later at the Minninglow car park. On a real autumnal, blowy day staff at the visitor centre and cafe at Middleton Top had obviously decided there was no point opening as it was all closed up and looking as though it would not reopen until the spring. A sobering thought.

David and I set off along Rte 54, the High Peak trail, with very few other users around. Although the skies were brightening and the sun making increasingly regular appearances the wind was definitely a significant factor working against us. It was truly invigorating to be out on our bikes.

At Minninglow we were reunited with Naomi as we left Rte54 and headed over to Biggin on Rte548. Those of you who can recall this section it very soon becomes a limestone gravel track that is quite loose in places. I think it is probably as easy going up as it is coming down. It is certainly a pull to the top, where it starts to level off. Beyond the limestone track the surface deteriorates in these wet conditions. A top dressing has been put onto the track but it hasn't bedded down well at all. The track is now full of deep holes that were full of puddle water after a couple of days of recent heavy rain. The surface itself is quite squidgy as well and so, with a combination of the two factors, the going remained quite tough. In these conditions at least it is not really a section of National Network that you would really recommend to anyone for its enjoyment factor!

Eventually we got to the junction where another track leads back down to Rte 54, whilst we carried straight on towards the A515 and Biggin beyond it. This section has been a pot-holed nightmare for many years but seems to have been improved significantly quite recently. Don't know who has done it but they have made a good job of it and we flew down the hill to cross the main road. Just before entering Biggin we veered off the road and up to Rte 68, the Tissington trail.

I think we have all experienced the wonderful feeling of cycling downhill along the Tissington trail. With the wind behind us we went even faster than normal. It was noticeable that the section of track just before Alsopp en le dale has become quite badly damaged by water flows. I haven't seen this here before and am wondering what was different to suddenly cause such a significant impact. I will talk to Peak Park rangers about it to see if anything can be done; if not to improve, then at least to ensure it doesn't deteriorate further.

We reached Tissington station car park just in time for lunch. 

After lunch our route took us along Rte547 to the ford, then Bradbourne and then alongside the edge of Carsington reservoir. Sun was shining brightly and we were flying along. The final stage of our day was from Hopton, back up to the High Peak trail at Hopton Bottom. Here we parted company with Naomi who had a bit further to go to recover her car, whilst we took a right hand turn and within 10 minutes we were back at the Blue Lagoon.

A lovely ride with just one single adhesive sign replaced!

Painting Millenium mileposts

 As part of the recent campaign to audit the millenium mileposts there was a request to repaint them, where necessary.

Maldwyn has taken this task in hand for the milepost we passed in Vicars Wood on NCR6 a few weeks ago and made it look very splendid indeed. 

Well done to Maldwyn and his friend.

If you go down to the woods today you'd better not go alone!

 ....It was lovely out in the woods today, but perhaps better to stay at home? 

I will explain all later in these notes, as well as how we really enjoyed our summer work day picnic in the middle of Sherwood Forest. But first things first. ......

Our August work day was an "away day", outside our own region as we travelled over to Vicar Water country park at Clipstone, to lend a hand to Maldwyn and checking out a section of NCR 6 that he looks after. A couple of years ago we helped check the route down to Newstead Abbey, but this time the plan was to cycle the 10 miles up to Clumber Park, clearing vegetation and checking signage. Surely 10 miles and back wouldn't take too long?

It has now become quite common practice to start our work days with a coffee, and the lovely cafe at the car park provided us with far too comfortable a start; getting started on Sustrans work was accordingly delayed. No sooner had we got going than Maldwyn  pointed to signs in the car park that needed cleaning. He and David S gave us a masterclass in how to complete this important task whilst the rest of us chatted to one of the many people strolling past. 

We had no sooner left the car park and passed through the country park than the secateurs, loppers and shears were out of the bags and put into eager use. This pattern continued with short stretches of riding and long periods of cutting back the sprawling vegetation, which was encroaching the path with a vengeance. A number of cyclists passed us in both directions, but the overhanging branches of trees and brambles meant we all had to weave our way along the path to avoid them. The more we cleared the more there was we could do and so we decided quite early on that we would only have time to do the most severest problem areas. 

At one important  junction some serious cutting back had to be done to release the signpost from its tight weave of brambles and nettles that were obscuring the information from most cyclists' view. As we completed this task Peter and Maldwyn became engaged with a motorist, the outcome of which was that she invited us to her house for tea. Tricia told us she was an erstwhile Sustrans Ranger, but no longer carried out any volunteering activities (even clearing an important sign that she must pass by most days!!) She was thrilled to hear of the work we were doing, but explained that her spare time would be spent in Cyprus as soon as she could get there. Anyway, it would have been "rude" not to accept her very kind offer and so we followed her up the road and sat outside the folly that her home at "the Archway house" certainly was. 

We all enjoyed plant milk in our tea for the first time and listened intently to her Italian husband, Ricardo, giving us his thoughts on the impact of global warming. His arguments were very sound and it was very difficult to argue against any of them. However, too big a discussion over a mug of tea and we were by now very much behind schedule, so time to move on. Time to get back into the forest and chop back several years of virulent growth. 

By 1:30 we weren't even half way to Clumber Park and we had already decided to concentrate on just the worst excesses. We were massively behind schedule but it was time for lunch and we found a nice picnic spot, deep in the woods to eat our sandwiches. 

Progress after lunch started well, but we were soon bought to a very sudden halt when we found a post, displaying direction signs at a critical junction, had been completely knocked over and was lying flat on the ground. Not sure how it could have happened but there was nothing we could do to repair it with the equipment we carry. This was not the only distraction however for, striding up behind us came a naturist hiker with a full pack on his back, but not much else at all. Maldwyn explained to us that RSPB has given approval for naturists within the forest and they are now turning up all over the place. Not sure that I totally understand the connection, but hey-ho.  However no one was prepared to ask him why he walked around with a cycling helmet strapped to his pack! Having found an alternative solution to the damaged post issue we moved (very) swiftly on. 

Finally we entered the grounds of Clumber Park and reached our destination in the tea garden by 3:30pm. After 4 1/2 hours we had covered just over 10 miles, but worked very hard in clearing the track of its vegetation excesses. There was time to have tea before setting off on the return journey back to Vicar Water. Amazingly we flew back in under an hour and although there are a couple of areas where we could perhaps spend longer, for know I think we were all very pleased with the very visible difference we had made to quite a lengthy section of track that is used a lot by riders of all abilities. 

Another great day out volunteering. Thanks everyone. Next workday scheduled for Monday 6 September but I will be away. Anyone want to lead an event: doesn't have to be that date if something else preferable?