6th October 2020

After testing positive for coronavirus, 76 people have died in the UK. There are 184 active cases in the Harborough area.

Today, my new GPS arrived. My 12-year-old Active 10 has now been replaced by an Active 20. There was nothing wrong with the 10, just general wear and tear. It has been a good, invaluable, and mostly reliable workhorse, guiding me around various trails in the UK. I shall practise using the new GPS next week when Sue and I complete our shortened waterfalls adventure in the Peak District. The trusty 10 will still accompany us (just in case!).

A fortunate Sue spent a dry morning rambling with her U3A group around Pitsford Country Park. It rained heavily after she returned.

7th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 59 people have died in the UK. There are 172 active cases in the Harborough area.

Alice has another tooth! Sarah took her on a walk with her friend Nikki, and by the time they had returned home, it seemed the tooth had pushed through the gum! It certainly explained the previous night’s lack of sleep.

Sue had her hair cut for the first time since lockdown (it looks really nice) and found time in the afternoon to visit Doreen, returning with a box of Vitamin D tablets for us both. Doreen always seems concerned for our well-being, and Vitamin D is known to boost the immune system and help fight off infections (coronavirus?). Most likely, Sue and I produce enough of the vitamin ourselves, as we spend quite a lot of time outdoors, but it was a very kind thought and much appreciated.

8th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 77 people have died in the UK. There are 201 active cases in the Harborough area.

A rainy morning saw Sue, Charlotte, Harry, and me travel to Newbold Verdon to see Sarah, Lee, and Alice. Sue and I had already planned to visit today, but an early, impromptu phone call from Charlotte included her and Harry in our journey northeast. Providentially, as we arrived, the rain stopped.

After quick cuddles with Alice and hot drinks, Sue and I set off with Mia and Harry for a ramble, leaving Sarah, Lee, Charlotte, and Alice to visit a nursery in the village to see if it would be suitable for Alice when Sarah returns to work.

Our canine-accompanied route took us mainly through wet and muddy fields to the nearby village of Osbaston, the trail leaving Mia’s underside coated in a grubby layer of north Leicestershire sludge. A much taller Harry fared better, with just a faint tide line halfway up his legs, barely noticeable against his brown hair.

Though the cloud cover was thick and the conditions looked threatening, we were lucky; the puddles we couldn’t avoid didn’t deepen with further rain. Today’s ramble was just 6.02km, but it proved to be a good workout for the new Active 20 GPS. The HD, touch-sensitive screen was efficient and clear, though the new data pop-ups will need adjusting. I don’t require such a plethora of options.

We arrived back just in time for the 12:30 pm slot that Sarah had booked for us all to have lunch at the new village café, which had opened just that week. It’s always nice to support a local venture, and the food, drink, atmosphere, and pricing were all good. We hope they do well and prove to be an asset to a village that has already lost one of its pubs since the onset of COVID-19.

Back at Sarah’s, as previously requested, I busied myself with the chainsaw, heavily pruning an apple, cherry, and plum tree near the garden pond. While I worked, the ladies of the family amused Alice and chatted about all things baby-related over hot drinks. Meanwhile, Lee quietly returned to his online work in the study.

With the branches lopped and the larger wood logged and secured in the boot of the Fiesta, we returned to Harborough late in the afternoon.

9th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 87 people have died in the UK. There are 246 active cases in the Harborough area.

In the evening, Jamie and Ruth delivered Maddie. The rabbit is vacationing in our greenhouse for a week while Jamie and three of his friends fly to Kos at 7 am tomorrow for a “get-away-from-Covid” holiday.

10th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 81 people have died in the UK. There are 198 active cases in the Harborough area.

11th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 65 people have died in the UK. There are 198 active cases in the Harborough area.

According to new research, coronavirus can survive for up to a month on surfaces, including banknotes, mobile phone screens, and stainless steel.

12th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 50 people have died in the UK. There are 253 active cases in the Harborough area.

Pubs, bars, casinos, and gyms in the Liverpool City Region will be forced to close from Wednesday after the city was classified as a “very high” risk area due to surging COVID-19 infection rates.

On a day forecast to be ‘stormy’, both weather-wise and politically, Sue and I drove to the Peak District to complete the two waterfall walks we had missed on our last foray into the moors and dales of Derbyshire. Although the day began on a decidedly dull note, we encountered no precipitation until we parked outside the little café next to Grindleford Station. Spits and spats of moisture accompanied us as we set off across the small bridge spanning the railway line running through Totley Tunnel. A light drizzle followed us up onto the moor as we ascended a rough but well-used track, providing vehicle access to a series of rather select properties.

Our route took us through ancient woodland (Bolehill Wood), predominantly great oak, as we continued ever upwards. Brief showers became the norm over the next hour, but the thick canopy of leaves offered ample shelter, rendering them little more than a mild inconvenience. Hats and brollies were deployed but seemed somewhat excessive, merely adding to the perspiration. As we emerged from the woodland, the rain, fortunately, abated, though the incline did not.

Reaching the base of the Edge before Over Owler Tor, we paused to gather blueberries from a small, sheltered quarry, devouring them eagerly before scrambling up the Edge itself to reach the moorland above. Spotting the Tor to our left, we couldn’t resist the temptation to climb this striking lump of millstone grit, even though it wasn’t on our planned waterfall route. The views from the top were well worth the extra effort.

The showers returned as the trail took us down into Padley Gorge. Reaching the watercourse, we were finally rewarded with a series of cascades. The rain from last week and today had made a noticeable difference, and Burbage Brook greeted us with a gurgling, frothing rush of water, which, just a week ago, had been little more than a meagre trickle. We first followed the torrent upstream before veering towards the impressive Longshaw Lodge, built in 1827 for the Duke of Rutland as a shooting lodge. Skirting the perimeter of its grounds, we returned to the gorge and the brook via a small lake and headed downstream. Despite the now constant rain, we remained relatively dry as we ascended through the thick oak wood, eventually reaching the sanctuary of Grindleford Station and my little Fiesta.

Refreshed with hot coffee and ham and tomato sandwiches, we drove the short distance to the village of Eyam (pronounced ‘eem’). We had long wanted to visit this historic settlement, famous for the actions of its inhabitants during the plague (Black Death) of 1665 and 1666. An outbreak of the plague was contained when the villagers decided to isolate themselves from the surrounding communities, though many in the village perished.

We parked in the centre of the village outside the parish church. Fortunately, the church was open, and had it to ourselves, we sheltered from the rain while working our way through the many displays and accompanying literature. Particularly impressive were the Record of Deaths and the beautiful Plague Window, which gave a sobering insight into the horrors of this historic world event. Moving on through a steady drizzle, we meandered from one end of the village to the other, reading the tragic fates of the inhabitants on the signage labelling many of the buildings. In many cases, whole families were wiped out within just a few days of each other.

Through the increasing gloom, we first drove to Mompesson’s Well, located on the road above Eyam, heading towards Litton. The Rev. Mompesson used the well to collect money, which he disinfected with vinegar before exchanging it for supplies from traders who left goods for the villagers, thus effectively quarantining the settlement. The well itself was filled with vinegar to disinfect the money placed in it, helping to prevent the spread of the disease.

Next, we visited the Riley Graves, situated in a field just outside the settlement. These open graves mark the final resting place of the Hancock family, most of whom perished during the outbreak of the plague. In the span of just one week, farmer Elizabeth Hancock lost her husband and six children to the plague. Tragically, she was forced to bury her family herself, carrying their bodies and interring them on the hill at the boundary of her farm. The site stands as a poignant reminder of the personal devastation endured by the villagers during those harrowing days.

Perhaps those who make light of COVID-19 should visit Eyam, and they might begin to understand the selfless commitment and discipline required to combat this current pandemic.

With the rain still falling, we moved on to check into our accommodation for the night, the Sir William Hotel in Grindleford. Feeling rather bedraggled and tired, we decided to dry out and relax before having dinner at the hotel. Thankfully, this turned out to be a wise choice!

13th October 2020: The rise in infections and deaths is indeed very worrying. It’s a stark reminder of how unpredictable this virus is and the importance of remaining vigilant, even as we continue to navigate the challenges it presents. Let’s hope the situation improves soon.

We woke early to a spectacular view from our bedroom window of mist lying like a chilly blanket across the Hope Valley below. Grey slate roofs poked through, chimneys billowing plumes of white vapour from hidden cottages, only for it to lazily drift and join the smothering cloak. I wondered whether the inhabitants had ever considered the impact of winter heating bills when purchasing their property. By the time we had seated ourselves at a bay window table for breakfast, the sun was just beginning to peep over the crest of the moor across the valley, providing an illusion of warmth to the scene slowly being revealed below us.

Breakfast scoffed, we checked out of the Sir William and drove to Matlock to begin the last of our waterfall rambles. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as we parked up on Church Street, not surprisingly, located next to St. Giles Church. Leaving the town, the first part of our route followed the brook that fed the River Derwent, passing a series of mills, either derelict or repurposed into living accommodation or offices. The stream bubbled happily alongside as we began to climb towards Tansley, a solidly built settlement where the wealthy of Matlock seem to have made their homes. Passing these opulent buildings, we crossed the Alfreton Road and continued our upward march through Daisy Bank, passing its namesake farm on our way to the hamlet of Riber.

As we skirted Riber Hall and castle (Smedley’s Folly), stopping briefly to admire this dominant feature of the Matlock skyline, the rain arrived. We braved the early squalls, sitting on a bench and admiring the views over the town, nibbling crisps and chocolate until the rain became too unpleasant to bear.

From the Hall, our route took us steeply downhill along an increasingly wet and leaf-strewn, stony path that required great care to navigate. We arrived back at the car just as the deluge began, thankfully seeking its refuge before we dissolved completely!

With plans now changed, thoughts of visiting the Heights of Abraham via the cable car were shelved in favour of driving to our hotel for the night, hoping the rain would ease during the journey, then taking a walk into town to see what could amuse us. That’s what we did, though the rain gods weren’t listening, and it continued to spit down large amounts of moisture, dampening our spirits.

The High Tor Hotel is situated next to the River Derwent, so we followed the path along its course into the town. With the rain doing its worst, we dived into one of the many antique shops and spent some time in ‘Bargain Hunt’ mode, hoping to escape the deluge. After a fruitless search, we retraced our steps to check into the hotel, looking and feeling sodden!

We decided to hunker down in our bunker for the rest of the evening and chose to take our evening meal in the hotel restaurant.

14th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 137 have died in the UK. There are 204 active cases in the Harborough area.

On a day forecast to be one of sunshine and showers, we rose later than usual (the benefit of a particularly comfortable bed) and just about managed to make our allotted 8 am time slot for a socially distanced breakfast. There was just one other couple finishing their meal in the restaurant as we arrived, and by the time we were finishing ours about half an hour later, another couple obediently arrived for theirs. An efficient but psychologically uncomfortable system.

We checked out just after 10 am and drove the short distance into Matlock, returning to the antique shop from the previous afternoon. Yesterday, we had picked out a few things that had caught our eye in this convenient rain shelter and, after a brief but satisfactory bit of bargaining, we had asked them to put the items aside for us to collect the following day (if we were still keen on the idea). Parking up a little further down the road, we paid the grateful retailer for our goods and carried our booty back to the car. Ironically, though purchased in an establishment principally engaged in the sale of ‘antiques’, none of our purchases were actually antiques. I guess we can chalk that up to the effects of a dismal rainy afternoon.

Again, we planned to visit the Heights of Abraham, postponed from yesterday, but the exertion of two treks in damp conditions over consecutive days had aggravated sore ligaments and muscles. So, with plan B in operation, we headed south, away from the newly designated ‘Northern Coronavirus Hotspot’ to the presently safer ‘Medium Risk’ Harborough. The Heights of Abraham will have to wait for another time; it’s a sacrifice we’re not prepared to make today.

On our return, we weren’t surprised to find that Maddie had been treated to some new snacks and a new feeding dish. Viv (our neighbour) has developed a soft spot for Jamie’s white rabbit, and I think she would love to look after him full-time!