Sometime ago, in a previous blog, I predicted an Indian summer, and was beginning to think that my psychic powers were substantially diminished, as the nights drew in with the onset of “meteorological autumn”. But Monday 14th September proved me right after-all. Yesterday wasn’t bad either as I settled into a sun-lounger, after Sunday lunch at the Old Hall, planted headphones into my ears and drifted away to what I had hoped would be Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, all five movements, courtesy of YouTube via my phone. I chose the Simon Rattle recording with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. I lay motionless as the sun dipped slowly towards the horizon of Axe Edge, designer sunglasses protecting my fragile eyes. I was, as they say, “away with the fairies”. That was until not long after the opening of the third movement….the whole thing stopped and within the “flick of a switch” I was back to an abrupt reality! I pressed what I thought were the correct buttons, only to be fast-forwarded to the last triumphant explosion of the finale. Goodness! I had missed all that magnificent music in between. Then I found that the finale was of a completely different performance (of the same symphony, that is!) My attempt to listen to the last two movements of Pictures at an Exhibition was equally unsuccessful.
Today sees me enjoying the kind of weather we could have done with in August. Not for the first time, I have walked to Parsley Hay from Hurdlow, two miles. It seems “the world and his wife” had the same idea. But at least the cafe was open at Parsley Hay on the site of the L.N.W.R. railway station. If only that former railway had attracted similar attention when open! Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be a satisfactory case for reinstating a rail service between Buxton and Ashbourne.
After a “Butcher’s Ham and Cheese” panini, and a bottle of water, I continued as far as Newhaven Tunnel over which a busy A515 passes. It’s a little over a mile “round trip” from Parsley Hay, where I called for further refreshments on my way back to Hurdlow. It is customary to pay for parking, and although I did pay today, I was on the High Peak Trail for far longer than the two hours I had paid for. Thus, at Parsley Hay, I acquired a year long parking permit which covers much of the High Peak and its surrounds. There is, now, the incentive to get “my money’s worth”.
I have just got back to my vehicle which thankfully, hadn’t attracted a parking ticket. It’s just before a quarter to six and the sun is shining on the partially wooded hillside opposite. We are promised a fine week. Hopefully, I can maintain the desire to explore and ramble in those next few days.
The walk back to Hurdlow was extremely pleasant; there was no breeze. I decided to continue further past the site of Hurdlow Station which closed on 15th August 1949 with regular passenger services ceasing five years later. I am always after any genuine artefacts from the Buxton to Ashbourne line, as well as the Cromford and High Peak Railway.
Needless to say, I was ready for some rest when I arrived home just before 7 o’clock. I finished off the spaghetti bolognese for supper, watched some T.V. and then went for a midnight stroll to the end of Trenchard Drive. I have posted this picture before. However, this does illustrate where I live, long after the sun has gone down.
Once again, it’s the next day! Thanks for reading, David, 00.37hrs 15th September 2020.
David's Cruise 