David's Cruise

Day 449, Saturday 19th June

Last night, before going to bed at midnight, I had misplaced a package containing three items of railway memorabilia that had arrived by post earlier that day.  “You know how it is,” you cannot sleep until said package has been found, which it was….an hour later…another 1am late night then!  I went straight to sleep, but the light of the early morning sunrise then kept me awake from around 5am. Any momentary slumber later on was disturbed by weird and unsettling dreams, and I was thankful to be back in the land of normality somewhere around 9am. 

We were supposed to be coming out of lock-down on Monday, but, I am not sorry the (revered) government has decided to hang on for another four weeks to allow more people to be fully vaccinated.  It could be argued that border restrictions have been and remain “sloppy”, causing the  unnecessarily dubious situation we find ourselves in today.  But, today feels almost normal; shops and cafés are open, but with social distancing, not operating to their intended capacity.  I have not yet travelled on a U.K. train yet.  But, I expect to, before the year is out.  And boy! do I look forward to travelling from Macclesfield to Euston, and Paddington to Heathrow prior to being “teleported” to Tokyo, courtesy, I presume, of British Airways. Tokyo is 8 hours ahead of the U.K., but so far, I cannot ascertain the likely time I would need to be at Heathrow.  I was never a big fan of flying, but an elevated view of Mt. Fuji is a rare occurrence that B.A. emphasises in its on-line publicity.  The package allows two full days in Japan’s capital to explore, before around two weeks cruising its islands, as well as docking for the day in South Korea.  Not many people go to South Korea for the day!

Sunday 20th June

I was reminded of my increasingly advancing years as one of my great-nephews was celebrating his 18th Birthday, and that I had overlooked another great-nephew’s 18th birthday the previous year! My sister and brother-in-law travelled north to join their children and grandchildren, and I was “suitably kept in the loop”. For the first time (and rather late in the day) I have a list of the birthdays of all my immediate and fairly immediate family/relatives and have instigated a belated new years’ resolution to remember them all!

As usual, I attended Sung Eucharist at St. John’s, and then joined a colleague for coffee. Afterwards, I joined Roger, for lunch at the Bull I ‘ Thorn, once a fine eatery in a 15th Century inn, but now, a most attractive cafe in what was once a small ballroom, a much more recent extension. From there we would walk to Monyash (for more tea!) and back via a slightly different route along ancient and sometimes narrow farm tracks. Sorry, but I took no photographs this time.

The rest of the week was pleasant but uneventful, except for having to go for a blood test on Wednesday. Thankfully, I have not been contacted urgently by the Doctor and thus hope nothing untoward has been detected.

My revised travel arrangements for next year are now in place, apart from the small matter of how to make the most of 24 days in North America. My original plan was (and maybe still is) to cover as much of the continent by train as possible. However, it would be a great pity to not visit Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. There, also, maybe, the opportunity to revisit the Durango – Silverton Railway which I last travelled over as a 20 year old, 52 years ago. Ye Gods! Amazingly, the Silverton line thrives to this day, now (I think) privately owned and no longer running under the “Rio Grande” banner, but, in the same livery as in 1969. Eventually, I have to end up in New York for the now routine, but still looked forward to eastbound crossing on QM2. Once again, covid permitting, I shall have travelled around the world.

Thursday 24th June

Yesterday, after being joined by Roger for lunch, we returned to a very leafy Macclesfield Forest, where, in the event of my seeing the Japanese cherry blossoms and Yellowstone National Park is not happening next year, Macc Forest will deputise very nicely!

Many thanks for reading, David Friday 25th June, 11.38hrs.

It was too good to last! The magnificent weather from the end of May to around a couple of days ago, has been usurped by something more typical of a miserable English Summer.  Never mind; I am in Buxton’s excellent Taj Mahal restaurant having just enjoyed a veritable celebratory curry. On Wednesday, I was informed that my World Voyage in January was cancelled, but today, alternative and equally exciting arrangements were in place. The images below were taken in 2019 during Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth final Alaska cruise of the season prior to its monumental voyage “round the houses” back to Southampton.

My travel agent tells me that 2023’s Centenary World Voyage has sold out. My Deck 2 single outside cabin is secured for the full voyage.  But before then, let’s see if it can be “third time lucky” for Japan and Alaska.  Annoyingly, this is an “eastbound” passage entailing an overnight flight to Tokyo.  This should mean not having to stay overnight in London.  Instead of gaining an hour or two as we venture west, we skip an hour at each time zone travelling east. This could be uncomfortable if there are any early starts as I make my way by rail across (mainly) the United States. But, what an amazing journey. I might just get to see the famed cherry blossoms in Tokyo, though to be frank, there’s tons of the stuff over here, too!  But a “burn-up” on a Bullet Train is high on my ever expanding bucket list.  So far, accommodation is secured on both M.V. Queen Elizabeth in May and June, and R.M.S. Queen Mary 2 in early July.  Pandemic permitting, I can look forward to wandering around distant lands, and ambling around America on long distance trains.

Right now, the pandemic shows few signs of subsiding. Nevertheless, I am optimistic that things will be vastly improved by the beginning of next year. However, if entry into the U.S. remains prohibited, these ambitious plans could be curtailed yet again.

I was not surprised that our exit from lock-down had been postponed until 19th July. This is when my blog account of the pandemic will draw to a close, ‘though I doubt I will stop writing completely. While still warm and dry, I revisted the High Peak Trail between Parsley Hay and Friden Brick Works. Below are more images of this walk through the Derbyshire Dales.

Many thanks for reading, David 22.42, 18th June 2021.

The last six days have been “much of a muchness” feeling rather worn out after walking at least 116 miles during May for what turned out to be a very worthwhile effort for Christian Aid Week. I did some walking in early June, but now, I am “back in my stride” having walked to Church, then into town, and back home yesterday. And I walked to Higher Buxton late this afternoon to send my sponsor money via registered mail to Christian Aid. And now I am contemplating keeping on with the walking with the aim of achieving a seven-figure number of steps by the end of May next year. However, I won’t be seeking “sponsorship” until after I return from my travels towards the end of April. Unlike this year when my ramblings were local, providing covid restrictions permit, I shall be walking in some unlikely places.

17th June, 00.06hrs. Until 5pm this afternoon, I had been anticipating, with pleasure, but also, a degree of uncertainty, next year’s QM2 World Voyage. My multi-million steps challenge would take in four continents, rather than “variations on a theme of the Tissington Trail”. But I learned yesterday afternoon that my suspicion that the voyage from Southampton to places in Australia on which I had single cabin reserved, had been cancelled. The High Peak Trail in February is going to be somewhat of a challenge.

Below, is a random selection of photographs taken between 2018 and 2020. It was during this period that I completed a circumnavigation of the World by land and sea. They are not in any particular order, but make a welcome change from documenting my account of the pandemic!

The pictures below are a handful taken during the Queen Mary 2 World Voyage 2018. I hope to revisit some of these places in the next two years, as well as travelling to new countries.

I hope that you may have enjoyed these random images of recent travels.

All the best, David, 00.32hrs 17/6/21.

This morning, the sky was “fifty shades of grey” as rain fell noisily onto the carport roof. I had “set my stall out” to walk to church, as in previous weeks, but was not overly sorry that really, today, I should drive to St. John’s.

Radio 4 earlier, relayed a recorded service from St. George’s Chapel, Windsor to mark the forthcoming (what would have been) hundredth birthday of The Duke of Edinburgh. As one might expect, the service was magnificent in its execution, a traditional Mattins, once commonplace before the days of Common Worship. Today was my fourth time at the sound system, and as far as I know, no members of the congregation had difficulty hearing.

After a post-church coffee in town, I joined Roger for lunch, prior to walk through some more fabulous countryside around Chelmorton. At long last, the trees and hedges were in full leaf, after an abysmally cold May, and the landscape looked “brand new”. We only walked for around two miles, even stopping for a pot of tea at the Church Inn. There is still plenty more to explore in that part of the countryside, still so close to home.

By the time I arrived home, I was desirous of a curry. It was delicious!

The next morning approacheth fast; time for some sleep.

Many thanks for reading, David, 23.37hrs 6/6/21.

Yep, the slow puncture I described earlier was caused by a nail, rather than the suspected corrosion of the alloy wheel. The car has done remarkably well in its 13 years’ existence.

All the best, David, back at home, 15.10hrs 5/6/21

Writing at Hargreaves’ Cafe, Buxton on an extremely pleasant June afternoon.

I have always liked the upstairs cafe at Hargreaves, the long established shop specialising in kitchenware, china, and a myriad of other high quality useful things. They were once suppliers of chinaware to major organisations, including the now non-existent Buxton Mothers Union, the remainder of whose badged plates cups and saucers reside in my collection!  It’s too nice to spend all afternoon here, but I have just had what seems like an healthy lunch of chilli rice and a nicely prepared salad.  The first floor windows look out onto Spring Gardens, which was pedestrianised about thirty years ago.  Opposite is what I believe started life as the Royal Hotel.  This is crescent shaped, smaller than and its larger neighbour, and facing the opposite way round, i.e. where as The Crescent is “concave”, the former Royal Hotel is “convex”.    I like Hargreaves’ Cafe because of its very traditional ambiance.  Floor to ceiling mahogany glass-fronted cabinets, “rescued” from previous Hargreaves outlets,² are crammed with artefacts of Buxton’s past which will always arouses my interest.  A Mothers’ Union water-jug would not look out of place here!

On a different note, having completed my 300k Steps Challenge for Christian Aid, by the end of May, I had walked at least 116 miles and raised £600.00, which I am thrilled with. The support and encouragement I received throughout was profound and appreciated. But, of course, Christian Aid is “still there” and support will always be needed!

Saturday 5th June, writing at the Tradesman’s Entrance.

Another favourite haunt of mine, offering mountains of excellent cuisine!

The lousy weather we all endured during May is perhaps almost forgotten now. The last few days of May warmed up almost unexpectedly and glorious fine warm weather, but not too not, continues into June.  I am optimistic and look forward a decent summer.

It’s probably about time I resumed walking again.  I had intended a further exploration of the countryside on Thursday but neither Roger or I were particularly enthusiastic, especially after lunch at the Parks Inn.  Tea in my sundrenched back garden was a much more attractive prospect.

The red car (illustrated) seems to have an ongoing problem with the front wheel, nearside resembling a very slow puncture, except, it probably isn’t. I have taken it in at lunch time and hopefully this intermittent fault can be resolved.  This afternoon is just right for a spin with the roof down.

Many thanks for reading, David, Trademan’s Entrance, 15.57hrs 5/6/21.

There’s a strange and mix of feelings when an endeavour, project or challenge draws to a close. And, of course, a great sense of relief! But, when I calculated that my 300,000 steps in May equated to less than 4 miles/day (including those days when I did not walk) my sense of achievement was somewhat deflated. Then I remembered the period of time immediately after leaving hospital four years ago when merely walking up my drive, assisted on both sides, to the Lane, felt like scaling Ben Nevis! Now, I realise that not only was the Christian Aid challenge was my achievement, but being able to do this was also the achievement of the surgeons who, like a motor engineers “dismantled me and put me back together without my knowing anything about it!” I did need a year or two to “run in”, and cruise ships and transcontinental trains assisted greatly in my recovery, as well as the help, support and encouragement of those around me at the beginning.

Yesterday, perhaps understandably, I had no urge to walk, except a little bit in the Pavilion Gardens, where I joined a church colleague for coffee.

At long last, the weather has warmed up to almost what it should be at the end of May. Bars and restaurants as well as most shops are open and with the roads as busy as ever, it feels as if there is little sign of the pandemic. But, we are constantly reminded of an ever increasing presence of the Indian strain of the Coronavirus and the threatening prospect of “Lockdown 4”. We still can’t sing hymns in church. For me, that’s a blessing in disguise; I hope the dreadful “Hymns Old and New” with many of the traditional hymns re-worded to satisfy political correctness, and the plenteous dodgy praise of the 20th century are eventually consigned to landfill. But, I fear the spread of Karaoke hymns, now commonplace in evangelical establishments.

Already it is 4 o’clock. With luck, I have negated the need to prepare a meal tonight, having had a late lunch at the still excellent Parks Inn, just around the corner. I have used these last two days of leisure to straighten the house up. Although the cleaners came at the beginning of the week, and carried out their usual excellent job, for some reason, the place had reverted to chaos just a few days later.

A good summer lies ahead, “me-hopes!”

Thanks for reading, David, The Parks Inn, Harpur Hill, which I recommend highly, 16.17hrs, Saturday 29th July 2021.

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Many thanks for all your support and encouragement in this venture.

David Nevell

The last two blogs should be headed Day 426, 26/31. Today is Day 427, 27th May 2021. As I said in the early hours of this morning, Cunard’s superliner R.M.S. Queen Mary set sail on its maiden voyage on this day in 1936.

Ashwood Park, Buxton, 14.53hrs 27/5/21.

Writing at home, 23.41hrs 26th May.

I had added up my daily steps total, recorded on my ‘phone each day since May 1st. By the end of yesterday, the total had become 277,275. A “mega” walk today could well see me finish the “challenge”. The plan was to walk between Hurdlow and Parsley Hay in both directions, attend a dentist appointment later in the day, then, walk into Buxton in the evening, enjoy my first curry in over a year, visit a friend and then walk home. I calculated that I would have achieved just over the 300,000 steps target by the time I was back home. Just to make sure, I went on a further moonlight stroll to the end of Trenchard Drive, thus achieving a record (for me, that is) of 24,374 steps, approximately 8.55 miles. I arrived home, rather pleased with myself….until, checking and then, double checking the daily totals, I found I actually wasn’t quite there yet. Darn!!! Never mind; good weather is forecast from now on. And I did get to see some wonderful moonlit skies. That in itself made the effort worthwhile. The whole day was splendid, apart from discovering that a broken tooth needed urgent attention!

Tomorrow, (or the next day) I shall complete the remainder of my sponsored walk, around 2.7 miles.

Many thanks for reading, David, 00.09, 27th May, 85th Anniversary of the Maiden Voyage of R.M.S Queen Mary, 27th May 1936.