In search of Bakewell Puddings

Friday 18th January and the happy gang were to be found heading to Bolehill Farm Cottages just outside Bakewell. Liz had done us proud, booking us into 4 cottages with sauna, sun bed and games room for our entertainment. A total of 21 were heading for an action packed weekend - I mean 19 as we only had space officially for 19 (don't tell!). As we all arrived at different times some of us headed down to Bakewell for the now traditional curry. Our entertainer for the evening was Ed as he demonstrated how to make a set of boobs from a linen napkin - much safer than the silicon alternative!

Saturday dawned and we divided into 2 groups. One group of 17 was quickly depleted to 15 as those reliable Canondale things had a bad sprocket day leaving Nic and Paul to walk back to the bike shop. That left us to raid the Bakewell pudding shop (they are yummy) and head off towards Chatsworth - chasing deer and making like the Magnificent 7 as we flew down the grass towards the garden centre and our first coffee stop. A climb took us up onto Beeley Moor followed by a rocky descent to Two Dales. Here a major decision had to be made - we had done 10 miles - and we had all day. Did we opt for Steve's ride - "It's only another 20 miles" or did we take a shorter option with a somewhat more reliable estimate of distances involved?! At this juncture we had a split with Ed, Kev, Darren and Kevin taking the chivalrous option and escorting Kate and Anne Marie back to the cottages.

So it was 9 brave people who opted for the 20 miles - hitting the A6 to Matlock and Matlock Bath and then onto Cromford Mill. After a short spell on the canal tow path we headed up the High Peak's Trail - this starts with an interesting little climb of 1.5 miles at a 1 in 8 gradient - I'm sure Steve loved it on his single speed. So far we had travelled another 8 miles but were told "It's only another 20 miles"! We were cheerful enough and as we didn't know where we were decided to follow our trusty leader. The going was forecast to become more steady as we followed the disused railway line but it looked distinctly more like a red run as we made another 1 in 8 climb to Middleton Top. By this time we had had a further reference to "It's only another 20 miles"! But hey - we still had daylight and what else could we be doing - having a sauna, in the pub.....Eventually we found the flat bits and ploughed on back to Bolehill Farm but not before David, Judith and Steve had a fried egg sandwich and carrot cake stop. Paul, Sue, Katey, Dave and Pete meanwhile escorted Greg home - those extra 20 miles had taken their toll!

After each cottage had created a selection of cordon bleu cookery and we had managed to drag Kate, Anne Marie, Nic, Paul and Pete away from the TV (kicking and screaming), we all headed off to the games room to knock each other out at pool, table football and table tennis. The table tennis became fraught as we played 'everyone run round the table, pick up a bat at one end and hit the ball, move on so the next person gets the bat and so on'. It all became a bit much as the game reduced to 2/3 people and you ended up hitting the ball to yourself! The biggest knockout of the evening came from Pete to Kev as he rammed a snooker cue in Kev's neck - I'm assured they are still best of friends!

Sunday arrived and we had 2 groups again. We headed to Ashford-in-the-Water and onto Monsal Head (happy Polaris memories for some of us), Calver and onto Stoney Middleton in search of a mystery cafe - it shut 10 years ago apparently. (You'll never guess who was leading the ride!). So instead we opted for the surreal pub at Wardlow Mires - you must visit!! A rather interesting menu - ask Anne Marie - she sampled most people's food! Even more interesting is the clientele - a beady eyed hawk staring at you as you order your drink with dogs galore. We had to spill into the back room where a fire was lit for us and we proceeded to sample the beverages - try the 6% Absolution, the 8% thing that looks like black treacle or the 11% - no one went near it! Then it was back to the farm (no one trusted the leader any more!) A few saunas and then we said our goodbyes and hit the M1 - another fun-filled weekend.

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