Working trip to Greece

7th to 14th November
I had to travel to Thessaloniki for an annual meeting for our research project and so we decided to extend the trip and take a few days holiday.
After collecting the hire car which had been delivered to the wrong house, we left for Gatwick at 3am. We arrived at the airport at 6:30 and there were no delays at the airport. We left England in the cold and wet and arrived in Greece in 21 degree sunshine.
We were staying in the centre of the city and so our exploring was mainly just walking around the streets and shops and walking around in the sunshine and along the harbour walls. We were amazed at the number of coffee bars in the city, for a country in economic strife everyone seemed very happy to sit around all day drinking coffee.
There was some very interesting archeology around the city and we enjoyed watching the archeologists on the dig beneath our hotel window.
Even though 3 days were spent working the rest of the time was very enjoyable.
Our overall opinion of the part of Greece that we visited was very noisy;cars hooting their horns at every opportunity and all times of the day and night, mopeds whizzing up and down the pavements. There was also an incredible number of churches - mostly byzantine, and alcoves for burning candles and prayer all over the city - unfortunately we didn't have opportunity to go inside the churches but I suspect they would have been impressive. Finally we had some difficulty finding places to eat. The city was filled with the Greek equivalent of Greggs - OK for lunch but an evening meal was more difficult to find. When we did find a restaurant we generally had it to ourselves as the Greeks do not tend to eat until about 9 or 10 o'clock, but the service was fantastic, with extra drinks and deserts being provided without being ordered.





Oh -they had some fantastic cake shops as well!

Brailsford, Derbyshire

Sunday, October 17, 2010
Another beautiful day, although frosty when we got up. We thought we couldn't waste it and so rather tan sitting and getting stiff after yesterdays walk we set out for another walk – but a bit shorter this time.
We drove to Brailsford in Derbyshire and parked near Hazlehurst. There were several large dogs caged in the house opposite where we parked the car and so as we were getting ready and putting our boots on we had to put up with barking dogs disturbing the peace.
We headed down towards Kings Grove where we stopped to find a cache and then walked across the fields towards Commonside. We had to walk down a narrow lane and passed a small Market garden shop which had a lovely display of Autumn vegetables.


Then back up the field at Commonside but as the path was not marked we were at the wrong place to exit onto the A52. After a short diversion we found the way out and after a short walk down the main road and through a short bit of woodland we headed towards Brailsford Green. We left the footpath by going through a primary school playground and then headed across fields to a lane. We again had problems finding the footpath but got there in the end. More unmarked footpaths followed but we managed to stay on route and later passed through a field where sheep dog trials were being carried out.
We exited on a lane and again couldn't find the footpath but I finally noticed the footpath sign, covered by ivy on a post next to a tied up gate.
We went through the gate and struggled through a field of sugar beet, eventually reaching the other side of the field and our way onto the road where the car was parked. We had done a mere 8.75 km today but despite the difficulty finding footpaths was a pleasant walk.

Eastwood, Nottingham

Saturday, October 16, 2010
It seemed like the first weekend we had had for ages when we hadn't had things to do, and as it was forecast to be fine we took advantage to go for a walk. We headed to Eastwood in Nottinghamshire and after a bit of a navigation problem around the town we manged to find a carpark next to an old coal mine.
We walked along the road and then headed along a footpath beside Moorgreen Reservoir. Eastwood was the home of D H Lawrence and there were notice boards along the way telling us about the area and his life.


When we reached the end of the reservoir we followed the edge of Morning Springs woods heading towards the M1. As we passed under the motorway we stopped to hunt for a cache called “Whistle for it”. We started whistling in the underpass and soon the cache replyed to us by beeping – a very clever cache. Having passed under the motorway we headed into a forest along some wide tracks. We diverted into the pine trees to find a cache and then continued along the track. As we sat on a concrete block having a cup of coffee the gamekeeper came along and told us we were on private property and politely pointed us to the footpath. As we left we noticed the sign saying “Forestry Commission land” - open to all! However, as they were apparently shooting today we decided to head back towards the footpath. This took us on quite a long detour and we ended up near to Hucknall. We finally found a bridleway pointing back towards our planned route, but were surprised to see notices proclaiming that there were guard dogs, security cameras and toxic herbicide and chemicals, right next to the bridleway sign! Very welcoming landowners in these parts.
We followed the footpath around Wythburn House farm where we stopped to find a cache. We were a bit wary about hunting around some farm equipment and when I saw we were being watched we decided to abandon the hunt. However, as we left the man said “You're very close”. It turned out to be the farmer and he knew about the cache so we were free to continue our hunt.
Our next part of the walk took us over Misk hills, across the motorway again and then back into Morning Springs woods. The walk was pleasant until the bridleway disappeared again and the path was blocked off. We managed to divert and head back to the path we had walked on at the beginning of the walk, but as we got to the path we realised it was fenced off. We managed to clamber through the fence and retrace our steps back beside the reservoir.
It had been a walk of many diversions and blocked paths but had been a very pleasant Autumn walk. Our planned walk had been 13km but we ended up having walked 19.5km!

Thank You Judith and Derek

They are lovely.

Jervaulx Abbey - Yorkshire September 11th to 19th

We have been promising dad a return visit to Jervaulx abbey but as he was ill last year we had to postpone it. We are staying in the caravan at Jervaulx and dad is staying up the road at the Coverbridge Inn.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
We left the caravan at about 10.30 and met dad outside the Coverbridge. We parked the car and set off along the River Cover. It was warm and sunny but threatened heavy showers. We had forgotten to pack raincoats so were hoping the rain held off.
It was nice walking along the river, there were lots of fallen trees so we had to keep climbing over them. We passed some stepping stones but did not cross the river at this point, but we did walk on to Hullo bridge. We went a little wrong here but soon corrected our mistake and headed up to the road to Middleham. We walked along the footpath beside the road passing Low Middleham Moor where race horses are trained. Apparently there are 850 inhabitants in Middleham and 500 racehorses.
We down beside Middleham castle, childhood home to Richard 111, and stopped in the town square for a drink and a bag of crisps and decided that we did not want to exhaust our selves on the first day so instead of doing the second half of the planned figure of 8 walk we would only do one bit. After a wander around the town, checking out the pubs and restaurants we walked back up beside the castle and headed over William's Hill, a mote and bailey, across the fields and back to the stepping stones.


We crossed them this time and walked along the other side of the river bank and back to the Cover Bridge Inn, where it would have been rude not to stop for a pint of Old Peculiar. We had walked 8.79km.
Monday,September 13, 2010
The weather was a bit grotty today so we decided on a trip to Ripon. We had a wander around the town and a look around the cathedral which had a very impressive choir stall and organ, including some carved miserichords in the choir stalls which were said to have inspired Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland.
After lunch in the cafe at Masham we decided the weather was not as bad as expected so we drove to the Druid's temple. John and I had visited this place two years ago when we first started geocaching and we wanted to show dad. It was still a bit drizzly but we had a short walk around the forest and found a new cache that had been placed. Dad was quite amazed at the temple which although looking as though it had been there for thousands of years was actually built by the Victorians.


We headed back to the car and I navigated us on a scenic route back to Jervaulx. As we drove down a steep hill we spotted a heron standing by the side of the road. He took off and flew down the road in front of us. We realised there was a cache to find and parked near a duck pond where we were mobbed by a few ducks as we got out of the car. The cache was found after a short hunt.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
We started off at the Coverbridge picking up dad.
As we drove through Middleham we followed a pack of race horses through the town and back to their stables. We drove to West Witton,parked and then followed the path across fields to an avenue of sycamore trees. We walked down the lane with wonderful views towards Bolton Hall. We crossed the road and walked past the gate house and down to Lord's Bridge where we turned left along a footpath and crossed fields until we came to a small beck where the path led down to the river Ure. After the rain that we had had last night the river was flowing very fast, and it was a very pleasant walk, although a little windy.

We continued beside the river for about a mile and a half and then after passing Batt Island we crossed a ladder stile and walked across a very lumpy area of field which was probably the spoil from the Keld head lead mines. We crossed another stile and followed down through some woods to reach Redmire Force. The falls were flowing very fast today and it was pleasant sitting beside the falls eating our lunch.
After a break we retraced our steps through the woods and then walked along a cart track, to the footpath. The field had a large new sign on it stating “Beware of the Bull”. I nervously looked in but there was no sign of any cattle so we walked beside New Wood to the gate in the corner and then followed a dry stone wall and lane back towards West Witton. It had been a very nice walk and although we had worn wet weather gear it had actually been dry and sunny, although very windy in places. We decided to reward ourselves so drove back to High Jervaulx where we stopped for an icecream. John and dad had ginger and I had praline pecan delight. We went back to the caravan for a cup of tea and then dad decided to walk back along the river to the Coverbridge while we got tea ready. He hadn't been gone long when it started to rain – and he hadn't got his wet gear on! Oh dear.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
It was very windy and rainy again. We were treated to a wonderful display of swallows swooping over the caravan and landing on the skylight this morning. Dad arrived at 10.30 and we decided to go towards Fountains Abbey. We parked in the NT car park and then walked to the road and down towards the Monk's wall. We followed the footpath, stopping to find a cache hidden in the wall, then headed towards Hill house farm. Last time we had walked here we had not been able to get through the farm because the cows were blocking the way, but today they were in the fields and although it was very mucky we were able to follow the path. We stopped at a ruined gatehouse where we could see several stags in the deer park. We then carried on through the woods startling pheasants as we went – they seemed to be everywhere today. As we emerged from the woods we followed a steep and muddy lane down to a ford across the river, although there was no water in the river at all. We entered Studley Royal park and followed the Seven bridges way. We kept crossing fords or bridges but the water seemed to have been diverted as there was no water in the river. We sat on a tree stump for a while to eat our lunch and then went on a hunt for a geocache. It involved climbing a steep bank up to the look out tower. Getting up was OK but down was a bit more tricky, but we made it safely. We had left dad at the bottom watching the deer while we went up the top. We finally got to the lakes at Studley Royal and then walked up to the church for a look round.

The church was Victorian gothic and very impressive to look around. The guide pointed out the parrots, birds, butterflies, mouse and snails that had been incorporated into the decoration. We returned to the car and back to the caravan before going out to dinner at the Coverbridge Inn.
Thursday 16 September 2010
We drove to Aysgarth and had a nice walk down to look at the middle and lower falls. Dad took lots of photos and then we walked through Freeholders woods towards Carperby.

The woods were dotted with lots of small nest boxes which had been placed there for the dormice that had been re-introduced. We crossed the meadows, enjoying the views of the hills and then entered Carperby. We hunted around for some clues for a geocache which had been placed by the National Park Authority. There was plenty of history in the village including the start of the Wensleyan church and the Quaker church. Having found the clues we headed up a track to a viewpoint where the cache was hidden. We retraced our steps through the meadows and the woods and then to the Upper Falls. Dad took lots more photos and then we went tot the Mill Race for a cup of tea.
Friday 17 September 2010
We drove to Leyburn, only to find it was market day so we couldn't park. We managed to find a spot on a side street and then set off through the back streets to the path leading to the Shawl. We walked up onto the top and walked along the ridge for a while. The views across Wenslydale were wonderful. We found a cache – John scrambled down to get it, and then walked a bit further before coming down off the Shawl and walking through Gilmoor wood. We found a nice clearing to sit and eat our lunch. The area is actually quite industrial and housed the engine house, chimney and smelt flues (where we were sitting) for the Keld Head smelt mine. They had mined for lead and silver in the past. We walked down the track and realised we had gone wrong. A farmer stopped and pointed us back to the correct path which led across freshly manured meadows (pooh) and then started to climb back up to the Shawl again. We followed the path back to Leyburn where we stopped for a pot of tea in the Post House tea rooms.
After returning to the car we went and filled up with diesel and then drove to Harmby. We parked by the road and followed the path to a waterfall which was much higher than the falls we had seen before but less powerful. This was another spot we would not have found if it had not been for geocaching.
Saturday 18 September 2010
We met everyone at the Coverbridge Inn today. Emily and Mike ahd come over to visit us so we set off along the banks of the river Cover following the same route that we walked on Sunday. We stopped for pictures at the stepping stones and then walked to the Hullo bridge.

We crossed the bridge and walked on the other side of the river for a short distance before heading up into the fields towards East Witton lodge. It was lovely just walking and chatting with Emily and Mike and dad. We finally arrived in East Witton where we sat for a while to eat a bun (Emily, Mike and dad had had enormous breakfasts at the Coverbridge) and then we walked beside the church into a field with two horses. They ignored us but a short distance further on we could see a farmer trying to round up his sheep. We realised the footpath went through the field he was working in so we stopped and waited for a while. He told us we could go through and pointed us to the stile. He said trying to round up lambs with no yows (ewes) was murder as they just went round in circles. We crossed a few more fields with sheep in and then found ourselves back at the pub. (7.66km) We all went in for a pint and then decided to head up to High Jervaulx for an icecream.

PirateMania 4th September

Our first weekend at home for a while so we decided to go for a decent walk.
We headed to Ashbourne and to the UKGeocachers shop located in a caravan park, where we bought a few items and they kindly allowed us to leave the car in the shop car-park while we went for our walk. We had some problem finding the beginning of the walk as the footpath was not marked correctly on the map, but eventually we found our way out of the caravan park and across the field to a bridge. This walk had been set up during a Geocaching camping event, Piratemania, in the summer and so contained lots of geocaches.
We found the first one under a bridge and then followed the Bonnie Prince Charlie walk and the Centenary way towards Osmaston. One cache was found in a military type air-raid shelter, the woods that we walked in seemed to have several of these war-time buildings.

When we got to Osmaston we walked across the cricket field and continued along the footpath which passed though a field of 8ft tall maize. As we crossed into the next field I realised that it was full of young bullocks. As always happens they decided we were fun and decided to surround us, luckily the stile was close and I managed to hop over before we were cut off.


We passed through a short stretch of woodland and out onto the road before heading into another field. The cows in this field were happy to ignore us and then as we passed beside Osmaston lake a very large herd of cows decided to follow a couple going in the opposite direction to us. We waited by the side of the path as they all passed us by and then we walked on and through a natural wetland that had been provided with walkways to rise us above the boggy areas nd out to the road.
Shirley was a pretty village with several thatched cottages. The track through Shirley park led down to a water mill, and we realised that we had walked in this area some years ago, but from the opposite direction. (See April 4th 2007). Just past the mill we realised we had a cache to find. It was obviously hidden at a large tree but there was a family playing near it. We waited until they moved off and then went to find the cache, we realised that the cache was not hidden in a hole in the tree but was actually up in the branches. John nobly decided to climb up and found the cache after a short search – I don't think he had climbed a tree for donkeys years.


This was a figure of eight walk and so we passed back through Osmaston and then headed off through fields and woodland back towards Ashbourne and the end of the walk. We had walked 15.5 km and found 28 caches which I think was a record for us.

Apologies and an evening walk

I have to apologise that I haven't written on the blog since March. A new job, harvest of experimental crops have meant that I have not had the time to blog.
We have had a few holidays and done some walks but I just didn't get round to writing them up.
I left work early on Friday and as it was a lovely evening we went to Hathern to do a geocaching walk. We parked in Pasture Lane and walked down the lane to a footpath across a field which had been harvested, ploughed and rolled ready for seeding - Autumn crops going in allready. We crossed a stile at a junction of footpaths and then headed across a field where the farmers were baling straw.
We crossed a lane and followed the direction at a footpath sign which was covered with wild hops.


With the hops and straw stubble it looked very autumnal. The footpath led down to the River Soar, where we diverted off to find a geocache. The view across the river was very good, the sun was dropping and causing everything to have a golden glow and brilliant reflections of Normanton church in the river.

We followed the river for a while before heading inland again and along a lane back to the car. We walked just over 5 km which was perfect for an evening walk after work and we had found 7 geocaches.