After what felt like a long long week with double shifts at work and the most brilliant clear blue skies outside, by Friday I was yearning for freedom. So early this morning we packed a picnic and set off. We went to the Peak District - somewhere I've never been and Himself last went when he was 8 or 9 years old.
The skies were leaden and it was cold. The roads were heaving with sullen car drivers hunched over their steering wheels. Never mind we said, as we were escaping from all this for the day.
Finally, after a horrible journey there, we arrived. We escaped off the main road on to a much quieter side road and immediately felt better.
We had parked near Ladybower Reservoir. I'd never heard of it but it is famous for being the training ground for the bouncing bomb and then later the film 'The Dam Busters' .
We walked in hazy sunshine, it had finally broken through the cloud and warmed our backs as we went up to the dam wall. It is unusual in it has two 'sink holes' or plug holes that accommodate the overflow of excess water in the reservoir.
The stuff of childhood nightmares - being sucked down the plug hole.
I found it rather uncomfortable watching the water drop into the funnel shaped hole that appeared to be floating in the water. A hole that is more than 24 meters (80 feet) across. Urgh.
The boys thought it was great and tried to throw pebbles in - the plughole just swallowed the stones without a sound...................
We walked on, up into the forests, then on to the moors and finally to the top of a hill with glorious views - if you could stand up long enough to see them before being blown off your feet! A cutting cold breeze was slicing a straight line through us all.
The boys looking down to the reservoir where we had started
On the way up.
We carried on down, slowly, as the path we were followed was very steep, joined a forestry track and then returned to the car ready for tea and sandwiches.
The return journey was, well, interesting. We got lost in Manchester - not the for first time either and Himself was heard to savagely mutter - never...again...never...again.... which what he said last time we got lost in Manchester...
Now, warm, fed and feeling slightly wind blown I feel better for being out, but so very glad to be home.
That is one scary hole in the water, especially when you realise how big it is. A thing of nightmares indeed! When I clicked on the photo to enlarge it I realised there was a man standing by the wall and it looked even bigger...and scarier!! Not for me!! So thanks for the photograph....now I know never to go and see it!!!! Jak
ReplyDeleteGlad I went to see it though, but that night when I was in bed, all I could see was that huge hole in the water so I had to try and divert my memory so I could get some sleep!
ReplyDeleteThis is an area where I spent a lot of time whilst growing up, I love it here. For my Dad's 70th birthday we bought him a Dambusters Flight across the dam by helicopter. He was delighted and was thrilled to sit next to the pilot with a glass floor beneath him so he could see everything rushing by.
ReplyDeleteAngela - you are brilliant!! My dad has his 70th this year and I have just got to get him one of those flights! Thank you!
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