When I met Daz at our first ever Eastern Region monthly meeting in August 2003 I recall he had loads of bright ideas for events that we could all undertake, including weekends away. For the handful of people (about 5 !) at that meeting this all sounded a bit ambitious. However 2 years later on the morning of Saturday 25 June, 7 cars, 13 people met up at Peterborough Services on the A1 for our first Regional weekend away as organised by Daz.
Sunday morning finally saw the sunshine arrive as well as 3 more cars (all green, apparently something to do with the National Park rules !) from the local NEM Area to join us for the days activities. The morning saw a spirited convoy drive of 11 cars through the middle and south part of the Peak District National Park via Chatsworth House and finishing up at Dovedale. The afternoon was occupied by a walk through Dovedale with various members starting at either end, the hardier folks doing the full walk with the others meeting them at the end.
After snacks in Milldale and then some shuttle running to get all the cars, drivers and passengers at the same end of Dovedale we took a few group photo’s and plotted a route back East.
The drive up to the Peak District took the scenic route across country with a stop for a very nice lunch at a pub somewhere near Chesterfield. Picking up another car on the way we arrived at the campsite in Newhaven mid afternoon with a very fine drizzle descending.
Overall a brilliant weekend away and all we need to decide now is where next?
Thanks go to Daz for organising the weekend and letting us play in the nicest bits of his original home county. Thanks also to all those else who helped out with some part of the planning and organisation and to everyone for turning up and making it all worth while.
MJC ©
The remainder of the afternoon was filled with a scenic drive up to the North of the area and over the Snake Pass, returning via a handily placed Tesco’s in Glossop to the campsite.
Despite the slightly damp weather the evening was finished off with the traditional ER HMF ™ BBQ. At the end of the evening those of us who on this occasion we not so brave then withdrew to our nice warm luxury hotel for more chat and drinks whilst the remainder of the gang bedded down for the night.