Birmingham debacle

Thanks to help from Mark Fenner, we were able to easily catch a train from just south of Birmingham up to Matlock, which is only about 15 miles from Bakewell, where we were to stay next. As Mary had mentioned in her last post, we were having trouble navigating through cities using Sustrans signs and maps. As we approached the metropolis of Birmingham, it was about 5 pm and rush hour was underway. Given our problems getting through cities much smaller than this one, and knowing that Birmingham was large and fairly industrial, I figured we had better start looking for a place to stay and not attempt an ugly and difficult ride through the big bad city.

As we stood at a corner contemplating our fates, a kind driver asked us if we needed help, I asked him if knew any accomodations in the area, and told him that we were unexpectedly stuck in the area for the nite. He pulled over and spent a good 15 minutes making calls and helping us. He directed us to a hotel just a few miles away, and after Mary employed every persuasive skill she has, we were allowed to bring the bikes into the interior garden area to lock them for the nite.

In the morning, we back-tracked to Bromsgrove and got on the the train to Derby, where we changed trains to one that would take us north to the Peak District, to the town of Matlock. After eating and changing to riding clothes, we started riding...up, up, up, up.....I have never in my life seen such long steep inclines. We made it about 2/3rd of the way before started walking. Then the walking was so tough we had to take breaks! The locals got a kick out of watching us and shouted encouragements and jokes to us. We asked a woman for directions to make sure we were going the right way. Then I said to Mary, "Well, it can't go up forever." The woman overheard me and said, "Don't be so sure!"

But as I suspected, it ended soon after and then it was nothing but rolling hills and stunning scenery all the way to Bakewell. We hit a short rain shower, and then stopped for tea at a pub at the bottom of a hill. But at Bakewell, it was straight up to the hostel! I actually made it the whole way this time.