Departing Derby

Goodbyes are always the worst, putting the b****y mileage between us once more but we always make the best of it by having a lazy breakfast, slowwwwly packing away our things and taking a few last photos here & there before heading off for a cuppa somewhere.

So this morning after thanking our new favourite hotel receptionist for a lovely stay & being paid the nicest of compliments in return, Biscuit was awoken from slumber for a relaxing amble back to Derby Railway Station. There was a quick stop part way to nosey at a telephone box but as we couldn't find any casting marks to ID it as a Lion, onwards we went. At the station car park a kind lady offered to save my selfie arm and take a pic for us so that's my blip :-)

Inside we went hunting for a cuppa and somewhere to sit. A 'well known chain of baked goods' outlet had seating with a platform view, so that's where we enjoyed a Hot Choccy (extra top) and watched a Railtours train arrive & depart with a shiny rake of old MK3(?) Intercity coaches. Many hugs later, I waved Ms.Arell off on her merry way back up to Bonny Scotland * adopts station announcers voice * on the Cross Country service to Crewe, where she will change for the Avanti West Coast service on a Pendolino (Woooosh!) bound for Edinburgh Waverley.

Back on Biscuit...oops! * adopts normal speaking voice * ...your Gal bimbled out of the city back towards Ashbourne along the A52 to snap a photo of something 4-wheeled she spotted 3 & bit years ago and recognised straightaway. In her yoof she had a thing about Kitcars as a family friend had built a couple, and on the other side of a garden wall sat a slightly unloved but still awesome Midas Coupe MK2 (extra middle), later known as the Bronze. These were designed by a genius by the name of Richard Oakes' and welcome to another of my side interests ;-D

Ashbourne was interesting, in that the centre was closed to traffic. Trying to find a way around the clogged up diversion around the west of town, a single track lane heading steeply uphill 'looked about right'. It was only after dropping a gear and turning in did I notice the No Entry sign, and 20 yards or so later hoping for the best saw a car approaching and decided to do a U-turn. Eeeeeek! With a single pannier on the downhill side, over she rolled and I jumped off in a panic. Some of the drivers from the forming queue helped get Biscuit upright & off to the side with matching bent front & rear brake levers. Botheration :-/

Eventually finding a way through to the A515 thanks to a kind scooterist, I got as far as Buxton before stopping for a breather after the faux-pas. Back home 45 mins later & after saying Hellooos, unpacked and refreshed with a cuppa, the damage was straightened out before I attempted some shuteye before a nightshift.

Thank you so much Gal for a lovely few days away :-)