First of all, an apology to both of my readership for the delay in posting this.  I’ve just completed O & P and done the planning for Q-V so I’m extremely lax in posting.  The reason is that this was the only visit that I’ve done so far that was a disappointment.

Anyway, the day dawned at the excellent Ashdale Guest House in Matlock Bath.  The euphoria of now being more than halfway through is supported by a substantial breakfast and I reflect how great it is to be in a part of the world where “black pudding” isn’t a swear word.  My stay at the Ashdale has been marvellous and it’s with energy and enthusiasm that I head out.  My odd Super Off Peak ticket won’t be valid for some time, so I head out to collect some Geocaches around Matlock Bath.  For those of you not knowing what they are, here’s a photo of one.

That doesn’t really help, does it?  Basically, it’s a good excuse for a wander around Lover’s Walk and a chance to explore some more of Matlock Bath – which I find very attractive indeed.

I work my way down to the train station and try to work out exactly what a Super Off Peak ticket entails.  While I do, I run through the reasons for going to Nottingham.  Let’s face it, there’s only one:

Though I freely admit, I sometimes mix it up with this one:

Now I know there is more to Nottingham than Sherwood Forest, but it’s about as valid a reason for going somewhere as I’ve had so far, so off I go.  Or I will, once I’ve sorted out which trains I am allowed to use.

Aha. Finally I’ve worked it out.  The ticket is valid on trains heading into London after 11:35.  It’s valid out of London between 10:05 and 15:34.  Wait a second, my journey is technically towards London, so which rule applies?  And when I’m going home tomorrow, my train won’t leave London until 16:00, so does that mean my ticket is valid?  I have no idea.  I now realise why they have decided to simplify the ticketing system – because this is not straight forward.

While I wait, I tuck into my next book: Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote.  Which is incredibly short.  So short, that I finish it before arriving at Nottingham and so switch to The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.  Quite a contrast in styles.

The train from Matlock Bath is a single carriage train.  When I get on, I’m faced with a bicycle that has fallen across the aisle from where it’s been stored.  A highly embarrassed middle-aged man in lycra rushes up to put it back and explains that it fell over as he has too much in his panniers.  He then proceeds to put it back in exactly the same place.  The rest of the journey is punctuated with crashes and repeated apologies as the bike repeatedly falls over.  I think of suggesting that he store it differently, but actually this is just too entertaining.

I think that the conductor will probably come and help but after 25 minutes she hasn’t got halfway down the carriage.  For her, this is a social occasion and checking peoples’ tickets comes very low on her agenda.  And there are quite a few.  The leg room on this train is minute and I have to sit across two seats – luckily it doesn’t get busy enough for someone to insist on sitting by me.  At Belper two more cyclists get on and use their own bikes to block the other one in place – to the relief of the crestfallen owner of the original bike.  Of course, the problem comes two stops later when he wants to get out and I end up watching their Jenga-like antics as they try to extricate his bike.

All that (and my two books) keeps me well entertained until I arrive at Nottingham.  The sunny morning at Matlock Bath has disappeared and the sky is overcast with a chilly wind.  This is not an auspicious start.  I decide to grab something to eat before I start exploring and head out of the station.

My initial impression of Nottingham is that it is a dung hole.  I walk through an area that is clearly in the throes of rejuvenation (either that or it recently collapsed) and the most interesting thing I can find to look at is a tram.

I continue walking around and as I do, I can see an impressive looking church standing out amongst the surrounding buildings, so I head towards it.

As I get closer, I realise this is no longer a church:

While I’m sure Nottingham is not the only place to have a church re-purposed into a bland, anodyne chain pub this adds to my initial impression, and so my second impression of Nottingham is that it is, in fact, a dung hole.

I find my way to the centre of town and settle myself into a Burger King while I plan what to do next.  From here, I can see several buildings of interest, but somehow I just can’t find the enthusiasm for exploring.  It could be that I’m suffering a bit of fatigue from the last 2 weeks, or it could be that Nottingham is truly uninspiring.

I head out and grab some pictures in the central square.

As I wander around, i find some other things of interest:

After wandering around for about an hour, I realise why I’m not getting into this – for the first time in my travels, I don’t feel safe.  There is no specific threat or concern, I just don’t feel comfortable walking around.  I decide to head off early to the Ibis Hotel – which, as usual, is massively uninspiring.  I grab some food from a corner shop and have an evening in my room, hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Day Two

Not the best night – their much vaunted “commitment to comfort” doesn’t extend to an air conditioning system that works.  Though, I admit the bad was comfortable.

Showers are predicted for today — and once again, the prediction is wrong: it is, in fact, pissing it down.  I have a lack-lustre breakfast, including a scrambled egg that is utterly tasteless and would probably bounce if dropped on the floor (I resist the temptation to test this hypothesis).  For the first time, the jeans go on rather than shorts and the age-appropriate hoodie is on as I leave the hotel.

I’m wet within 100 yards and soaked within 15 minutes.  I find myself running from door to door to try and stay even slightly dry and so I head up past the Exchange and towards the Castle.

The Castle unfortunately doesn’t open until 10 — and I’ve already decided I’m going to be heading for the station by then.  Outside the castle, the rain pours down on a statue of Robin Hood.

Doesn’t look much like Errol Flynn to me.

I’m cold, wet, miserable and still feel vaguely unsafe.  As I make my way to the train station, I go over a canal and snap a photo.

A helpful passer-by says “It’s much nicer when it’s sunny.”  I choke back a litany of pithy responses as I the weather finally defeats me and I take shelter in the train station with 3 hours to wait for a train I am allowed to catch.

I sit in the cold, empty hall and nurse a Cappucino from Costa Coffee.  I am on my last book – The Book of Evidence by John Banville.  I’m not sure it will last me, so I grab a Puzzler Collection to keep me going – it’s quite scary that I remember the first time I did a Puzzler…it was in 1972!

After an hour I work out which platform I need to be on, so I head down there to find a waiting room that is somewhat warmer.  I’m in here alone, except for someone who is sprawled in his seat and snoring loudly.

I wouldn’t be that concerned if this was later in the day, but it’s 10 in the morning.  So I struggle with a moral dilemma – do I check he’s okay or not?  In the end I decide to do the right thing, so I go across and gently shake him.  He comes around with a surprised grunt and I apologise and say that I wanted to make sure he didn’t miss his train.  He looks around, stands up and walks out without saying a word.  That really is the cherry on the top of this bloody awful day.  I return to my book.

The journey back is long and uncomfortable – primarily as I’m in wet clothing and it’s extremely chilly.  By the time I get home, I’m sick of this stupid idea and wonder whether I started it in the first place.

 

So, rather a downbeat end to my travels earlier this year.  I’ve now done O and P and will hopefully get them written up in the next couple of weeks.  As I write this, we’re in the run up to Christmas so I hope you all have a good Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I hope you enjoy the blog and will enjoy it next year when I’ll be doing Q through to V.