Peaked

Wednesday, June 23

This day saw us reunited and heading south together. I got on the iron horse in E-burgh and marveled at the sights my route afforded through the Lowlands of south Scotland.

With an emotional farewell to fair Caledonia, I watched the hedgerows reappear as England welcomed me again. By 11:30 a.m., I was off at Lancaster, Lancastershire, awaiting my lady Ls. When they finally arrived, and with many hugs and greetings, we headed towards Brailes.

Instead of using the boring motorway, we struck southeast into the Peak District of Central England. During this leg of our drive, we listened to my summer and sun music program, which honors the solstice. I’ve used that collection for at least 20 years for parties and festivals, and it proved a fitting sountrack for the journey.

In no particular hurry, our first big stop was in Buxton, Derbyshire. This city owes its reputation to the pure springs that occur here. We sampled bar and tearoom fare and did some shopping in pedestrian-only Spring Gardens Street.

Around the corner, we filled our jugs from Saint Ann’s Fount.

Since 1840, Buxton citizens annually dress and bless their wells with great ceremony.

Round another bend is the Opera House and its painted ceiling.

We also took in the conservatory, pavillion gardens, and Old Hall Hotel, purportedly England’s most ancient.

Onward through Burton-on-Trent and its many breweries. We bought our supper at Stapleton just outside Hinkley, Leicestershire.

My meal was traditional egg and chips with ham. Lina and Louisa got similar repasts, if they could only remember.

By just about dark, we walked into Old Park Cottage in Brailes and were greeted by Billy the Cat.