Might need to change the tyres

 Bit of a quick post as we are wild camping and have to conserve our battery power.

For once we were glad of minus temperatures first thing this morning, it meant we could walk toward the showers and toilet block without our shoes sinking into the mud. But although this was beneficial for that situation we soon discovered a big problem with the Beast on arrival at Poole Cavern. It was the snow and ice which caused no end of problems. Our sat nav took us along one of the high peak roads, bit hairy in places but managed to negotiate the uphill and downhill without too much of a problem.

As we pulled into Poole Cavern car park we started sliding, not something to take lightly in this weighty monster. Ian managed to get into a parking bay but at an angle and there 'The Beast' stayed refusing to go forward or back but spinning the front wheels and causing a horrible smell of burning rubber. We debated what to do and said 'what the heck' we may as well go look at the cave anyway. Then our luck changed in the form of a gritting lorry at the carpark entrance. Ian did no more than hail it and ask if they could shovel some grit under the front tyres. Well fully expecting them to refuse they were only too willing to help us out. Hats off to the Buxton Council as by the time we got back from the cave tour the grit had done its job and we could get on our way to our next destination

Where we parked we stayed!

Snow and ice in the car park which caused us to slide.

Shovelled grit from the council workers.

So from Buxton, we made our way to Castleton and Treak Cliff Cavern. Along another lane with a small turning space right at the end. Having managed to get The Beast round we then had to park up somewhere ice-free. Only place was on the opposite side of the road at the entrance to the steps leading up to the cave. Anyway, to cut a long story short, we parked, climbed an endless amount of steps to get to the hut, paid our money and had a very enjoyable tour of theTreak Cavern which was full of the Blue John stone. At the end of the tour, I asked if we could stay overnight in the layby. With the thumbs up from them we have now settled down with the gas heater lit so nice and warm and have gone into boat mode. All but one light on, no laptops or tablets to be charged but we do have TV on 12 volts. View from here is incredible and so very quiet. If only the skies would clear I bet the stars would be phenomenal.

And the caves

POOLE CAVE

 

 

 and TREAK CLIFF CAVE

Lights out and candles lit

The exit

We're a long way up

On our way down and 'I can see the Beast from here'

My Valentines pressie