HARD TOP RELAY LIVE BLOG

[Mike Geraghty]

Collected the Hard top from Dave Walker in Northampton on Monday and dropped into Althorp on the way back to Derby. Failed to blag my way into the grounds to take a photograph so had to be content with this shot from the road.

Collecting the hard top from Dave

Althorp house in distance

[Mike Geraghty]

Set off into Derbyshire on Tuesday. A day of mixed weather - sunshine and showers. Headed up the M1 to Chesterfield to take a picture of the famous crooked spire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_ ... esterfield

[Mike Geraghty]

After Chesterfield I headed over to Chatsworth House. Many thanks to the security staff for allowing me to take photographs on this magnificent estate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House

[Mike Geraghty]

From Chatsworth it is a short run to Bakewell and a visit to the original Bakewell Pudding shop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakewell_pudding

[Mike Geraghty]

Moving on to Ashford in the Water http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashford-in-the-Water and Monsal Dale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsal_Dale

Ashford - in - the - Water

[Mike Geraghty]

Moving further north to Buxton where I visited the Opera House http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buxton_Opera_House The Crescent, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buxton_Crescent and the Pavillion Gardens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Buxto ... ardens.jpg

Opera House Buxton

[Mike Geraghty]

Leaving Buxton to return home via Matlock, spotted a hill with the word "England" written in stone. Eventually arriving in Matlock Bath http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matlock_Bath I stopped off for a quick photograph before calling into Crich Stand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matlock_Bath to find it shut! Therefore I only managed a picture with the Stand in the distance.

[Mike Geraghty]

Returning home I noticed an entrance to the ruined site of Wingfield Manor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingfield_Manor and managed to take a few shots. Then there was just time to nip into Kedleston Hall http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kedleston_Hall which is just down the road from where I live, to grab a few photographs before they closed.

[adrianclifford]

Lovely scenery Mike, thanks for the update and the views.

[stux99]

Excellent pics, keep them coming. Going to be an Epic journey

[Hainsie]

Some lovely piccies and places

[YOUNG]

I think everyone is putting in a great effort. Keep up the good work

[TimM]

Well done Mike , the Hard Top's had a great trip around the Peak district, now looking forward to the next stage in its journey to Oulton Park at the weekend

Did anyone see Classic Car Weekly ?

[Mike Geraghty]

Wednesday was a rest day for the hard top as I went down to London to take in the Olympic atmosphere. As an aside well done Team GB and London for an amazing Olympics. I hope the courtesy, kindness and friendliness I experice down there is a lasting legacy.
Thursday morning awoke with a great weather forecast and amazing skies over Derbyshire so decided to head for the Peak District National Park.
Headed out to Ashbourne and took the first photograph at Thorpe Pastures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorpe,_Derbyshire

Then it was on through Thorpe crossing over into Staffordshire for a short time before arriving at Ilam Hall. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilam_Park

[Mike Geraghty]

The sky was full of Beautiful Clouds so here is an "enhanced" view of Ilam Hall

[Mike Geraghty]

The villages in this area are really beautiful. Here are pictures of Ilam and Tissington. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tissington

[Mike Geraghty]

Then it was home via Ashbourne.

[Mike Geraghty]

Friday was the last day that I would have posession of the Hard Top before handing over to Simon Davies at Oulton Park on Saturday. Therefore I decided to make the best of the lovely weather (ironic that whilst I've had the hard top it's been sweltering and it would have been lovely to drive with the top down) and head to the High Peak. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Peak,_Derbyshire
Drove through Hathersage, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hathersage , Hope , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope,_Derbyshire and Castleton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castleton,_Derbyshire taking in the most wonderful scenery Derbyshire has to offer. These pictures do not do it justice

[Mike Geraghty]

Parked up at Treak Cavern http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treak_Cliff_Cavern and Mrs G took the tour into this "Blue John" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derbyshire_Blue_John mine while I took pictures.

[Mike Geraghty]

Drove to Odin's Mine and then on through Winnat's Pass.