Happy Easter!
By the time you read this, it will be past Easter, but I still wanted to wish you all blessings.
I spent Saturday night in a hotel very near the airport. My original plan was to stay in Old Town Manchester until I realized it would be Easter Sunday and everything would be closed. The airport was much closer to my destination of Edale. I had a lovely dinner that night and a good rest.
On Sunday, I arranged to have a driver through Get Transfer, a European company with drivers who bid on the job. I have used them several times with good luck. Thirty minutes after the pickup time, I called the company and found out that my driver had just cancelled with no reason given. GRRRRR! I could arrange another driver, but I had to wait about two hours for him. Double GRRRR. But all things worked out. He was a delightful, talkative Pakistani Muslim gentleman. We talked about everything from travel to religion to food. He was a former chef who left the restaurant business during COVID. The hour drive passed quickly, and I was suddenly in Edale.
Edale is a quintesential English Village. It could easily be imagined as the setting for a British drama with its romantic stone residences and lofty buildings. It is located in Hope Valley, County Derbyshire, England. At the last census, the population was 353.
According to the website, "The Rambler Inn in Edale has a rich history, dating back to the early 19th century when it was originally a farmhouse. It was later converted into a public house, reflecting Edale's long-standing popularity with walkers and outdoor enthusiasts. The inn's name and traditional architecture, including stone walls and wooden beams, highlight its historical connections to the area." All the rooms downstairs, now part of the restaurant and pub, have massive fireplaces.
I love my room; it's small but lovely.
The difference between a village and a hamlet is that a village has a church and usually a school. Of course, I had to visit a church on Easter Sunday. Edale Parish Church is part of the Church of England. Its first chapel was built in 1633, and the chapel was rebuilt on the same site in 1812.
The stained glass windows above the altar.
A view of the wooden beams and the rear windows. The chapel was significantly less ornate than those in the Catholic churches.
I decided to go full-on British last night and order the fish and chips. I started laughing when it was served. That might have been the biggest single piece of fish I have ever seen. It was delicious with batter so light it might have drifted off the plate if not anchored by the moist fish. Underneath were chunky fries made from real fresh potatoes. It also included mushy peas. I had been curious about mushy peas, which I had read about but never eaten. I never thought they sounded very good, but what the heck, when in Rome... They are not just smashed green peas. They are made with green peas, cream, butter (?), and pepper. I kinda liked them.
Today, Monday, I saw the mountain rescue group while walking through the village. I told them I hoped not to see them tomorrow on my hike. They laughed but had no idea how much I meant that after last summer, I slid down the glacier in the Alps and the subsequent rescue.
The primary school looks like an old one-room schoolhouse.
I decided to have dinner at the Ye Olde Nags Head, a 17th-century Pub that advertises as the gateway to the Pennine (pronounced puh-nine) Trail.
The daily specials.
I ordered the Creme Mushroom Stroganoff with saffron wild rice and garlic bread. OMG! Nothing like any stroganoff I have ever had. First off, there were no egg noodles and no beef. I seriously wanted to lay my face in the bowl. The sauce was slightly tomato-based, with lots of butter, some cream, and a touch of horseradish. Not so strong as to be painful, but just enough to give you that slight thrill through your sinuses. The combination was addictive. I have never had anything quite like it. Best meal so far! I made a pig of myself, I did. And it was accompanied by an excellent glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
Tomorrow, I will start my hike on the Pennine Trails. I am a wee bit nervous because it is rated strenuous, and just looking around, I agree. It is also over 16 miles of up up up and down down down. So a few serious prayers would help.
So I bid you Good Night and God Bless!
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