Day 4 - part 2

At Ambergate the canal turned east for 13 miles to reach a canal junction at Langley Mill. Soon after Ambergate, it ceases to be in water. Ambitious plans to restore the canal possibly underestimate the implications of several sections of the route having been lost under new roads.
Soon after leaving the canal, I had a navigational meltdown. I don't mean that I freaked out. I mean that I hadn't a clue which way to go and couldn't make any sense of map, compass or app and there's not a waymark in sight!!!! I don't get significantly worried at these times. With the Lord's help. I always sort myself out and get where I want to be sooner or later. I'm just aware I'm a useless navigator! Once out of the woods (in both senses) it was a lovely walk through a nature reserve and finally into Belper - a place packed with mill heritage mainly associated with the wealthy Strutt family. I've never visited the town properly. I saw some bits but hope to see more when I return to do the final section of the walk down to Derby.
I'm not sure if the OS app recorded all my walk. I'm hopeless at remembering to resume it when I pause and the length of time after which it needs manually resuming seems random. I like many aspects of the app but it's better if you've pre-loaded a route which I can't do although my eldest granddaughter has patiently taught me more than once! I can't see the line it draws showing where you've come at all or the icon showing where you are if the sun's shining!!!!!.......which it has quite a bit today. It went from cold to very hot back to very cold while I was out but saved the mizzle til I was almost in Belper!
Once again I had a lovely ride back on the bus to Matlock retracing in the valley my outward direction along this classic transport corridor - with train, canal, road and river running along together - only the river messing it up by meandering back and forth necessitating all the others crossing and recrossing its several times!!Read more