The wind slackened but the rain hammered down all night. The temperature was just below freezing but at daylight at rose a bit. I packed the tent away in very wet snow and I tried to keep my feet dry as cycling shoes are not very waterproof. I set off east along the A6. The worst of last night’s snow on the road had gone but as I cycled in to Taddington the minor roads were still deep in snow and too dangerous to cycle on. I took a minor track to rejoin the A6.

Any port in a storm.
A soggy field by the A6

I’d put on full waterproofs to keep the cold wind out but the rain got harder so I’m glad I was prepared. For a while I had a long descent then the road levelled off on the approach to Bakewell. I stopped in Bakewell for a snack and take a couple of photos. The sun came out very briefly but by the time I’d got my camera out it had gone. I left the A6 and set off on the A619 to Baslow. After the roundabout I took the Chesterfield road and started a very long climb. The thawing snow was causing huge amounts of water to cascade off the fields and across the road. As I got higher the rain started again and I rode the last few miles into Chesterfield with my rain top on.

Chesterfield and the crooked spire

In Chesterfield the sun came out for a while so I had a look at the Parish Church and its twisted spire. I also popped inside for a quick look. My next objective was Staveley and navigating out of Chesterfield wasn’t easy as the Staveley signposts were for cars and not cyclist. I managed to find the way but the urban area around Staveley was as built up as the town.

Chesterfield Parish Church interior

I didn’t even notice I’d ridden through it as it didn’t seem to have any redeeming features to identify it. I headed NE and over the M1 motorway to Barlborough. This was another place with no obvious centre. The A619 east was a nice flat road with sweeping curves but too busy to enjoy. I turned north on the A618 for a while then along a minor road to Harthill.

Chesterfield Parish Church
and its crooked spire.
It is thought the twisting of the 14th century spire
is due to insufficient cross-bracing,
and the use of unseasoned timber.

Flooded lane near Harthill

I took a minor road and was concerned to find a lot of snow on it and some flooded sections where the snow had melted. Fortunately they weren’t too deep. I reached Kiveton Park railway crossing and station. It even had the signal box there but is probably not used. A steep climb took me to South Anston and on to North Anston and Dinnington. I called at the Tesco Supermarket in Dinnington to buy some water. Still water was 17p per 2lt bottle which must be the cheapest I’ve seen. I didn’t have far to go and it was still only 13:45. I’d found what I thought was a good place to camp using Google Streetmaps before I left. I followed the lanes to the spot and found what I thought would be quiet county lanes were busy thoroughfares. I pitched my tent and tried to listen to the radio while speeding traffic whizzed by.