My 12 monthly reflections of 2024 - July, making the most of the weather

A bit more travelling in July but this time deep into Germany again on the Honda Nc750c DCT to give it its full title. A very capable and misunderstood bike by the mainstream, but those in the know are aware of its capabilities - I've had three ! 

But before that on the 1st July we were gardening and I got to speaking with a neighbour - top and bottom we ended up buying a old circular patio that was duly wheelbarrow'd round to sit in the back yard until I've time to install it... it's still there. 

Visiting my mum early July, She's a trooper, never complains and has and continues to be an example of how to live a life 

Off to Devon again this time camping. Not camped for many years so I loaded up the Himmy and ventured off with all I needed for a couple of nights camping with friends. It was a nice site but the pitch was on a slope not ideal. Saturday night was a massive thunderstorm that ran for four hours and came with torrential rain. Pleasingly the tent held up well. 

The middle day wasn't so bad riding the Devon lanes with some stunning views 

The day home was wet again and I waited in the toilet block  - not a good look, until I was able to put the tent down in 'less' rain.

We had a house guest 7th-10th July as Loki Toms dog came to stay much to the disgust of Lilly our cat. He's a good little dog, no trouble.

11th July I was heading off into the valley. However I made the mistake of going after heavy rain and the summer vegetation wet me through so I detoured to a dryer route. It's the benefit of walking these woods I know many of the paths. 

The 12th the newly plastered workshop rooms were getting their first mist coat 

14th we were back over in Heanor putting together the kids Christmas present. They had been patient  

Back to see my mum on the 20th 

Rachel was singing with her choir at Crich on the same day so after seeing my mum we headed off to the Tramway museum. It was a lovely concert in a nice place  - well worth a visit 

Then foreign travel  - off to France Belgium the Netherlands and Germany for a week. We did the Dam buster dams and Belsen amongst other things. 

We had a few of these......

Last night was in Ypres, been there many times for the Menin gate ceremony 

8.53 am in Flanders lodge Ypres, ready for a long day to get to a Derby Park for a family picnic....

The Wells men, lovely photo got to the park about 3pm...

29th July and the Himmy was getting some TLC - not bad for 20,000 365 days a year miles. Look at that summer sun ! 

I was over at Shebdon on the 30th putting one of the two trial 390w solar panels onto Percy. The other was used for the Ecofloe battery at the gable end of the workshop later in the year. The little 145w panel had been on Waterlily then Percy so must have been 15 years old and done a good shift. Grass got a trim also.

Back at the cottage one of the chimneys needed pointing and as the weather was fair that was todays job - 30th July. 

We used the last day of July for a nice summer walk 

A nice month of doing stuff, family diy and bikes boat. Making the best of the weather as as from memory it never really got summery after July sadly....

My 12 monthly reflections of 2024 - June - Boat Birthday Bikes

We started June returning Percy to her moorings at Shebdon. More blue sky. I was with one of my sisters today and we reflected the weather or the summer seemed to be around May June then disappeared. We enjoyed this cruise. 

Cream tea on the go...

Woodseves cutting was in a perilous state. Quite a few rock falls leaving bigger rocks ready to come down. I recall I commented about it when we passed through later in the year and so it has come to pass  the cutting is now closed with no opening date due to trees down and more land slips. C&RT really need some planned preventative maintenance on such pinch point assets.  

Mmm that gap was getting to me on the 4th June !

A trip into Ashbourne, one of the three local shopping towns close to us. Looks like it was a pit stop on the way to the grandkids 

Little Lyra still glares at me !!

7th June and I had the oil boiler apart as it was locking out.  It was getting close to its annual service I diagnosed a blocked nozzle. I had an old spare I was able to clean and use until I got a new one ( Stafford Plumb Centre) that our local plumber fitted on its annual service 

Seems I was out walking the same day 

Then it was s a lovely family day to celebrate Rachel's birthday on the Ecclesbourne railway. We booked a complete carriage for everyone then had food in the buffet car later. Good memories 

11th June out on the blood bikes again. 

Turned into an expensive shift as my phone fell out of my pocket  - I did eventually replace the screen but not after buying a new Iphone 

12th June I was having my tea in Matlock Bath, fish and chips, done it soooo many times. 

A memorable ride home via the moorlands lanes. 

The middle of the month we were out with family at Newstead Abbey. It pee'd it down so we decanted to a local pub for food 

Fathers day we were up in Chinley being served a lovely home cooked Sunday roast and then a nice walk 

Three generations of Wells men 

Back at the cottage the workshop was being emptied of the collection of furniture waiting to be 'up -cycled' as the plasterer was due in.

I've plastered before but not three full rooms and ceilings. Some jobs are best left to the experts 

17th June the Himmy was getting a service ready for a trip to Devon again ... yes it rained.

18th another shift 

The 20th June I visited my mum, no photos as she wasn't too well this period. The 20th saw such a bright moon I was getting watts on the solar panels in the night.

The plasterer was done and the plaster drying getting ready for its mist coat. This was the 22nd June 

Our resident woodpeckers were topping up again 

We were also making the most of the long days walking the village walk out through the village and back along our lane. Might have scored the odd Magnum from the local shop. 

Coming back to a stew/soup light meal with home made bread. 

I started suffering blocked tear ducts that troubled me through the year and I'm still under treatment for it now in December 

23rd June we were at Percy sorting out the dredging by hand or feet. While there I test erected the new tent for its pending baptism of thunder and lightening in Devon 

I got it sorted but you can see how happy I was doing it. It was very warm that day. I got an old tyre and a spade out of the mud and broke away a few years of solid mud build up 

We stayed over as the following day I was measutring up for new batteries. I considered the lithium hybrid but it would have meant adjusting my previous install and I was broadly happy with the battery length of performance so went for a close replacement. It is a tight fit 

26th June I was over in Sherwood Forest meeting a good friend who I tour together with. He'd been unwell and had an operation so it was good for him to be back out on this bike. 

We finished the end of the month with a walk around Tissington village up near us.