Day 14

This morning we had a lovely visit with my dad’s best friend from childhood, Geoff, and his wife Barbara.  My dad has known Geoff since before he was married and in fact, Geoff was best man in my parent’s wedding.  When they found out we were here, they called to see if they could visit.  We had a nice time catching up and chatting over a cup of tea.

Later in the morning, Don came by to pick us up and take us on our daily adventure.  Today we were heading to the Blue John Caverns near Castleton.  Blue John is a rare mineral that is found in only one place in the world and that happens to be a half hour or so from my aunt’s house!  It’s a beautiful stone that has hues of blue and yellow running in veins through it.  I remember visiting when I was younger, and my mom relates that the first piece of jewelry my dad ever gave her was a ring with Blue John.  Today, sadly, they are running out.  In fact our guide said that within the next 3-4 years there will be no more Blue John to mine.

We started the afternoon with a picnic on a hillside overlooking the town of Castleton.  Yet another picnic in yet another beautiful spot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

After filling the kids' bellies (temporarily, anyways) we went on a fascinating tour of the mine.  We went down 300 feet into the earth – good job we’re not claustrophobic!  The guide told us all about the formation of the caves, pretty interesting stuff.  Like where we were standing used to be at the equator before millions of years of continental drift landed us in northern England instead.  And the cave used to be the bottom of the ocean evidenced by the small, fossilized sea creatures in the walls.  One part of the cave used to be a powerful whirlpool and the limestone rock was worn away in a corkscrew formation.

 

 

 

 

Only two veins of Blue John are left, one of which will be left for posterity so that people can see how it was.

 

 

That's unmined Blue John

  

I think London was most taken by the information that back in the hay day of mining (1700-1800s), kids of Emmy’s age would be sent down to mine.  It wasn’t until child labor acts were passed in 1819, that it “raised” the working age to 9 at which time he would have been lowered into the cave in a bucket with nothing but a candle on his head and a pick to mine the stone.  And he would have done that for 12 hours a day, six days a week.  I offered to leave him in the mine to work, but they declined…

 

After seeing the mine, we went into Castleton to look around, have an ice cream and take some photos.  Oh, it was such a cute little town!

 

Driving into Castleton

 

The road to Castleton

 

The castle Castleton is named for.

 

 

 

In a shop in Castleton, some things made out of Blue John.

 

 

 

Another ice cream!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stunning scenery

 

Later we went over to my cousin Sally’s house.  We walked down to a park for the kids to play and then had dinner with her and Alex.  She offered us a homemade dinner or fish and chips – guess what we chose!  This makes three loads of fish and chips in 2 weeks – aren’t we naughty?

Fish and chips in the garden

 Playtime afterwards!

Unfortunately, the good-byes began tonight.  Richard was to be busy all day tomorrow so we had to say good-bye tonight.