Just in case anyone's been wondering why there's been a distinct absence of comments from me over the past week, I've been temporarily offline.
Well, strictly speaking, my 'net connection's fine, it's just that I've been on a short holiday in the Exeter / Dartmoor area.
As the title suggests, after weeks of glorious sunshine, Mother Nature decided it was time for some payback - and driving through Dartmoor is an "interesting" experience when it's absolutely pelting down with rain, whilst also taking care to avoid any ponies galloping across the road or sheep tucked up against a stone wall in the hope of some shelter! Still, the warning sign "Sheep lying in road" raised a giggle, and I did manage to grab some photos of the dartmoor ponies between showers (and braved the storm to take a pic of the Postbridge clapper bridge). I also visited a couple of NT properties, so managed to stay out of the majority of the rain - and on Thursday the promised showers somehow failed to materialise!
Anyway, I'm back now and already have 18 tabs loaded with various stories / blogs published over the past week. I should really have booked another week off... to catch up on what I've missed (especially if you add in the Whateley fanfics I've been reading over at Crystal Hall)! So expect a splurge of comments over the next few days, and a new album or two on Picasaweb.
Comments
If Dartmoor was known...
If Dartmoor was known for its outstanding weather, they wouldn't have put a prison there.
I hear they are planning to close it down. Shame really. Did you come across any chain-gangs on the road, or any escaping prisoners?
Princetown
Ben,
I wonder if you managed to stop at the 'Plume Of Feathers' in Princetown? I spent 3 years in Plymouth in the 80's and used to drop in there frequently, although I can never remember leaving.
In the early 90's a good friend and I decided to make a return visit to Devon. We'd both been to the Poly (now Uni) there but to different departments and different years. We'd never met until 1989 the other side of the country.
We reached the Plume at lunchtime and decided to walk onto the moor before it got too late, walking onto the moor with alcohol in your system is not recommended (unless you're 18 years old and a student)
The walk to South Hessary Tor was pretty standard, sheep, more sheep, fog, more fog, more sheep in the fog. I had a 3" to the mile OS map so could navigate by telegraph poles, a compass is next to useless there and GPS was military only.
Back at the pub we sat at the end of the bar, the barman was some distance away. His comment?
"'Allo lads, long time no see. Two pints of Death is it?"
Neither of us had been there for six years, and never at the same time.
The 'Death' was short for 'High Speed Death', the nickname for Hick's Special Draught (HSD) brewed by the St Austell brewery. Of course it was the beer we had intended to order.
Dartmoor is a special place, more so if you can find your way off it.
Topsy
Mostly Harmless
Princetown
The original plan was to drive from Mortonhampsted to Princetown (and see the infamous jail), then head back via Widdecombe-in-the-moor (yes, the place made famous by that song). However, the storm showers were pretty intense, and after reaching Postbridge decided to turn back.
I did see several dartmoor ponies (although not any large dogs) - and the photos have now been uploaded, although I still need to caption and geotag them.
EAFOAB Episode Summaries
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!