Well I promised Rob i'd post up some pics of my walk today. So here goes.
Headed up on Dartmoor South of Oakhampton Camp. The Drive up is always fun. The twisting turning, rise and fall of the road out of Gunnislake towards Tavistock has always been a favourite of mine and this morning it was completely clear. It was mid morning but the roads still demanded my full attention. Squeezing the throttle pedal out of the hairpins, adjusting the arse of the zed, N54 never truly aloud to reach it's full screaming crescendo, tempered by a prime evil sense of survival. Hedgerows, so pleasant to observe on a summers day, appearing as rock faces at each braking point.
Yup it was a good drive Up.
- Yes Tor WestMil Tot and Roew Tor from Bestton Tor.jpg (40.78 KiB) Viewed 701 times
So after charging my camera battery last night I carried the great lump up to the first peak at Higher Tor Turned around to take in the view across towards Yes Tor, West Mill Tor and Rowe Tor. All at there sparkling best in the mid morning sunlight, the mist just clearing from the farthest snow spattered peak of Yes Tor. I pressed the shutter release....... to be informed the battery was dead.
Any way thank goodness for Camera phones.
- Hart of Dartmoor.jpg (62.31 KiB) Viewed 701 times
On into the true heat of the moor and up on to Hanging stone Hill. The view from here sums up much of Dartmoor for me. Not a living sole in sight for miles. Ahead the source of the river Dart right, The river Taw left and my target for lunch, the source of the West Okement river at Cranmere pool.
- Cranmere pool Letter box.jpg (82.37 KiB) Viewed 701 times
Cranmere Pool. It's not pretty, it's not not spectacular. It's surrounded for 1km ,in every direction by peat bog. Yet it's a place I love. Not a sound out there today, just peace and tranquillity. Oh and a bl##dy cold wind.
The letter box was built by a Victorian entrepreneur, who then took guided parties to the pool. It inspired the hundreds of little plastic boxes, that contain some quite amazing hand cut stamps, hidden under rocks all over the moor. Just Google letter boxing for more on that.
- Sunsetting at Yes Tor.jpg (62.86 KiB) Viewed 701 times
From the pool I followed the east Okement River down the valley for a few miles, before cutting up on to Yes Tor for a final stop and to catch the last flame filled rays of the day. Missed my camera at this point, the phone couldn't do it justice. From there it was a quick jaunt over the other Tors shown in the fist Photo, back down to the Zed, now sitting in the ever darkening quite, as the stillness of night encroached across the sky. The new moon, as clear as if it were within reach, shadowing Jupiter across the sky.
All that remained was to drop the roof and wind my way back home. What a great day what a great drive.
