After a few injuries this year I have not done as much walking as I would like. So what possessed me to turn up on Friday evening at the Castle Inn Lydford, http://castleinnlydford.com/index.html , is a mystery.
After a boring dive up on to the Moor, in Friday evening traffic, at least they had reserved a nice safe spot for the Zed in the car park.
After a hearty meal of Steak & Ale Pie Chips and Peas, six of us set off, into the light rain, wearing a T shirt, due to the 14 deg temp, heading toward the centre of Dartmoor and our target of Fur Tor. We arrived just before midnight. Much to the surprise of another nutter who was wild camping up there.
No way to get a decent photo in the fog, with all that reflective kit. The spotty stuff in the back ground is the Dartmoor granite of Fur Tor, take my word for it. :wink:
The walk back to the car was a toughy. After the briefest of glimpses of the full moon, two river crossings, much bog and the dreaded Dartmoor tussock grass, it took us 2.5 hours to do 4 miles, before we reached the relative comfort of the Military road across the Willsworthy firing range. A total a 13.5 miles after starting out, we poured ourselves into the car park, wet through to the skin and happy. Had to feel sorry for the walk leader Steve. He had been out the night before, to the first few Tors, in beautiful starlight and was too busy apologising for the weather and a minor navigation error, to appreciate our thanks.
A change of tee shirt and socks and it was back into the car for the drive home at 03:50am
The rain had stopped the road was dry and as the clouds parted, bringing the setting full moon into glorious view ahead of us, we set of towards the first light of dawn me and the ///MR, roof down, ready to do battle with some of Devon and Cornwall's best twisties and not another vehicle in sight.
The stretch of road from Tavistock to Gunnislake, such a frustration in the Friday evening traffic, was now ours to do with as we liked. The right hander down over the stone bridge, at the river Lumburn, invites speed and commitment before hauling off speed into a tight hairpin bend that heads a sequence of challenging curves, sweeping upwards towards Gullworthy Cross. The ///M's 3rd gear perfect for the entire climb. The tightening turns requiring local knowledge and all that the four MPSS could give, to maintain momentum and keep the S54 singing it's glorious heart out, above 4500rpm. A brief pause in the action for the tight round about at the top, is rewarded with a nerve tingling adrenalin rush down to the narrow stone bridge at Gunnislake. The CSL brakes proving a worthy opponent for the final hair pin, as the Zed was plunged into the sudden darkness of the pine trees. Then a relaxing drive through the villages home to a welcoming bed.
All in all quite a night. Next time I might just do the drive. :wink:
After a boring dive up on to the Moor, in Friday evening traffic, at least they had reserved a nice safe spot for the Zed in the car park.
After a hearty meal of Steak & Ale Pie Chips and Peas, six of us set off, into the light rain, wearing a T shirt, due to the 14 deg temp, heading toward the centre of Dartmoor and our target of Fur Tor. We arrived just before midnight. Much to the surprise of another nutter who was wild camping up there.
No way to get a decent photo in the fog, with all that reflective kit. The spotty stuff in the back ground is the Dartmoor granite of Fur Tor, take my word for it. :wink:
The walk back to the car was a toughy. After the briefest of glimpses of the full moon, two river crossings, much bog and the dreaded Dartmoor tussock grass, it took us 2.5 hours to do 4 miles, before we reached the relative comfort of the Military road across the Willsworthy firing range. A total a 13.5 miles after starting out, we poured ourselves into the car park, wet through to the skin and happy. Had to feel sorry for the walk leader Steve. He had been out the night before, to the first few Tors, in beautiful starlight and was too busy apologising for the weather and a minor navigation error, to appreciate our thanks.
A change of tee shirt and socks and it was back into the car for the drive home at 03:50am
The rain had stopped the road was dry and as the clouds parted, bringing the setting full moon into glorious view ahead of us, we set of towards the first light of dawn me and the ///MR, roof down, ready to do battle with some of Devon and Cornwall's best twisties and not another vehicle in sight.
The stretch of road from Tavistock to Gunnislake, such a frustration in the Friday evening traffic, was now ours to do with as we liked. The right hander down over the stone bridge, at the river Lumburn, invites speed and commitment before hauling off speed into a tight hairpin bend that heads a sequence of challenging curves, sweeping upwards towards Gullworthy Cross. The ///M's 3rd gear perfect for the entire climb. The tightening turns requiring local knowledge and all that the four MPSS could give, to maintain momentum and keep the S54 singing it's glorious heart out, above 4500rpm. A brief pause in the action for the tight round about at the top, is rewarded with a nerve tingling adrenalin rush down to the narrow stone bridge at Gunnislake. The CSL brakes proving a worthy opponent for the final hair pin, as the Zed was plunged into the sudden darkness of the pine trees. Then a relaxing drive through the villages home to a welcoming bed.
All in all quite a night. Next time I might just do the drive. :wink:
Don't know how you had the energy for a drive like that after such an adventure ! Respect ! 
- well done Buzy 
I was up for work, 05:45 Friday morning ahead of the walk. We are lucky to live in such a wonderful part of the world though.