Left Turn, Martin

Off the Moor and into a Little Chef. More details and photos to follow. No trace left, but plenty of happy memories and thoughts to mull over and action. Job done.

==

The MiniBullDesign Blackfly3 meths stove works well. As ever, a high centre of gravity makes it very important that the base is stable or secured in place.

Gayle was taken by the GSI cup and bowl that I got from Sarah. I like it too. It stores the makings for tea and coffee, and the shape allows it to be wedges into spaces in my pack. I heard from the others that Mick had taken ill in the night, and that Gayle gone to get the car to drive him out (link). John H had headed out for a family commitment, and BPC John headed away early too.

Geoff soon packed up and headed out.

Leaving Martin, Martin, Alan, Darren and myself.

We left no trace of our being there.

We walked along the side of Great Nodden, Coombe Down, Lake Down and past the Sourton Tors before arriving at the West Devon Way.

But the cafe was closed, so we said farewell to Alan and Martin (who were staying out for another night), and we three headed back to Martin's car as he drove the long miles back east.

With an extra 11.6km (7 miles) under our belts that day, and some strange things to see on the way.

Dartmoor

So many similarities, so many differences. Wild ponies. Rocky outcrops on top of hills. Weather as changeable as back home. More info later.

==

Up into a damp day. I was using the OMM mat to save space in my pack, but some dampness formed under it.

Collected water from the river, and breakfasted as the early starts were heading out.

Gayle and Mick headed up the hill, whilst Alan and Martin went along the valley.

Later, we would head up the same valley. Some ponies would come into view just round the corner, and it was strange seeing them in places where I would expect to see sheep.

We reached the base of Black Tor, and Geoff and John parted company with us, after John examined my new TNF Hedgehog trail shoes, and then promptly dirtied them. This gave Darren a snap for his new caption competition.

We followed clear animal tracks up to the Tor. Swinging around the grazing ponies, it seemed strange that they did not start moving away from us. I'm not familiar with the behaviour of these fine-looking animals, so wondered if they were merely tame and used to humans.

Maybe they were, but it might be down to these two young 'uns hiding in the bracken, a short distance from the ponies.

After this, Martin blazed a trail up the shoulder of the Tor and we found shelter in the rocks to discuss the rest of the day's trek. I can't find some destinations on the map, and Martin points out that there is a different Black Tor near a different reservoir. With the right map section opened everything makes sense, and we head off towards Kitty Tor.

Darren and Martin head off Black Tor

We're heading to the ford and near where the sun is shining on the right side of the valley.

With the clouds coming in, we head off the hill and through a bracken-covered boulderfield. Trekking poles are useful to prod ahead and find out if there is any footing in front, or just a gap.

We get back down to the valley floor, and head to the Sandy Ford where we can cross the river. I use the lunchbreak in the rocks to dry my feet and socks after the river ran over the top of the shoes.

After examining the hi-tech military installation and weather reports at Kitty Tor, it is tracks almost all the way.

As we near the end of the day's walk, Darren goes crazy and takes an interest in the local produce.

Arriving at Nodden Gate, he goes off to find the pitch. As Martin and myself arrive, we see Mick, Gayle, Alan and Martin arriving from another direction. A comical race develops, refereed by Darren, who had started pitching his tarptent before coming back for us.

BPC John arrives, and lastly John and Geoff join us. Afterwards, FB and DW from OutdoorsMagic pop by.

A pleasant relaxing evening is enjoyed in the Fox & Hounds, and back at the pitch.

Taking the 'easy' route, we had only trekked 12km (7 1/2 miles).

Where do you want your henge?

Going west now.

==

After about 9 hours of travelling, I meet Darren at Farnborough train station. We haul Dawn's gift bag across town as aircraft practice for the weekend airshow overhead. What I thought was an F-22 was later identified by Martin as an F-18.

Shortly after I get changed, Darren's mate, Martin arrives and we head across country to Dartmoor. We arrive at 8 o'clock, and start heading along the length of Meldon Reservoir (maplink).

A shower starts, making me feel at home. It doesn't have the same effect on Darren.

A 2km trek along the reservoir finds us at Vellake Corner, where the others had already arrived.

We pitch our tents and tarp-tents and put on a brew in the dreich weather. I use the Blackfly3 meths stove. It works well. My snufr1.0 fails, as the heat is too much. I quickly invent snufr2.0 and the burning wicks are extinguished. Job done. Sleep.

Thanks Dawn

Thanks for the bagfull of kit, Dawn.

Gayle heading south

Somewhere between Edinburgh and Berwick listening to Bob's interview with Gayle after Mick and Gayle's LEJOG walk. Nice to hear thoughts on walking the length of Britain.

Mick & Gayle LEJOG 2008

Download MP3 File

TITLE - Blog Templates

[TITLE TITLE TITLE - Review Writing Headlines for Regular Readers, Search Engines, and Social Media - TITLE TITLE TITLE]

Tick, that's that bit done, now onto the next.

[First Line. Hook. Ask questions. Say something intriguing. Get your potential reader hooked to make her read on.]

Ah, ask a question. Maybe I can use Wikipedia's home page to get something interesting.

So, what do you think of the coup in Spain? Oh, that was 1936, sorry.

[Answer the questions. Make your statement. Think of sub headline in the newspaper article that generally says the essence of the post. This should make the reader read on to find out "how" or details on your take]

Well, thanks for asking, but I wonder how countries like Britain can sit back and allow the fascists to rise up. Hmm, this sounds like I've got a split personality.

[insert picture from flkr. More flkr stuff - A Complete Guide to Finding and Using Incredible Flickr Images]

[do not forget to give credit on picture]

My photo from a wargame in 2003.

...oh, I give up on the rest of the template. Heck, if blogging is that much of a chore, go over to something less taxing on the grey cells, like forums or Twittering.

Source of template - Alik Levin across at the informative "Daily Blog Tips". Some good ideas to follow up and ponder. link

What's that now, Mr D?

It is a wick snuffer for my Blackfly3 stove.

You will require: duct tape, scissors and a hand.

Form fingers into a pinching shape. Take a length of duct tape tape to fit the length and double it. Cut tape. Fold tape back on itself so that non-sticky sides are outside. Trim off any excess.

Warning: flames are usually hot and may cause damage if the wrong sort of tape is used, or if the flame catches the users hand. No liability is accepted by the writer if you hurt yourself, others or damage possessions (yours or others) when using this device.

FBC: Soya and Rice

Tried out a Freezer Bag Cooking recipe from Sarah last night after coming back from the beach. I couldn't get hold of meat that was pre-packed in pouches (apart from fish), so had previously decided to use soya (aka TVP).

Mix it up, add boiling water.

Put in the cozy and set for 10 minutes.

I overdid the proportions and half of the pouch filled me. I'll try some more over the weekend.

More recipes and details across at Sarah's site.

Down to the Beach

A short walk down to the beach to get some fresh air, and to cool down as my flat is a heat trap. Good for low heating bills, not so comfortable in the summer evenings.

Nothing

of importance

transpired.

Desertion of Post

So, I leave the my workstation to go for a head-clearing walk down the beach. In the hour that I'm away, putting up with the tyre-spinning engine roaring antics of the racers down the beach. A shame, as I've no issue with the folk enjoying their cars ("gear freaks of the world unite"), but I get tired of the light-racing elements.

After taking some snaps, and having a text conversation, I get back and check the messages to find that kindly fb on OutdoorsMagic has noticed someone using one of my photos to help sell their tent on eBay. I'd not been asked. I recognised the photo as being one I took after bagging a couple of Munros in the Cairngorms last year.

(blog entry)

As I was already in a Judge Dredd mood, I penned the following email:

A shame really, as the chap has an Akto. I just don't want to be targeted if the product leaks like a sieve because the UV has killed the outer, or there are rips and tears in it. If I'd been asked by the chap, I'd have politely said "no" for merely that reason.

News from the North

List of online newspaper archives. I found this list by accident when trying to find out about the NY Times archive project.

Saturday, 22nd November 1862. "The New South" newspaper from Port Royal, South Carolina. Kindly hosted by the University of South Carolina. link

I thought it strange that a South Carolina paper seemed to be focused on the Northern news. A quick search finds that although the state was the first to secede from the Union in 1861, Port Royal was captured by the USA in November 1861 (link). Completing my circular search, Captain Cannon of the steamer Delaware also received a mention earlier in 1862 in the NY Times (pdflink).

The closing lines of the soldier's poem on page 1 hold true today as back then. They strike me hard when I think of our squaddies getting abuse for REMF politics. No doubt it has been true since dawn's early light. At the Roman Wall, a squaddy asked for socks to be sent. Empathy across the ages. History is important. Social networking isn't limited to the living, but to the lessons from the dead too.

I'm off to catch up with over 150-years of newspapers from around the world.