WW 30th December 2009

"There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know.
There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we now know we don’t know.
But there are also unknown unknowns. These are things we do not know we don’t know."
But, of course Rumsfeld was not a Wednesday Walker.
All Wednesday Walkers know.
There are also unknown knowns. That is to say things we now know but have no idea what they are.
But still, you do have to be there to know you know.
And so the hardy end of yearers stepped out.
Surprisingly cold if unsurprisingly wet.
From Lane End and round to the Ele's Nest.

WW 23rd December 2009

Did no one go?
If you know someone who went
or, if you went
let me know.
Otherwise
no one went
so no one knows what happened
or perhaps nothing happened
who knows?

WW 16th December 2009

Christmas Dinner 2009 – Trout and Tipple
It worked very well.
Excellent ambience.
Service amiably unobtrusive and effective.
Food an overall shade of beige but very tasty nevertheless.
Wine plentiful and from a reputable source.
But, most importantly, high calibre attendees.
Grateful thanks from all to the Vintner for organising it so efficiently. Minimalism rules!
(Pity about the doggerel. I believe slim anthologies can be purchased very cheaply direct from the author – an ideal Christmas present?)
PS Don’t forget to get your clacks fettled up for next Wednesday.

WW 9th December 2009

Sploge and splosh from Whiteworks

with Raz a reflective shape striding ahead.

Along that leat and up - somewhere - to Plym Ford

Coffee in ruins, then brief rain, more splodge and splosh and so across to Eylesbarrow and Nunn's Cross. Back along, and so home for crisps at Princetown.

Ps: Is this a Splodge ?

WW 2nd December 2009

Approaching the moor it looked like being a clear night, but those that visit regularly know it better.

A visit to the the stone row was on the cards where we learned of the Plymothians exchanging clothes and food for money ,a plague on all their houses.

This was followed by the examination of the stone masons' art followed by refreshment at the head of one of their quarries.

It was then on to that place where heavenly voices will ring out on the 23rd, back to the school ruins before departing for a "DRY!!!" run at the hostellery hosting that other annual event on the 16th.

WW 25th November 2009

It was hailed as The March of The Seven Summits

Except it wasn't a march

and there weren't any summits

But hail there was. Suddenly.

And then there wasn't, either.

An iron-barred potato cave.

And a restored cross, surprisingly

looming out of the darkness.

For we fifteen.

And a picture of ....boots.

Well...crazy, really.

WW 18th November 2009

Yet more surrogacy
Yet more overcrowding
Soon we will need to book slots on the Moor
But undaunted out the bold strode
Round to the quarry where the goldfish isn't
Not over Pew Tor
Certainly not to Vixen Tor
Not into Merrivale Quarry
No Beaujolais Nouveau to drink
(Although the label was very pretty)
But certainly to the busy Whitty
For beer and free crisps

WW 11th November 2009

It's Wednesday, 7 p.m., dark, tipping it down,
overtrousers on in the house weather...
So, what to do?
Why, go for a walk.
So do the stalwarts
out to Bennett's Cross
and for the first time we are led
by properly trained navigators
out to Birch Tor and on round the circuit.
And what did the weather do?
Why what else,
the rain ceased and the stars came out
so we chatted and drank tea by starlight
and made our way back to the Warren House for a cooling pot.

WW 4th November 2009

Cars shoehorned into the quarry,

off we went,

the First Eleven,

(actually, the only eleven that night.)

All the intended targets were hit

unerringly, bang on.

Ace navigation

by the so modest navigator.

grave......White.....stone….circle…..(bog)….gate…gate…cars.

The weather and the moon performed well, too.

So did the Peter Tavy Inn.

WW 28th October 2009

An admirably ambitious walk
Who else would attempt it?
From the Trout and Tipple no less
Out and about
Encompassing a huge range of terrain
from
roads to footpaths
from grassy verges to traffic lights
over bridges
across grassy fields
through gates
over numerous stiles
down lanes
past a trout farm
and back
Oh, and a true first
We Actually Walked Past a Pub!
Yes, We Actually Walked Past a Pub!
Who says there is nothing new out there?

WW 21st October 2009

Portents good or portents bad?
13 (thirteen!) walkers.
Distinct track to South Hessary - indistinct.
South Hessary Tor covered by military like mussels on a rock
And they growled at us (honestly, ask Keith).
Distinct track to Cramber Trig - indistinct.
Another young Wednesday Walker tipped over the edge into sixty.
(10 year-old port eased the pain.)
Feathers on a cairn less than 3 days ago no longer there.
Distinct track from Hart Tor to Devil's Elbow - indistinct.
But, as usual, good old Prince of Wales made it all better.

WW 14th October 2009

When one's walk has been planned with meticulous care.
And facilitates views near and far to places seen and yet to see.
When the path is at times well trodden and others untrud.
And enables discourse on a wide range of subjects.
When peaks are reached and railways explored.
And the adventure meets the allocated time.
When the pub affords musical accompaniment.
And a personalised walk is enjoyed by all.

WW 7th October 2009

How to find disused leats
Wait until it has poured down all day
Go with someone who knew exactly where they were 10 years ago
Carefully plodge up a hill
Until you meet water flowing in a ditch
Follow the water gently uphill
Until you have filled your boots
Repeat until satisfied

WW 30th September 2009

And so, once again
It was left to the redoubtable Raz
Serves 'em right
So,
Trundled over the tussocks
Marched across the mire
Cajoled to Childe's Tomb
Forced to Fox Tor Farm
Swum across the Swincombe
Whacked on to Whiteworks
Bashed back to the cars
And so to rest
The PoW

WW 23rd September 2009

Something different - Anti-clockwise from Bennett's Cross! Oooooer!
Up the Down (Challacombe) to a Tiny Tor.
"Never been here before" This time it was true for most.
Down the Down to a Big Hole.
"Never been here before". Again, true for most.
Down the Big Hole to a big, big barbed wire fence.
Some glided over it with elan like an elan. Others didn't.
Back to cars and W.H. Inn via Birch.
Discussed new programme.
Decided - This year's carol singing will include either the full four-part version of the Messiah or Away in a Manger in unison.
Auditions and rehearsals soon. Eat your heart out Gareth Malone.
Decided - No invitation to be sent to the Pope.

WW 16th September 2009

A throng
a veritable throng
and quite right too
and out he strode
so strodefully no man could keep up
and so we pursued him
him whose day it was
up to Sourton
where he basked
yes, veritably basked
in the evening sunset
and on, on and on
into the twilight, then gloom, then dark
we stumbled on
and on to the F&H where a feast had been prepared
to celebrate
quite rightly
his day.

WW 9th September 2009

090909 was the date but nothing untoward transpired

just two rare encounters; the dartmoor cobra and the sun

could summer be here at last

eleven good men and women made the journey

out from gutter tor via deancombe to eylesbarrow

back via higher hart the stone row and edwards path

the moon put in a late appearance to guide us safely to the royal oak

WW 2nd September 2009

We are promised lots of new venues and walks in the new programme.
So a scouting party of two was formed to attempt the ultimate challenge.
To find a new walk on a wild, wet and windy night from Two Bridges.
So the plan was formed
out to Crockern Tor
down and round the mire to Powdermills
up to Longaford Tor
and back along the ridge.
So, yes, totally new places are to be explored.
Unfortunately no one can go back there again.
Because we have been there.
Think again ...

WW 26th August 2009

What to do

It's all misty and gloopy

whatever do people do

we can hardly see the road

should we stay

let alone each other

or should we go

but lo there is a solution

so that's it we must go

a magic box that glows in the dark

and go we did

that unerringly takes us over every bump

out to Cox, Roos, stones and back

and tussock out and back again

to the good old Whitty.

WW 19th August 2009

Better than likely all things considered not too bad actually and really not altogether unpleasant in fact rather nice and we really cannot blame anyone if it gets dark around 10 o'clock in the middle of August can we so we did drive all the way to Shilstone and yes we did tromp up through the fuzz bushes to Little Hound Tor and then along the wide track to Cosdon for a welcoming cup of something and the track was found most of the way back until the rather tall gorse made us squeak and most everyone made their way directly to the Northmore Arms and although we moved the furniture for once we were not chucked out and all in all it turned out rather satisfactory.

WW 12th August 2009

A real adventure
Through the wild wet and windy
The full team set off to Black Tor
Where the support group turned back
To let the summit party make their attempt
On they went up to High Willhays
The weather deteriorated, but, yes
They traversed the ridge all the way to Yes Tor
Then the tricky bit, the descent
Down, down down
Interminably
Until, the cars
Success

WW 5th August 2009

Well we were promised

and we were not disappointed
all of us came, some with hankies
some having done Internet revision
as the day slowly turned to night
they definitely were there
everyone heard them
and a lucky few saw them
so it is true
you really do have to be there.

WW 29th July 2009

Well it has been slightly damp
so up the Plym we go
and round
Spanish Lake
Trowlesworthy
and back to the Royal Oak
Curry and Scouts
Tolerant lot the WW
someone manages to miss almost 21 years of Wednesdays
but, we still talk to him!

WW 22nd July 2009

Out to Hexworthy
and the rain has ceased
up Deep Swincombe
and onward
and upward to Skir Gut
(still no sign of my whistle)
round to Hooten Wheals for tea
and back
down the RNLI track
to the pub
again!
and eleven made the trip

WW 15th July 2009

What surprise!
No, not that only the true hard core turned up
the band of three
but
what happened
all was well, East Rook Gate
Penn Beacon
Penn Moor
Yealm and to the Steps
back round the wall
and down
but what was that
was the sky falling down
or the ground moving away
whatever it was
it was very strange
our eyesight seemed to fail
it was as though
night was coming in
luckily, one
had a light to light our way safely home.

WW 8th July 2009

On a sunny summer’s evening, my love and I did see:
10 Commandments carving
9 foals a-prancing
8 trees a-standing
7 Wednesday walkers
6 flasks of coffee
5 pee stops
4 bags of crisps
(3 different sorts)
2 golden pints
And a full moon to guide us all home

WW 1st July 2009

A Committee Walk
meaning, we all wait to be told where to go
Lane End, a car swoops in
tiz the Raz
still no ideas, so we set off
consensus is - whoever is in front decides
so up to Ger Tor for a brief chat
on to Hare Tor to see the sea to the north
down to Tavy Cleave Tor for tea
back to Ger Tor
and to the Ele's Nest
so we met all the success criteria
we went and came back again - all 12!

WW 24th June 2009

Summer sun on Winter Tor

Seven went from Belstone Green
But soon nine were in the scene
Nine became ten at the bar
A little lost boy had wandered afar
Soldiers meant he wasn’t lonely
A pity we couldn’t bring back the pony!

WW 17th June 2009

The regulars were all far away this evening

So we found some irregulars to join us!

A postman

A florist

A biker boy

The sun came out to greet them

So we took them up the Newlycombe river valley

And back…..to the pub!

WW 10th June 2009

6.30 p.m and the drizzle begins
still it is
Wednesday
so out it is
up to the moor
oncoming vehicles with hazard lights
thick mist and rain
a wild night
but
at Two Bridges it is sunny
so from Dunnabridge Pound
out past Laughter Tor House
cuckoos everywhere
over the stepping stones
past Snailey's
to Bellever Bridge
through the now open forest
Laughter Tor Farm
the tin mine
back and on to the PoW
marvellous mirror writing
it's true
you do have to be there

WW 3rd June 2009

Pork Hill
sun, sun, sun
Feather Tor
sun, sun, sun
Heckwood Tor
sun, sun, sun
Vixen Tor
sun, sun, sun
Merrivale Quarry
sun, sun, sun
Great Staple Tor
sun, sun, sun
Cox Tor
sun, sun, sun
Whitty

WW 27th May 2009

and yes
this to those
doubters and scoffers
especially the scoffers
for were we not told
promised
that the sun would shine down on us
as we strode forth
from the puddles south
to Hapstead Ford
and out to Ryder's Hill
and back again
though the satellites did wobble
and the ground did quake
truly as promised
the sun did shine forth
not 48 hours later
let it be

WW 20th May 2009

Unexpectedly nice, really.
No rain, good views
all missing Mr Hughes
With Vintner playing Battleships
The Tall One led from the rear
Up to the waterfall, down to the Beehive
Then south above to Hartland
Clouds gathering, rain threatening, light fading.
But not us. Not we few. We nine.
We happy band.
But then, you had to be there….

WW 13th May 2009

This walk had megga landmarks.

A towering mast.

A wide disused railway track.

A huge granite quarry.

And a start and finish at a car park next to a main road.

A walk on which you couldn't go wrong (or could you?).

Certainly, this time, in the daylight, we didn't!

And we found a crumbling ancestral pile with a miraculously well-preserved picture of previous occupants(?) on wall of its roofless living room.

WW 6th May 2009

Contrasts that contrasted.

Tavistock murky and grey.
But, the horizon to the north blue and gold.

Sunlight like a low-angled searchlight across High Down.
But, in front, to the east, dark and grey

Up Doe Tor Brook, on the south side, dry and straightforward.
But, as we know, on the north, wiggly and wet.

Up Hare in thick, swirling cloud.
But, down from Brat, under the curtain, clear views of Cornish lights.

To the Trout and Tipple for bitter beer.
But, also, complimentary creamy sweet truffles.

Life is not boring.

WW 29th April 2009

A very wet misty
damp night.
So,
as the very well known saying goes
that sorted out
the people who turned up
from
those who didn't.
Those who did, enjoyed
a tromp
from Dartmeet
to Babeny
round to
The Two Moors Way
Corndon Tor
the Money Pit
apparently so called because it never had any money in it
Yar Tor
PoW to test snacks for Henry's Mum

WW 22nd April 2009

Now
that's a lot better
a proper plodge
felt like
someone on a mission
round and out to Hunt
no tea break
through the rising cool mist
to Kitty
allowed a brief tea break
to Green, both Dunna Goats
Great Links
circuitously back to
Fox and Hounds
Nice

WW 15th April 2009

and so
they sallied forth
as their leader stated
off piste
into
the gloop
round
and about
Evil Combe
Higher Hartor Tor
sounds of kids
lone teacher
DoE Gold training
for South Africa!
Drizzle Combe
Whittenknowles Rocks
Royal Oak
home

WW 8th April 2009

a committee walk

good job we don't have a committee
someone else trying their new boots
so, what else
across the mire
Goldsmith's Cross - no arguing
kist, Childe's Tomb
Fox Tor Farm
carefully across the Swincombe
round the wall and back again
who needs a committee!

WW 1st April 2009

It’s light!

It’s light!

We can see!

We can see!

We can see where we came from and where we’re going to!

No more lost!

No more lost!

Hooray.

WW 25th March 2009

20 boots set out
plodge, plodge, plodge
up to Great Links Tor
slurp, slurp, slurp
down to who knows where
lost, lost, lost
round to Dick's Well
wander, wander, wander
over to Brat Tor
bimble, bimble, bimble
across the stepping stones
hop, hop, hop
back to the cars
click, click, click
to the Trout and Tipple
brum, brum, brum
to meet close friends
chat, chat, chat
and the bottom of the glass
glug, glug, glug.
To see when the ISS goes
wizz, wizz, wizz

WW 18th March 2009

Feature rich
and
environmentally friendly
what more do you want?
lots of new things to see
a small hole with water in it
that's it really
But,
we did take great care
to avoid footpaths
and not to place a step
where others had stood
and
we did see
the
International Space Centre
wizz by
So there!

WW 11th March 2009

Dartmoor's a tricky place in mist as thick as it was last night.

As you gingerly make your way over ground that is normally so familiar there lurks a gnawing doubt.

Should I turn right here or is it a bit further on?

I don't remember this kink in the route, or that wall.

On Wednesday night, good navigation and timing are very important.

What relief. I can see the cars.

And it's only 7.28 pm. Now for the walk!

WW 4th March 2009

Just three.
Padding quietly through silent, drifting snowflakes into Bellever Forest.
Until, on Bellever Tor, we came upon Footsteps In The Snow.

Rabbits ?
Possibly.
Hares ?
Just a chance.
Or perhaps Deer ?
Even Woozles ?
With the distinct possibility of it being Something Much Bigger Entirely.
What with the snow, and all.
Torches flashing nervously in the darkness, we all trooped off
Somewhere Else
rather hastily
and had some hot chocolate, sharpish.

Weird.
But then you really had to be there....

WW 25th February 2009

Well no, even more new faces.
A full Baker's Dozen.
No doubt all due to
the truly excellent standards of leadership.
So with postcodes to the fore
off we set.
Windy Post, Staple Tors, Roos for tea
Cox Tor and down to the Dartmoor Inn,
and no, they neither hid nor hoovered.
Just lots of nice beer.
Bays wherever that comes from.

WW 18th February 2009

How many?
No!
Can it be?
Must be a very special walk
and it was
Once again two clear choices
a) show the throng the delights of Dartmoor
or b) take them on a trek through fuzz bushes,
up hill and down gullies
pretend to get lost
find a way to somewhere
and get back again.
That should sort them out!
So, how many?
16
No!
Yes there really were sixteen.
Must be a record.
Bet we'll be back to the hard core pretty soon!

WW 11th February 2009

Well, just made it
Clearly there was great concern
that all the snow would be gone before we got back
But no, by running round we just managed
to find enough to stomp in.
Dartmoor Inn in darkness so on to the Whitty.
The boys were greeted with glee by a bevy of barmaids
only too pleased to exchange the briefest of smiles for
great wodges of dosh.

WW 4th February 2009

The hardy three made it as far as Princetown
to find it in deep snow and freezing
so what did they do?
what do you think?
Did they ...
a) very sensibly get out their maps and compasses to plot a course
or b) bimble off into the snow until they got lost and then make up where they were and the way back?
via South Hessary, the famous trig point, Cramber and Hart Tor to the PoW.

WW 28th January 2009

This admirable walk was led by Mr. Kent demonstrating his uncanny navigational skills leading us all out to Shelstone Tor, up to Branscombe's Loaf for a revitalising drink and snack and then down to Sourton Tors making exemplary time to retire to the Bearslake Inn where his notoriety was immediately validated by the lady barmaid.

The evening was somewhat tainted by the discovery that one of our esteemed members is being impersonated by a lookalike, albeit that the lookalike's picture revealed a quite convincing similarity although far too portly. The description of Mr Kent's close colleague as having 'extensive knowledge and general joie de vivre' who could afford us an 'enlightening and entertaining evening' of pleasure for a paltry £30 rather gave the game away as did his offer of 'extolling virtue' and pointing to many of our 'points of interest'. We all trust this scallywag will be outed at the first opportunity.

The evening concluded with the identification of a need to find pubs where the calorific value of beer is clearly displayed rather than items of such notional interest as price and specific gravity.

WW 21st January 2009

4m + 1f

517679 (19.30h) + 9.5k = 517679 (22.15h)

522679 + 2pts (23.00h) = zzzz

WW 14th January 2009

A wild and windy night
out to Emmets Post
Blackaton Cross
then on the white track
past the black rock
over the bridge but not
wandery
to Shell Top
for a drink
or not
down to Trowlesworthy
to see the
big stone
back to Cadover Bridge
and
it
did
not
rain!

WW 7th January 2009

A cold night at the Fox and Hounds
The ground hard as board
Out up Doe Tor brook slipping and sliding on the ice
Over Doe Tor and icily on to Brat Tor
Onwards to Arms Tor
Then back down to the Fox and Hounds
We will miss these clear, dry, frosty nights when they are gone