WW 30th October 2019

Wednesday evening
Watch the weather forecast - easterly gales and heavy rain
Down to the car - blowing a fair bit and wet
Drive out - wipers on, heater on
Pork Hill car park - car rocking in the wind and rain
Get out - put on waterproofs and zip up
Onward and out - not too bad at all, in fact quite a pleasant evening - the toads were certainly enjoying it. Over to the pond and up Great Staple in pretty good visibility. Down to Middle and on to Merrivale. Over the road to Vixen and shelter for a nice cuppa. Up to Heckwood where the Devil's Fingers are long gone. Over to Feather where a hare ran out. To Windy Post and over Barn Hill and back. The Whitty almost empty and a good pint.
All in all, as usual, a jolly fine evening to be out and about enjoying our moor.

TWW 29th October 2019

And rather a nice day to go exploring the Tavy valley out of the blowy easterly. From Peter Tavy and down to the river to explore Devon United Mine. So much to see ... first the Thomson Turbine which produced electricity for the mine. To the adit which looked most encouraging. Then on to all the old buildings slowly disappearing into the woods. The arsenic calciners still stand proud and the deep shafts disappear into the ground. Up through the fields and out to Cudlipptown. Along the road and down to Horndon Bridge for a nice cuppa. Up to Horndon itself, by the old chapel and down to Bennett's Reservoir. Along the channel for the power station and out to Kent's Tor. All along and back to cross the Tavy and on to a very, very busy Peter Tavy Inn.
And, as we left the cold rain started to fall.

WW 23rd October 2019

A very pleasant, warm and dark evening to explore unknown territory.

Out from Denham Wood car park and down the gravelled track to the ‘old’ car park. We knew we were in for some fun when the leader got out his secateurs and saw! Bushwhacked the path alongside the River Tavy which we could hear rushing past but only catch a glimpse off in the torch light. Along to make the gravelled track to Parsons Wood then down again towards the river through Little Whiterock Wood through to Great Whiterock Wood and on to the large fenced off shaft in Fishacre Wood and steep slippery climb to circumnavigate. Through the mud to Little Whiterock Wood and onto find a convenient log in Parsons Wood for a tea break and discuss the stars in the night sky and compare phone apps for observing same. Off again to follow the gravel/mud track to the car park passing numerous log piles, one of which provided lots of different types of fungi. On to a welcoming but quiet Drake Manor Inn for refreshments, so I’m informed as I didn’t join them!!

TGB

TWW 22nd October 2019

Ten humans and two dogs set off from Ephraim's Pinch through the mossy woods and sunny skies. Soon over the ford at Soussons Farm and up past the mother cows and youngsters.

Over the creaking "feather beds" and feet still dry. Getting warm in the October sun now so it was welcome to pause by iron machine. Did this get moved a tad ?  Maybe. Looks very fine.

Up on to the Challacombe ridge. Spotty dog meets spotty horse. After welcome coffee stop the group split to enable East Birch Tor stone location hunt . Misty decided to supervise for awhile so the two groups and dogs reunited later on lower track at Hillhead Farm with reports of successful mission.

Back along the trail through Challacombe's fields and barking dogs and back over the ford towards woods and cars.

A quiet Prince of Wales welcomed us where others were busy and reluctant. Service was so fast we only just sat down in time !!

Excellent place. Excellent walk.

WW 16th October 2019

A fine evening to set out from Calstock with the Calstock cat guiding us out. The boats are being stored for the winter and all is quiet. Up Danescombe where the stream was rushing and past the mines. Onward and upward by Albaston then a bit of busy road before the Cotehele land to take us back by the old paper mill. A huge moon rose and no waterproofs were required - yet again! To the very smart Tamar Inn for a refreshing pint.
Always nice in Cornwall.

TWW 15th October 2019

A really fine, sunny day to head out by the cattle grid on the way to Sherberton. Over to inspect the water pipe portal and on to Gobbett Mine.  By the rushing Swincombe to Fairy Bridge - and there she was, nicely sheltered. To John Bishop's to admire the lintels (again) and up the lane through Swincombe village. Back a bit and round to the stone circle - apparently one of the largest on the moor. Along the track and over Rue Lake to something completely new. The old engine house for the aerial ropeway taking timber from Brimpts to the rail-head at Princetown. Back a bit more and on to find the gateway. By the lovely cist and the three tall stones to a very busy reservoir. The pipe track took us back to Fairy Bridge and then the old lane up and over back to the cars as a vigorous squall went by. A warm welcome at a very quiet Forest Inn and plenty of time for a chat before lunch arrived

WW 9th October 2019

Goosey Fair

and the music followed us all round the Down

from the Whitty

to seek out fungi

by Middlemoor

and Holwell

(which may be getting done up)

over the golf course

and down

few fungi about

but some of these pretty things
(Mycena filopes perhaps)

along to the quarry

for a cuppa

on to Warren's Cross

by Shorts

and back

to a nice, quiet Whitty

TWW 8th October 2019

A really nice weathery day to be out on the moor. Some jolly good squally showers to remind us that Autumn is here. And some warm sunshine to remind us of the Summer that was. Out from the quarry car park and through the Godsworthys. The footpath has been diverted so the usual dogs were not quite so threatening. Out and up an old, old track to wend to Roos. Great views and some nice shelter for a cuppa. All along across Langstone Moor to the stone circle then gently bending round the mire to the Longstone itself. Up through the thufurs and a quick dash to the range hut for waterproofs as a particularly energetic squall powered by. Up to White and on to Lower White, as the squalls went south of us, and down to the wall. Boulters had to be added in and then down to the cars and the Peter Tavy Inn. Where the pensioners' lunch was proving extremely popular and the baguettes almost too much to manage. A fine morning to be out and about.

WW 2nd October 2019

Now that really was something rather different.
We walk, they walk, we walk, they walk, we all walk ...
A marvellous play which would resonate with many, many people in many, many different ways. It certainly brought into sharp focus racial issues and belonging. For some it may bring into consideration the very reasons for walking - doubtless as many as there are walkers. For others, even us, it causes questions about identity; just who are we and how many persona do we inhabit. Perhaps it questions us about humour - do we laugh when things are funny or when we feel uncomfortable. 
A very enjoyable evening book-ended by a sumptuous (posh) meal and a visit to a real proper pub where two (or possibly more) football matches are broadcast simultaneously.
As it says on the tin ;'You really do have to be there ...'

TWW 1st October 2019

Treats galore today

from Huckworthy Common

with its lovely cross

and up the road to find

the truly fantastic

Ogham Stone

used as a gatepost

500AD you know

onward to Sampford Spiney

and out to round Pew

a stop for a cuppa in the quarry

and up to the summit

gently down

to Heckwood

to find

yet more

Devil's Fingers

along the track

to see the Ash

that have been condemned

to bend

by the fields

and down

the old, old road

a quick pull up

back to the cars

to the Walkhampton Inn

for a rather nice

lunch

and ne'er but a wee drop

fell.

But also, a day with sad news.