This has little to do with walking, but everything to do with celebrating slow progress towards less restriction, and to look forward to the time when we can once again walk as a group. With earthbound lockdown still in place I was (legally) able to slip the surly bonds of earth and take a look at the TWW playground for the first time since the crisis began. I cheated of course, as the sun was shining yesterday and I wasn't going to miss the first day of airborne freedom. Today is not such a nice day. Dartmoor looked wonderful and vast. Strangely inviting, as if one could just land, have a coffee and go again, but the ground looks quite innocent at 3000 ft. Only one of the ranges, Willsworthy was active, making it easy to head down from Meldon to Princetown. The reservoir looked full and being close to home I thought I would include a photo. Having passed Sourton and Shelstone Tors, I headed towards Yes Tor making a slow right turn passing East Mill, Steeperton and Wild Tors. From there to overhead the waterfall on the East Dart south of Sandy Hole Pass and over the top of the Two Bridges Hotel before turning right for the return leg. Having spent more time in Princetown pubs (thanks to TWW) than any other Dartmoor hostelry, I had to include a shot of the town, or most of it!
With the sun shining on the moor, it is easy to forget the number of our walks enhanced by driving rain, near zero visibility, dripping clothes and muddy dogs. It is harder to understand the desire to repeat the experience the following week, and the one after that................It must be the company, or maybe it's just Dartmoor....... more likely it's both.
Bill