Blue sky thinking was the order of the day as we set off from
the Walkhampton Inn with cloudless skies and sunshine to St. Mary’s Church that
sits on a hill about ½ mile from the village. The church has six bells that two
of our group are very familiar with.
Leaving the church, we progressed over fields, parts of which
were still frozen solid from the previous night’s frost, most welcome under
foot though instead of many weeks of mud.
Eventually we came out on a roadway that was to take us to
Eggworthy where we stopped for a cup of cheer sitting by a stream under ancient
trees that had seen a few things beneath them over scores of years – including
today; TWWs being spoilt with birthday chocolates and homemade cookies provided
by two generous celebrators, one for a birthday (Anne), one for a returning TWW
after illness (Liz).
Suitably refreshed we soon passed some roadside pixies
guarding a farm entrance, no doubt just like the film Toy Story, they would
spring into life as soon as we were out of sight.
After a right at the next crossroad, we climbed to open
moorland and the track to Routrundle with its rustic charm and diesel fumes
from a humming generator producing electricity for what appeared to be an unoccupied
building.
Breathing clean air again, via a wet lane, we turned onto the
old railway track bed to cross the footbridge spanning the main road, skirting
the edge of the Peekhill Plantation to Lowery Cross (removed many years ago),
down past Yennadon Cross and down to Welltown (see our WhatsApp for far more
learned info from Jane and Brenda on these crosses).
Not long after a path took us past two horses watching buzzing
chain saws being used in their field (they didn’t mind the noise) to arrive at
the Walkhampton Inn for lunchtime refreshments, bang on 1330, our planned
arrival time!
Charlie