80 miles around Dartmoor.

This is where I left  the last post. At Dartmeet with the Medieval Clapper Bridge and the18th Century bridge  that is now used.

It's always good to see the bridge at a different angle..

The River Dart meanders for miles on the moor. 

A bit like us, no matter how many times we go, we always take a different route.

Miles and miles of moorland. Unbelievable to think all the moor land has been man made. At one time trees covered the whole area.

The sheep know their way around, even the best places to keep out of the wind. If you look closely there is a lamb huddled beside mama.

Most people who visit Dartmoor head for Widecombe in the Moor. I'm never sure why, apart from the old song of Uncle Tom Cobley going to Widecombe Fair.

 The hill is a bit steep going down into the village.

We never saw Uncle Tom Cobley, or the grey mare.
The next Widecombe fair is 13th September. It's nearly always muddy, so be warned.
There is always a grey mare with a very good look a like Uncle Tom Cobley.Tea at the Vicarage and lots of stalls.

Have to add that Widecombe looks far too quiet.. It is March, not quite the holiday season.

A few weeks time and cars and coaches hog the roads again.

I don't think all the coaches end up at Dartmoor prison, but there is a large car park at Princetown.

This is Princetown's tourist centre. Not a soul in sight.

Well may be one that we passed on our way across the moor on our way home.
Dartmoor is about 9 miles from Soggibottom Cottage. 
Unbelievable we travelled about 80 miles, wandering around.
Although we did stop for lunch.

Dartmeet, Hound Tor and the Ink Blot Test.

 Dartmoor National Park can look idyllic at any time of year. Miles and miles of what seems like wilderness.

 

 

 

 

Lots of Thatched Cottages and stone walls.

 

Ponies, sheep and cows that roam around freely.

 

This guy has some road sense as he is walking on the path.

We normally stop at Haytor. On energetic days we even climb to the top, Haytor is higher than it looks from this view.

There are so many Tors on Dartmoor they dominate the sky line.

 East and West Dart rivers meet high on the moor at Dartmeet. This is a Medieval Clapper Bridge. I won't mention "one of us" nearly over balanced while posing for the photo ! .

The 18th Centuary Bridge  beside the clapper bridge is a better and safer way to cross.

For a change we took a different route around the moor and found ourselves near Hound Tor. It's said that Hound Tor was the Inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles. The Tor was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as Hundatora. There are so many myths and legends that surround this Tor, stories of ghosts and ancient graves and dwellings. On the North East side there is an old Medieval Settlement. It's also said that everyone who looks at the Tor will see different shapes, a bit like the ink blot test. What do you think ?

 

This Hound is enough for us.

Amie did have a bit of a sniff around. Good to get out and about again after the Winter.  So much for gardening today then !

 

Bubbling along

Soggibottom Cottage is drying out, the doors have been open and we have been painting with help of Amie and her tail.

 

I've only been away for a couple of days and I've found to  upload a post on blogger layouts have changed. I don't like it, I'm making a very bad job of finding my way around.

There are some things that never change around here.

The stream meanders and bubbles along at it's own pace. 

Amie toddles along outside and toddles back in again, stopping to pose.

My tomato plants have been re potted, I've been reminded by Caroline of our Great Tomato Challenge.

 Tomato's have been re potted and moved into our greenhouse.We have spent two whole days outside in our garden, if we can't put Soggibottom Cottage back together yet, at least we can put our garden back together after the Winter.

Frank is quite happy watching the world go by from the front window. The birds are more active, it means Ginger Cat from over the bridge is around more.

Don't let Frank fool you, he's alert and ready to pounce

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White water rafting and Elephant ride

As it's going to take us a while to get back to normal in the cottage we thought you might want to see Nibbles. Our son, Mark met him a few days ago in Thailand.
Mark's blog Sparky Brand has video of Mark on his travels.

White water rafting isn't me, elephant treks could be.

I will warn you before you click, if you don't like loud music... turn the volume down.

In the mean time, we are drying out and hopefully will be back soon.

Still here....

You might have thought that just because we have paws, we haven't noticed what has been going on ......


Trust me, we always have at least one eye open...


Just because we might seem to be putting our feet up and taking it easy..


Really warm and snug.....


One eye is always watching. Even though it might not be able to see as clearly as it used to.....


You know what I mean ?


Snug and warm... tomorrow is always another day!

The Boys Biggest Book

I'll admit it, guilty.
I wasn't supposed to be reading "stuff" from the under stairs cupboard.


My cupboard (Tardis) was supposed to be emptied ready for the floor to be removed.


Although how can you help but flick through books of another era.


I had forgotten these were hiding in the cupboard. They should be upstairs, there are some things I haven't the heart to throw away... just call me squirrel....


You must remember dressing paper dollies.


Making the cotton reel kid.
This might have been my book, but I never had the pleasure of making one either.


Or your own Zoo.
I probably made a Zoo.


Life in the cottage is going to be different until we dry out completely
At least I won't have to feel guilty about not washing the floor.



Another plus, Spring is back.


Along with cold weather that has returned with a vengeance in our part of Devon.

Making, and creating has been put on hold for a while. At least until the cottage can be put back together. Everyday that passes means that we are one day nearer to doing just that.

Mark is still on his travels in Thailand, we keep up with his walkabout via Sparky Brand, better than watching the floor dry believe me .