Set off from the Two Bridges Hotel outside Princetown and walkde across the road and up the lane, at this point it was a slight drizzle, Mary & I had full waterproofs on because we were expecting rain but it was late afternoon and we only wanted to be out for a short period of time. The last thing we wanted was to be out on Dartmoor when it gets dark and particularly not any where near the spooky and ancient Wistman’s wood.
It’s only about a mile from the hotel and we knew that when we got back we’d be able to have a hot bath before relaxing in front of the fire with some good wine and a good book.
About a third of the way there the heavens opened and we had a good blast of wind from directly behind, our legs and backs were getting drenched, I was happy filming with my Go Pro, Mary looked the part, wild wind, rain, hiking kit and stirding over the moors, it’s a beautiful place and my command of the English language can’t do it justice. I’m no Wordsworth!
We made it to the Woods, marvelled again at the amazing sights of the knarled trees adorned with hanging moss like Christmas Trees and the algae covered rocks that make up the floor of the woods. We’ve seen it before but, like a sunrise across Weymouth Bay or a sunset over Lyme Regis viewed on a summers night from the Cove House Inn on Potland, you love it every time and take a photo to show everyone how perfect it was, again….
Now came the fun part, Mary admitted to being a little nervous about being out and about on Dartmoor in the fading lights, with the cloouds and rain there sure as hell wasn’t going to be any moonlight, so we struck off back to the hotel at as good a pace as we could muster and that wasn’t quick because by now the wind was up, we’d turned through 180 degrees so we were faces into the wind and our fronts, in stead of our backs, were taking the brunt of the rain.
Mary was concerned about her Eye liner as I announced that my underpants were getting wet, liquid supplied by God, not me!
She only relaxed when we caught sight of the Free range chickens farm and from there it was a short romp to the hotel, civilisation at last. We took our boots off in the foyer and carried them through reception, a member of staff saw us and how wet we were, she offered to take out boots, fill them with news paper and put them to dry off in the boiler room, we accepted, tomorrow will be all the pleasanter due to that kind lady!
Our room has great heating and a huge Jacuzzi bath with plenty of hot water, I jumped in first, got out and left it filling again for Mary to relax in, she kindly gave me leave of absence to take up residence in the bar, near the fire in the leather chesterman wingback, I ordered wine, took her a glass to drink whilst getting ready and settled in to a good read in front of the fire in reception.
‘Tis there I now sit and type up my afternoon for the mild entertainment of any reader who happens upon my personal blog.
Enjoy life like I do!
Matt