Words we fear

There are quite a few phrases which pass dad's lips that put the fear of god into mum and I. Such as....

No hills today
We don't need a packed lunch
We need to be there for 'x' o'clock

When all these appear in one sentence we know we've got problems.

The day got off to a good start when we were awoken to the sound of metal on metal. No, not an old fashioned alarm clock. It was dad attacking the complimentary bottle of water, which didn't want to open in the normal way, with his hoof pick (see, there is a use for them). He won - eventually, and without the need of the first aid pack.

On then, to our second trail. The Granite Trail is a disused railway track, and we followed it for 6 miles from Sourton to Okehampton. 'A Tarmac ribbon winding through the Devon countryside' sic dad (get him). We had spectacular views of Dartmoor on one side and farmland on the other, and over the viaducts were benches which dad is convinced are suicide aids! Some parts of the old railway are still intact for use by tourists (this is part of the line they are talking of re-opening to replace the line which traverses the Dawlish Sea Wall and is, indeed, in good fettle) but isn't running at the moment. Dad says it's a very nice line but was then heard to mutter that it is not as good as NYMR.

The original plan had been to walk into Okehampton, dump our bags in the hotel we are occupying this evening, have some lunch and walk on to our destination, South Tawton. However, plans were made to be changed, and we had lunch on the station platform at Okehampton, and then walked on to join our next trail; Devon Heartland Way, then Tarka Trail, throwing in the West Devon Way somewhere long the line.

Needless to say, the hills which dad considered to be undulations weren't, and we had to move quite quickly towards the end in order to get to destination on time. The weather was very changeable and we had 2 very heavy showers, one of hail. We were lucky with the first one, beginning just as we passed under a railway bridge and the second when we were under trees.

A good day with some fabulous scenery. Crediton tomorrow.

Keep spreading the word.

M
xx

PS sorry, no pics tonight -'service not available'