Yaaayyy - we’re back on the western edge of Dartmoor again for a reunion with Buck, Logan, Hobbes and a few new characters - five hens (all called Gertrude as I failed to tell them apart and veritable machines when it comes to egg production) and two more ponies, bringing the total to four. It’s a stunning location, just a stone’s throw from the tumbling, twisting river Walkham before it bubbles and boils into the Tavy just a mile downstream, and surrounded by wooded hills, bracken covered moors and the odd agricultural field. A mile or two east and you are climbing up towards the High Moors and, of course, the lovely town of Tavistock is a quick hop on the bus away, or a decent walk with the pooches or along the Drakes Trail by cycle ( t’other way goes all the way to Plymouth). The dogs are such characters, and just love attention. Buck’s always so keen to get involved, chasing sticks, having a bit of rough and tumble with his bestie or insisting on the occasional tummy rub. Logan, the deeply thoughtful one, gives as good as he gets and just adores any opportunity for a leisurely swim. If Buck is the moustachioed Victorian bounder, then Logan is that chap in a stripey swimming costume stepping out of one of those seaside rolling beach huts. And, being labradors, food sometimes appears in the equation. Well, all the time really ! With just a week's stay we didn’t venture quite as far afield this time but still fitted in a few decent walks over several hours every day. The mercurial weather didn’t matter at all - wherever we went and whatever we did it was great to breath in great lungfuls of Devon air. That said we took regular walks around the ‘hood’ , up on the moors past Princetown and Two Bridges, along the Dart valley, over to Sampford Spiney and Pew Tor and, via the Drakes Trail, to Horrabridge (great little bakery) and Yelverton (another great bakery near the vets with the most amazing cakes). Everywhere had something different to offer - boggy moorland, views from atop the tors, wooded tracks and valleys, riverside adventures and springy, turf covered hills. Now, is there a shop that supplies new knees ? The hens were a hoot - quick to realise who had the corn they followed you everywhere and, like children, needed no bidding to go to bed without fuss. Yeah, right. T’was a daily routine for Buck and I to let them out in the morning and gather the eggs (Buck always hoping I’d drop one of course which he could immediately rescue, ahem). Hobbes was, well, Hobbes and did cat stuff with aplomb. Very handsome, very cuddly and clearly superior to the hounds who know who's boss ! The ponies have a lovely life and are quite happy for a little nuzzle but beware - like Gremlins that get devilish when wet, the ponies have the same reaction to carrots. Just don’t try and feed one without the others 😈 The week’s end came all too quickly and we were re-united with Julian, Clare, Ben, Grace and Daisy. Our departure followed all of us watching Englands defeat to Spain in the FIFA world cup after a pancake and smoothie breakfast. We do miss the boys - this pet sitting mullarkey is tough. Like an expectant mum browsing the shelves of Mothercare (do we still have Mothercare ?), we often find ourselves mooching around supermarket pet shelves. Perhaps it’s high time we nab a pooch or two for ourselves . . .
0 Comments
|
'23 Adventures
January 2024
photosby Bobby ! |