The Ashburton H3 take over
Tight, Rosie and I arrived at the Saddle tor car park to find No Butt and Mouthfull just finishing their trail.
A few moments later Cheesy Chips, Vampire and Miles arrived shortly followed by Tesco’s finest and Dicksack, had we arrived on the wrong day? As we tentatively shuffled around to make a circle, Whizz joined us making the take over complete.
We headed off up Saddle tor, the first of only 2 promised hills, what a stunning view from the top looking down towards the Teign estuary, I think I could see my house.
Across the moor, over granite boulders, passed sheep and cattle, lots of cattle and a few ponies we wound out way to Emsworthy mire, a lone Cuckcoo was heard, while the Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Stonechats told us to get off their land and keep moving.
The sweety stop was in a water meadow, we were surrounded by Lesser March orchids and Cottongrass, the silence was deafening.
By this point we had done 3 of the promised 2 hills with a 4th looming large ahead of us, but we had no choice but to climb.
We made our way through to maze of dry stone walls, I saw a Common lizard basking in the sun, it saw me and ran to hide. More cows, more hill but so worth it, the scenery was amazing, we forget this is only 20 mins from most of us.
Back to the cars, out came the beers and crisps, shortly followed by an audience of ever inquisitive ponies who had to be shoo’d away.
On on. WR.
