A Dartmoor Walk

The gentle rise of land
Through meadows of fine grass
Up ancient drover tracks
Cobbled and worn though time
Walls cloaked in moss and liverwort
Grey lichen hanging from stunted oaks
Draws the walkers upward to
The moorland gate.
Soft swathes of grass 
And bracken flanks 
Lead to the babbling of the brook
Over granite slabs
We nimbly step;
At Glasscombe  mounds of stones
And ruined walls 
Lead conversation to ancient times
The boundary wall becomes our guide
The eastern brook provides a ford
And then Ball Gate
Elaborate balls and granite columns
Tell of a forgotten age
The banks here  adorned with flowers
Painted heather and flames of gorse Amidst jewels of berries bright.
Through lush growth we descend 
On ancient routes that trace the edge
And finger down in secrecy 
To meet the tiniest track
Like veins they wander and connect 
And draw us down the hill
As moor is left and fields merge 
Seamlessly a change
The track widens, becomes a road
Until the stream is met
And crossing a stile and past the woods
We have made our way right back.

Wild Swimming in a Dartmoor River

Lure of a swirling pool
Of rust brown moorland flow
Cascading over rocks
Covering orange sand;
The first steps in
Connect 
With primeval force
And rhythm 
To synchronise with nature
On eye level- a new world;
The energy released
To swim against the tide;
To swim and hold ones own
At one with nature’s force
The cleansing that it brings;
The mind is sharply focused
Sees things usually unseen;
The angled forms of rock,
The feel of rounded stones,
The sounds of rush of water,
Chains of bubbles spiral;
The freshness of damp air
The warmth of the water.
The freedom that is owned;
Breathe deep and inhale
An elixir for life is found.

A week of different activities

To be honest it was too hot to run after Monday. Instead, we did two walks at the coast and swam in the sea at Prawle Point Devon and Palace Cove Lanivett Bay Cornwall. I also enjoyed wild swimming in the River Avon at Aish. Today I swam at Gara Rock

Palace Cove – perfectly clear water over rocks and sand
Prawle – most there arrived by boat; we scrambled down the steep cliff. It was utterly beautiful

Tonight it’s been great to get back to running as it’s slightly fresher after a rain shower.7km round .

Certainly enjoying swimming again. However we have to pick our time and place to avoid the crowds and demonstrate patience continuously reversing for tourists stuck in the tiny lanes. What was really amusing today was the sight of two Porsche cars trying to pass each other today!

A chance for a walk and swim

The coastline around South Devon is stunning. Prawle Point is the most southerly tip of the land, hence a coastguard presence is there all year. Just around the headland is this amazing beach accessed down a steep path (some of it seated). Most people arrive by boat. The water was pristine, cold but that is what we have in the UK. Glad of my trail shoes getting down. A wonderful way to spend the afternoon swimming.

Dartmoor Adventures -Blue and Me

Early run from Lady Wood to Owley Gate towards Glaston Corner. Thunder on the edge of the moor and another cloud rising on the skyline so decided to keep to the edge. Some lovely views and total solitude apart from the start when the fox hounds passed us in the car park . Blue was such a good dog going through the field of them. Once out we were on our own. 6km.

    Sunday Morning Run

    Rarely do I run in the early morning, but today seemed to hold much promise.

    Always starting on an incline means pace doesn’t settle straight away. I decided to go to the very top of the hill as Sunday’s are generally a bit quieter on the narrow descent; suffice to say, I had to pause four times to allow traffic to pass. Turning left at the bottom, follows the contour of the hill with the gentlest downward tilt. This is enough to get the stride correct and to achieve flow. For a kilometre and a half, the run is the best. There follows a short stretch on the main road to the bridges and then left along the river. It was already warm so it was good to be beneath trees. From the river, the road twists steeply to the village and then a steady upward slope home. 6.5km and the whole day still ahead!

    In the Rain

    Wednesday 5th August

    On stepping out,the wind blasted in my face and the misty rain came horizontal .I settled into a good rhythm and followed the ridge road a couple of km. Once running downhill, the gradients are steep- and due to the wet roads- I erred on slow and steady as the tractor- worn ridges are slipppery and the roads well pot- holed . Glad of my trail shoes.

    This was near enough 10km . Coombeshead , Murtwell, Beenleigh, Westleigh .

    Still warm in the sheltered lanes even though there was steady drizzle and dripping trees. The wind picks up as I run up to higher parts and the trees roar. Rain by this time came horizontal and as I pass gateways the South Westerly blasts in my face. There is something magical about being in the elements.

    Not without issues though as it was indeed slow and from the outset one toenail was digging into my shoe . The Saloman trail shoes-though perfect for this terrain- are hard and although one foot was comfortable the other was not and so balance was off as I was careful on lessening the weight on that side.

    Some good parts where the gradient down was shallow and I could touch down lightly meant I could cover ground more efficiently. Finding an efficient way to run which uses as little effort as possible is something I am working on. Some of tonight’s run was hard due to limitations.