Chris's new boots

What better way to spend a wet and windy Saturday in January than to head out for Dartmoor with three friends from Church, plus a dog of course. Chris, who had just bought new boots that needed dirtying, together with Lee and his dog Sparky, and Colin to make up the quartet all piled into my yellow van to trundle up to Princetown. We parked in a windy, wet and misty scene, donned waterproofs and set out, visiting Nuns Cross, Eylesbarrow Tin Mine, Combshead Tor, Down Tor, and a couple of crosses standing to declare us a Christian country on the stark moorland. The wetness, bad a first, eventually gave way to grey skies, and Burrator Reservoir became visible. Good walking (9+ km), good company and a few calories burned to boot - oh yes, and Chris's boots christened.

Window seat storage

As a pause in boat building was enforced, Lynn seized upon the opportunity to keep my woodworking skill honed and set me to build some window-seat storage units. Fortunately, our neighbours were having an extension built and the builders, friends of mine, were delighted to pass all their scrap and waste wood over the fence for me to burn. Some of course, was too good to burn and became the frame for the seat.

First Ten Tors walk in 2012

After an intricate plan to strategically position vehicles around Dartmoor, we were all set up for a good lengthy walk across the North Moors. After a short rest at Great Mis Tor, the next leg to Lynch Tor brought us up against a barrier - a stream, swollen by recent rain. After some investigation, it was deemed unsafe to cross, so a change of plan saw the walk ended sooner than expected. Whilst vehicles were retrieved, the teams had fun learning how to erect and use an emergency bivvie.

Julia's Cake - yum!

Julia decided she would make a cake this weekend. There was a moment mid-icing that proved a fine subject for a photograph. The cake was very tasty.

New Years Eve - Walk to Coleton Fishacre

Lynn and I decided to brave the end-of-year drizzle and try to burn off a mince pie or two by walking along the coast. We crossed the river, thank you Debs, and set off along a very muddy path. Although drizzly, it was quite warm and the coastal path to Brixham is renowned for it steep inclines. We made it as far as Coleton Fishacre before heading inland and back to Kingswear and a ferry home.

Julia's Shelves

The dinghy is now build (see Gypsy Sophia Blog) and the girls have skedaddled off to Portsmouth for a few days, so Lynn set me to doing a few home DIY jobs! The only problem is: no money = no materials!! However, our next door neighbours are having work done, including their floorboards being changed - so to save the builders having to dispose of said boards, they were shaped down on my saw bench and have become shelves in Julia's wardrobe.

Christmas 2011

One by one our family have visited us during the Christmas period. Firstly, Lydia returned from University after her first term away from home. She was closely followed by Hannah and Sophia. Hannah also brought along her 8 month old bump. Then on Christmas eve, Dan and Sarah together with Spooky and Deefur arrived just in time to see Christmas day in. 'Twas lovely to see them all.