Well yesterday was a day of many firsts ................. It was the first time since my brain haemorrhage that I drove more than 10 miles at any one time. I should have 'zeroed' the thingumajig on the speedometer to see exactly how far we went - but by a rough guess I would say around 125 miles. We stopped quite often to see the glorious beauty, but we also retraced our steps several times - that's a story to be related later on!!!!

We left home around 11am, armed to the teeth with cameras, drinks, buns with ham, some crisps and a couple of small chocolate sponges - these are individually wrapped mini sponges. I was a bit nervous if the truth is to be told, I hoped that I would be able to drive that far without either having to stop because of my feet/legs getting too tired to keep them at certain heights to drive, or else my arms getting tired from holding the steering wheel for such a long time, but mainly that I could keep my concentration going.

We arrived at the edge of Dartmoor......



we approached from the north and I knew I wanted to get to Haytor which is a lovely place to show Mickey, but it meant going right across the moor. That seemed a good plan...................

Then we met those irritating signs, saying ''ROAD CLOSED'' with yellow signs then saying ''DIVERSION'' - we followed these signs, but I think someone with a sick sense of humour had put these signs down!!!! We could see the road closed signs and the diversion signs clear enough at the beginning but then when we came to turn-offs, nothing!!!! so it was a case of let's try this one and see where we come out. If I didn't know how to do a 3 point turn before - I certainly do now!!!!

Anyway we at last started to see the moorland ahead of us..........







There was a tor on the horizon - and it meant we had to find the beginning of that road to get there. Where was this diversion taking us? Mickey was thoroughly enjoying himself, watching me mutter under my breath which included my thoughts on the local council men sorting out the roadways and wondering if they'd been targets for bullies at school because they were getting their own back...........lol.





There were so many rocky outcrops everywhere and so I stopped so Mickey could get out and take some photos of them..........





This landscape is truly beautiful and so wild. There was a strong wind up there yet we were lucky with the clouds - normally Dartmoor has it's own weather anomalies, and one minute it can be lovely and sunny, then it can suddenly change to rain and heavy clouds. We were lucky. The wind may have been strong but it was warm...........





We got to Haytor eventually, and it's one of the easier tors to climb. There's no way I could have managed it, but Mickey did climb up the one on the right here..............



You can see his jacket is wind buffeted as he faced his long climb up the tor............


You can just make him out on the right going strong................LOL

Note to self - DO NOT - [repeat NOT ] - wear a top which is loose and flowing in a high wind!!!!!!!!! Marilyn Monroe eat your heart out................ not a good look I can assure you - poor Mickey was seeing a lot more than he should have..........

I stayed behind while he wandered up there and took some pictures. You can see the pathways through the heather made by so many feet and people going up to the top..........



The view around this was stupendous.......



We had our lunch sitting up there just soaking up the beauty. Then we were off towards Postbridge. Now those damn diversion signs had followed us around and we ended up going all over the place following the signs which made no sense at all - Mickey was giggling a lot - I didn't find it THAT funny LOL.

We eventually found Postbridge which is a delightful couple of houses [complete with a lovely little tea shop] and two very different bridges.............



This is the main road bridge - it's old but nowhere as old as the other one........




The most famous clapper bridge, Postbridge, on the moor. Originally built for packhorses, the bridge is made of 4 huge slabs of granite, weighing around 8 tons each, placed on granite built piers. As there is no railing or wall on either side of the bridge, it must have taken quite a bit of courage to cross with horses when the river was in spate.

The lovely countryside around the valley

The water was bubbling across the stones


How on earth did they manage to build this

Of course our Mr Ferris had to get in on the act.............

Mr Ferris isn't pulling his best face

We drove on home but not before we noticed this rather lovely outcrop......

Another rocky outcrop

Climbing schools often use these rocky outcrops to practice on

I did suggest parking up so he could have a quick walk and a climb up there and this was quickly met with a sort of stony silence. lol. Obviously he'd climbed enough already. These tors and rocky outcrops are often used by climbers practicing, so many handholds etc are there. The walls on Dartmoor are all drystone walling and it's an amazing craft to get them done like that.

After more diversion signs met us, we did eventually find ourselves off the moor in Tavistock which was further south than I'd hoped, so I knew it was at least another 35 miles before we got home. I was very tired by then, but hey never mind. I was so glad to see my home and to sit down on my couch. I know I'd been sitting down most of the day, but this was a different kind of seating.

I did find some amazing wild flowers too - which I will let you see later on. Today was going to be do-nothing day but I was met by Mickey saying '' we have a problem'' - the cold water tap in the kitchen was leaking. So that meant I had to call in the plumbers and their worksheet is so busy today - it looks as if it might be late before they get here. So I have to go shopping on my own, but Mickey can be here to empty the car when I get home, so he can be here to wait in for the plumber.

Tomorrow we are hoping to go to Hartland Point and then onto Welcome Mouth. So see you lot then.............