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Trip to Devon
My Sunday drive down to Devon went very smoothly. Empty, dark and rainy roads. Theo slept happily all the way, having had a good run on a wet beach before we set off.
On Monday, we went and had a rummage in the Luckett woods, where I had cause to remember just how many foxes and deer there are in these woods, something that my memory had previously managed to optimistically dull.
They are very beautiful woods. Very exciting.
I got him back eventually...
None the less, we went to a Christmas Tree festival that afternoon, in Tavistock. You were supposed to pick your favorite tree and vote for it. It was very difficult! There were trees on many themes.
Off the top of my head, I remember the dragon-themed Aladdin tree from a local theatre group, the moving tree of paper cranes from the U3E in memory of a child dying of radiation sickness after the Hiroshima bomb, the Tree of Beasts from a local vet, a Tree of Morris Dancers, a Tree of Lions, and a Tree Decked With Plumbing from a local plumber. I eventually voted for a tree of hand-decorated trunk segments from a local primary school, which I felt had clearly taught the kids a good range of interesting art techniques to choose from. There was live music and mince pies, and quite a lot of dogs, none of which watered any of the trees (at least, that I saw.) By chance, someone who had been involved in planting all of the trees came to visit while we were there. He was pleased to see how well they had all grown.
On Tuesday we went and bought bark chippings from a garden centre, and Theo and I had a Dartmoor wander. Mum is no longer feeling up to Dartmoor wanders, even short ones, and stayed in the car.
Then on Wednesday, we had an outing to Lydford village. Lydford has a small castle - well, more of a courtroom really, very heavy and Normanish and judgemental, looming against the sky on its mound.
Then we went and found the original Norman castle-mound, which was next door on the other side of the church
Lydford church was heavily restored internally in the nineteenth century, and has some lovely hand-carvings. Apparently, some of the carvings on the roof are pre-restoration, probably medieval and re-used, but I couldn't tell which was which by looking at them and I don't seem to have photographed them. I did photograph this stunning arch though. It makes my fingers ache just to look at it.
I don't remember noticing that window in the middle, and that definitely wasn't the weather when we were there! How... vivid!.
The drive back to Wales was less smooth than the drive down. We stopped for a wander on Dartmoor in the rain, and had to beat a hasty retreat when I realised that the low clouds hiding the hilltops were also hiding a big red flag warning that live firing from the Dartmoor military training ranges was imminent.
I fled, fortunately unshot, drove up to Somerset and we had a walk at Sedgemoor, where it wasn't raining, though it was quite puddly. And the rain came down as I went over the bridge to Wales, and it pelted hard nearly all the way west. I don't think I've ever been in the fast lane of a motorway and been completely SLOOSHED by the wake of a car going the other way, right over the top of the central barrier.
On Monday, we went and had a rummage in the Luckett woods, where I had cause to remember just how many foxes and deer there are in these woods, something that my memory had previously managed to optimistically dull.
They are very beautiful woods. Very exciting.
I got him back eventually...
None the less, we went to a Christmas Tree festival that afternoon, in Tavistock. You were supposed to pick your favorite tree and vote for it. It was very difficult! There were trees on many themes.
Off the top of my head, I remember the dragon-themed Aladdin tree from a local theatre group, the moving tree of paper cranes from the U3E in memory of a child dying of radiation sickness after the Hiroshima bomb, the Tree of Beasts from a local vet, a Tree of Morris Dancers, a Tree of Lions, and a Tree Decked With Plumbing from a local plumber. I eventually voted for a tree of hand-decorated trunk segments from a local primary school, which I felt had clearly taught the kids a good range of interesting art techniques to choose from. There was live music and mince pies, and quite a lot of dogs, none of which watered any of the trees (at least, that I saw.) By chance, someone who had been involved in planting all of the trees came to visit while we were there. He was pleased to see how well they had all grown.
On Tuesday we went and bought bark chippings from a garden centre, and Theo and I had a Dartmoor wander. Mum is no longer feeling up to Dartmoor wanders, even short ones, and stayed in the car.
Then on Wednesday, we had an outing to Lydford village. Lydford has a small castle - well, more of a courtroom really, very heavy and Normanish and judgemental, looming against the sky on its mound.
Then we went and found the original Norman castle-mound, which was next door on the other side of the church
Lydford church was heavily restored internally in the nineteenth century, and has some lovely hand-carvings. Apparently, some of the carvings on the roof are pre-restoration, probably medieval and re-used, but I couldn't tell which was which by looking at them and I don't seem to have photographed them. I did photograph this stunning arch though. It makes my fingers ache just to look at it.
I don't remember noticing that window in the middle, and that definitely wasn't the weather when we were there! How... vivid!.
The drive back to Wales was less smooth than the drive down. We stopped for a wander on Dartmoor in the rain, and had to beat a hasty retreat when I realised that the low clouds hiding the hilltops were also hiding a big red flag warning that live firing from the Dartmoor military training ranges was imminent.
I fled, fortunately unshot, drove up to Somerset and we had a walk at Sedgemoor, where it wasn't raining, though it was quite puddly. And the rain came down as I went over the bridge to Wales, and it pelted hard nearly all the way west. I don't think I've ever been in the fast lane of a motorway and been completely SLOOSHED by the wake of a car going the other way, right over the top of the central barrier.
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Beautiful photo of the arch, and a very apt description! Seriously, yowch. It looks as if it must have taken months to carve.
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Aetiology of gargoyles sorted : )
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Oh wow! That wood is so moody! And Theo looks very happy! And the castle is very loomish! Thanks for sharing your photos. That Christmas tree festival sounds so beautiful! I've never heard of such a thing. And that carving!! Glad you got home safe again, despite the stressful drive.
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I got a bit distracted by other people's comments (not sure what the etiquette is about hitchiking on other people's comments on other people's posts, but I figure this is a pretty low faux pas zone).
Anyway, your photo of the wood keeps coming into my mind — there's really something marvellous and magical about it. I wanted to ask if you'd be happy for me to (attempt to) paint it? I have no idea whether I can pull it off since I'm still coming to grips with my Inktense (the set of 36 blocks was 45% off a couple of months ago so of course I had to buy them to compliment my pencils!) but it's just so compelling and I thought it be a good fit for Brethil in Elleth's Location as Character bingo prompts.
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There's something particularly magical about the Tamar Valley woodlands. The steep hillsides and the light slanting in sideways, and the river-mists produce very green moss and lots of artistic ferns. I miss that, living in Wales now (though I remembered the beauty of it, and had carefully forgotten the deer and the ticks!)
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Yay! Thanks for the permission. I hope I'm not over-estimating my inktensability, but there only one way to get better at anything...
I looked up Tamar to see where it is, and I had no idea there was a spot like this there! I've been through Dartmoor and explored the area further towards Lamds End, but I only remember moorlands with only little copses of trees, no woods like this. Really lovely!
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As a graphic designer, your comment made me laugh!
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(The castle is much more square than one generally pictures when thinking "castle"...)
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