In the morning, I got out the trusty trangia and made coffee and porridge. I'd nipped into Aldi and got Mabs some dog food (and three lamb chops which she'd scoffed the night before) - so she had some breakfast too. All the hot water, USB points on the site are solar powered, and the loos are modelled on Thunderboxes. The farmer had charged my battery for me (outside, so I was a little apprehensive about the rain, but I needn't have worried).
The campsite host, Carol, is a dog agility fan and holds competititons at Buckland Farm - transpires Debs, my agility dog trainer, judges some of them. By the time I'd chatted to a few of the other campers, and waited for my tent to be thoroughly dry and showered and eaten - it was getting on for 11am. But that was OK - because I'd PMed Nic, Ben, Jen, Brendan - asking for accommodation for tonight - thinking they lived in Crediton. They don't, they live in HONITON, which isn't anything like as far. I knew that, I really did. So I could be quite leisurely.
OUt of the campsite - I climbed a hill. A big hill. We are in the Blackdown HIlls. Near the top, I met Emily, a local dogwalker. We discussed what I was doing, and routes (among other things - I tell you, I dawdle given any opportunity). She looked at the google recommendations and advised on THAT way lay hills - many more hills like the one I'd just climbed. In the end I opted to follow her advice and stick to some of the busier roads that run across the plateau without dipping down into the Clune valley so much. Slightly longer, but time and effort (and battery power) saved. The roads were actually quite quiet, though the cars were fast when they did appear. ON the way, I passed into Devon. Woohooo!
I stopped off at an icecream/farm shop and got chatting to a couple of elderly ladies from Exeter (one of whom had run a dance school and the other who had attended her dance school!). The student dancer had heard of Woodcraft Folk but hadn't realised they were still going. She knows now. (I was raising funds for the Woodies - ultimately I raised over £1400 for our Centenary celebration camp at Kelmarsh Hall).
Around the corner I came to the Otter Inn, next to the River Otter (of course), that Nic had recommended for the cooling down of Mabli. Mabs needed no encouragement (and we ignored the big signs saying 'keep your dog on a LEAD'! Needs must.
NIc and Ben have been wonderful hosts... and Di turned up also, with E and C, the girls (who are both quite grown up now). Great supper, good conversation. And I've booked tomorrow night with another friend too. 38miles away, this time.
The campsite host, Carol, is a dog agility fan and holds competititons at Buckland Farm - transpires Debs, my agility dog trainer, judges some of them. By the time I'd chatted to a few of the other campers, and waited for my tent to be thoroughly dry and showered and eaten - it was getting on for 11am. But that was OK - because I'd PMed Nic, Ben, Jen, Brendan - asking for accommodation for tonight - thinking they lived in Crediton. They don't, they live in HONITON, which isn't anything like as far. I knew that, I really did. So I could be quite leisurely.
OUt of the campsite - I climbed a hill. A big hill. We are in the Blackdown HIlls. Near the top, I met Emily, a local dogwalker. We discussed what I was doing, and routes (among other things - I tell you, I dawdle given any opportunity). She looked at the google recommendations and advised on THAT way lay hills - many more hills like the one I'd just climbed. In the end I opted to follow her advice and stick to some of the busier roads that run across the plateau without dipping down into the Clune valley so much. Slightly longer, but time and effort (and battery power) saved. The roads were actually quite quiet, though the cars were fast when they did appear. ON the way, I passed into Devon. Woohooo!
I stopped off at an icecream/farm shop and got chatting to a couple of elderly ladies from Exeter (one of whom had run a dance school and the other who had attended her dance school!). The student dancer had heard of Woodcraft Folk but hadn't realised they were still going. She knows now. (I was raising funds for the Woodies - ultimately I raised over £1400 for our Centenary celebration camp at Kelmarsh Hall).
Around the corner I came to the Otter Inn, next to the River Otter (of course), that Nic had recommended for the cooling down of Mabli. Mabs needed no encouragement (and we ignored the big signs saying 'keep your dog on a LEAD'! Needs must.
NIc and Ben have been wonderful hosts... and Di turned up also, with E and C, the girls (who are both quite grown up now). Great supper, good conversation. And I've booked tomorrow night with another friend too. 38miles away, this time.
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