Tavicinity in South Africa

We were fortunate enough to swap the grey of Devon for the Rainbow Nation of South Africa in half term. Apart from the obvious political legacy and disparity of wealth, it is a beautiful county.

Boulders Bay, Western Cape

Penguins on Boulders Beach, Western Cape

Kalk Bay, Western Cape

Somerset West Mountains, Capetown

Hike up Table Mountain, Capetown

South Africa Beach

South Africa Beach

Lewtrenchard Woods - Walking in Mizzle.

First Snow on Dartmoor - Powder on the Peat

A few inches of snow fell on Dartmoor overnight which was a little unexpected.  The first rays of sunshine lit the clouds to an orange glow over Doe Tor, Sharp Tor and Hare Tor this morning.  Chilly though; even Cosmo had a (very attractive I'll have you know) coat on.

Dartmoor Snow

Spitchwick Winter Highlights

A brief gap in our weather stormathon saw me traipsing up to Leigh Tor the hard way (through the bracken and brambles with boulders buried beneath - nothing like an alliteration to wake up the ears).

The trip allowed me to explore Spitchwick Common and New Bridge.  I give you a few OKish photos:

New Bridge, Spitchwick - Medieval, built c1413

Silver Birch below Leigh Tor Dartmoor

Woodland clinging to cliff by River Dart, Dartmoor

Shared Planet Parliament walk to Crockern Tor - a Message to COP21 that responding to Climate Change Matters

Dartmoor mizzle with 50 mph winds saw at least 100 people trudge up to Crockern Tor from Two Bridges, some carrying a near life-size polar bear.  The atmosphere was great and it felt good to be there.  Crockern Tor was the site of the ancient Stannary Parliament, where meetings were held in the open air for the governance of the tin industry from early medieval times.

Grenofen by the Walkham River - Remember Sunshine?

I don't know about you, but I NEED the sun, and not just filtered through the clouds to give life.  If I don't see it for a while I start to wither.  So, amid the grey gloom of mizzle that currently resides over Dartmoor and Tavistock, I am posting some shots of the River Walkham at Grenofen when the sun made a rare appearance, just so I don't forget what light at 5500°K looks like (nerdy photographer's reference there, sorry).

River Walkham at Grenofen

Back-lit trees in Autumn at Grenofen

Autumn on Walkham River at Grenofen

Sunrise over Tavistock from Barn Hill

A beautiful sunrise on Dartmoor.  Firstly, the mist around North Hessary gave the appearance of flames for a firey sunrise, then the view over Tavistock was calm.