09:27:14
Scenes on arrival at Paddington - people queuing out the door trying to get even a standing space on this train down to Devon I was originally intending to be on. I decided to take an alternative route, via Bristol, and thanks to that cunning bit of improvisation I had a seat the whole way to Okehampton!10:54:46
Passing through Bath on my detour.11:04:33
Somewhere between Bath and Bristol?11:23:45
I changed at Bristol Temple Meads, and was pleased to see they still have a West Cornwall Pasty Co there (they mostly seem to have disappeared in London now) and better still a vegan version of the classic pasty.
11:27:29
Bristol Temple Meads.11:29:48
This sign was a bit confusing.12:08:22
A friend is from here so I took a photo as I was passing through to send to him.14:47:02
Anyway, rail detours aside, I am finally on the moor now! This is on the (military?) road out of Okehampton, heading towwards Oke Tor. Lovely day for it!
14:49:37
Me on the moor.15:05:48
Still on the road.15:07:24
15:21:49
I think by this point the road was no longer accessible to cars, and turned into a track, so started to feel gratfiyingly more wild from here on.
15:21:56
15:22:07
15:58:58
The view from Oke Tor, looking towards Belstone Tor.15:59:03
I think this may be looking across to High Willihays, but don't quote me on that.
15:59:08
More views from Oke Tor.15:59:12
16:01:22
16:01:27
16:01:34
16:28:41
Now in Steeperton Gorge, where I tried out my Pocket Wellies to ford the river.16:38:23
Heading up Steeperton Tor.16:49:59
16:50:03
16:50:07
19:25:11
Much later on, after arriving at Buttern Hill and deciding to set up camp here. I had ridiculously brought along a blowtorch so I could brown the top of the lasagne I was going to attempt to cook (mostly) on a campstove.19:25:13
19:25:26
The sun disappearing over a hill.19:26:13
The finished lasagne, I think this wasn't a bad effort considering I had to do it all on a single camping gas stove plus the blowtorch.19:29:59
The lasagne with a glass of Burgundy.19:30:52
19:40:56
Still at least a bit of sunset interest remaining.19:41:00
19:56:46
My tent, next to a couple of tthe stones of the (blink and you'd miss it) stone circle at Buttern Hill.19:56:51
19:57:19
20:01:01
20:24:07
Getting a bit dark now.20:24:46
Cosy tent in the gloaming on the moor.
20:25:21
20:26:19
20:26:36
20:50:54
It was a nice clear night so I did some night photography. Orion was very clearly visible.
20:52:03
20:56:48
21:00:36
It seems my phone now generates these short videos when I asked it to do a "Night Sight" photo.21:01:59
21:04:56
21:09:05
It was lovely sitting here stargazing, I hope the photos give at least a bit of a sense of it.21:13:12
21:17:56
So many stars visible now!
21:22:05
21:28:11
21:32:17
21:48:32
Really lovely.
21:52:39
23:09:00
A last couple of photos with my tent in before bedtime.23:09:46
Goodnight from Dartmoor!