Images taken on my mobile phone.

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One day something or someone will (really) reignite my spark, but it wasn’t ignited today. It merely flickered towards the end of this walk, giving brief respite.

This walk was one of my saddest to date. I didn’t really get into it properly until the last couple of hours. Some are just that way. None start happy. This marked what would have been my seventh wedding anniversary to Sue. But of course as some of you know we tragically missed our sixth by six weeks. In case you don’t know, and there are many that won’t / don’t, Sue was taken by cancer.

As is usual for a walk like this on Dartmoor I was up at 5am. Waking and getting up to start a day are the worst parts of life at the moment. I left home just after 6 and arrived just after 8am. Once breakfast was eaten and I was finally ready I set off towards Brat Tor just before 9am.

When I arrived the weather was cool and misty. It cleared very promptly and by the time I set off the sun was out and I removed my wind coat. From Brat Tor I sort of made my way directly towards Little Kneeset about 5 kms away, trying to avoid the military training area. The going was tough, boggy, the ground was very wet and a bit tussocky. Water flowed over the surface in places running towards streams, rivulets and small rivers. I just walked and tried not to think too much, though sometimes the mind wanders to past meanders. Along here I noticed my bottom getting wet, an investigation showed my Platypus (water container) was leaking. Thankfully I had an empty water bottle and poured the remainder in that. Bess also had water, plus there was a drop about the place!

It was crossing Amicombe Hill on a rather wet section that I nearly stood on the adder. I have a habit of looking at my feet when walking. There are some who say walk upright, sod that for a lark, it was looking down at my feet that saved me. I saw the adder just as my foot was about to stand on it, I think I said Jesus Christ as I lengthened my stride. Though I am not sure if being stood on triggers a strike, no bloody way was I taking a chance. I am thankful that stepping over it didn’t cause it to strike out at me or Bess. It was probably as shocked and scared as I was and wanted to get away from me. I had Bess right behind me and I am sure she walked right past, thankfully she didn’t stop for a look, which I gather is the main cause of strikes to dogs. A dog persistently nosing them, agitating them. In the time it took me to get my phone camera out, it was gone.

Shaken, but not stirred, now feeling perturbed by each foot step and my heart not really in the walk either I trudged on. Don’t get me wrong, I love Dartmoor and the wilderness and being out away from it all. But it’s not the same without Sue.

There were a couple small rivers to cross, whilst they were in full flood they were narrow in places to step over or had stones to step across. My feet were soaked and had been since near the start, but they were neither cold nor uncomfortable.

I reached the top of Little Kneeset, and spent several minutes trying to find somewhere to practice pitch my tent. Despite being top of a hill it was incredibly wet under foot. Again like the walk my heart just was not in pitching a tent. I can’t explain why, I was quite, all things considered, enthusiastic when I pitched the tent last time, 15th August, and that was a year on from when Sue had died. But once a slightly less boggy spot was found I rather reluctantly, I must admit, went for it. I didn’t carry 2kgs of tent to not get it out and pitch it. Just the way life goes. Missing my special buddy, Sue, even more today.

How I am ever going to stay out overnight is anyone’s guess. It is a goal set and, well let’s see. I have no intention before next year. It will just happen, like everything in life. It is something that when I am at home I am keen to do. Reading the many blogs on the subject also inspires me. Whatever, I know Sue is egging me on and I am sure to find another buddy as wonderful as Sue one day. I sat in the tent with Bess and felt a moment of peace. I did not bother attaching the cross poles like I did last time, nor did I make tea. I packed tent away and considered my options.

My original plan was to head to Black Hill and Cranmere Pool and then the military track, but on the map that was full of boggy areas. Far worse than I had already crossed. I wasn’t in the mood for that, so headed for Great Kneeset. Still wet and rough. Then Okement Hill. I must admit to being glad to be out of the rough wet moors and on a track.

From there I followed the military track past East Mill Tor to West Mill Tor. I stopped on the top of WMT and had a roll, noted another potential tent spot. Though here is potentially too close to the road / civilisation. To quantify that, if I am too close to the car I can see myself being allured to it and home being only two hours away... Temptation must be kept at barge pole length. It is certainly very exposed up there to a westerly wind in any event. More food for thought though.

From here it felt like I was heading back, and I guess this was the point where the car got nearer with each step and my spirits seemed to lift, or was it the thought of a hot meal.
From West Mill Tor I walked westwards towards a track, which I, ahum, walked over, never saw it, to pick up another track I did want. It actually worked to my advantage, I know, jammy dodger, as it cut a corner.

It was here that the clouds rolled over and mists covered the hill tops. It rained. I did not don waterproofs, my faith in my Arc’teryx wind coat is pretty high at the moment and my Montane trousers easily shrugged it off.

That track follows Meldon Reservoir and the rain accompanied me to my usual stopping place for a meal. The rain eased and stopped, the clouds broke and the sun once again showed itself. Perfect timing. I cooked Lancashire Hotpot and Smash potato. This was the first time on the whole walk so far that I found some real peace and relaxation. I used my Ti Tri cone and meths. 30ml was the perfect amount to boil 300ml of water and my meal, which I left in the hot water for about 5 minutes after the meths ran out. It did not vaporize too much water either, this time. I made a tea after. 12ml meths worked a treat for just over 300ml water here.

I left my spot and headed for Sourton Tor. The first 15 minutes of walking I must admit to being a bit stiff of limb from my stop and a blister on a toe was noticeable. Once I was back in rhythm I was at full strength and even the blister was nothing more than noticeable. (I stuck a sterilised needle in that blistered toe in the evening, and have forgotten about it).
The last part of the walk went unhindered and I felt my usual jovial self. Nattering away and laughing. Life can be great. It really really can be.

I was somewhat knackered by the time I reached the car and just chilled out as I changed shoes and socks, cursed the blister, made tea and relaxed. I was in no rush to leave.

I have put additional info below for those that may be interested. I was quite chuffed by the reasonably low weight. I had made my mind up the night before not to take my Nikon camera and tripod and therefore save over 3.5kgs! Several reasons, one, I had a feeling I wasn’t going to be in the mood and, two, the forecast showed 90% chance of cloud (= mist), they were wrong! Three, it was the same area I had trod several times previously. Roll on my lighter camera.

Total distance = 28.3kms.
Total time = 9.34hrs.
Time moving = 6.19hrs.
Ave moving speed = 4,5 kph.
Ave speed = 3 kph.
Max speed = 8.1kph.Total Ascent = 1072m.


Dartmoor walk for 26.09.11 2011.

Osprey Talon 44 1088

MLD plastic sheet 70
Tarp Tent Scarp 2 (with mesh inner) 1340
Tarp Tent central hoop 228
Tarp Tent cross poles 478
12 Tent pegs 4 Easton / 6 MLD Ti / 2Ti 133
Sit Mat 33


Ti Tri MSR 85 Cone bottle (inc 150ml) 244
MSR 850ml Pot 125
Spork 16
Evernew 300ml Ti mug 44
Plastic pot with Smash potato 75
Light My Fire / Fire steel 30
Lighter 16
Whistle 9
ZipLok bag for lighters 7


Steripen Opti / case 128

Nalgene 32oz 110
Platy 2L 105
SatMap / case 298
Glasses / case 119
First Aid kit / waterproof Pod 226
Map / case 146
Petzl XP Core head light 83

Arcteryx WP Coat PL blue 425
Berhause Paclite trousers 198
Arcteryx Sqamish Hoody wind 135
Arcterxy Switchback shirt 211
Arcteryx micro fleece top 204
Buff scarf 37
Seal Skinz socks 97
Choc Fish Beanie 25
Mountain Hardwear fleece gloves 37
Extremeties Windstopper gloves 69
Paramo hat 69

Exped Stuff sack w/p Small 46
Compass (med) 32
Silva ADC Pro 65

Phone / case 146
Spare bat 30
ZipLok bag for phone 7

Base Total 6984

Camera 0
Tripod 0

TOTAL 6984


Water 2000
Tea bags / Marvel / sweeteners 140
Rolls (5) actually 6! 530+
Meal 320
Smash potato 50
Neutragrain Elevenses (4) 207
Suncream 142

Total with food /water 10373


I will take a walk on the east side of Dartmoor in Mid October, I am unsure how that will be emotionally, as that was the last place that Sue ever walked (properly) on Dartmoor, September 2008. Her first and last since the cancer started in September 2006.