Henrikdoc

Bowden farm, where we stayed last night. Quirky, but absolutely fine for an overnight stay.

Absolutely everything in the building was at a slant

8 am breakfast and then off early, well by 8:45 anyway (early for us)

..through Knowstone

…past the round house at Owlaborough

…and then it got a bit damp… rather nice and refreshing in the mornings to walk with a bit of wetness in the air?…

Colours and shapes still abundant all around

..through Anstey stopping off at the church – which was locked- for a snack, before heading uphill.

…then a climb for over 2 km to the official beginning of the Exmoor part of the walk, at Badlake Moor Cross

…the 2 nd part of Peter Randall -Page’s sculpture appeared

…as did the rain

…when there is poor visibility, I remember my uncle’s words (“Ein Indianer liest die Spuhren und brauch keine Mappe” – roughly translated “A Red American Indian scout looks at the signs around him and needs no map”. Ref Peter K Peters)

…

..to Hawkridge, one of Exmoor’s most remote and least visited villages

…but look at these beauties!

..onward to Tarr Steps

..and a welcome lunch stop to dry off a bit…and have some chips…and a prawn baguette (shared, mind you)

…shall we wait an hour and half for the rain to stop ?(curtesy of the weather radar app)…or shall we not?

…we shall NOT.🤦‍♂️

…more Beauties!

Time to talk about Oak Trees! Why? Because they are ALL OVER DEVON .

These are ‘sessile oak tree acorns’ – no stalk , apparently.

..the difference between that and the English Oak….?…

(Curtesy of treeguideuk.co.uk)

 An English Oak acorn, which is on a long stalk called a peduncle. 

Sessile Oak acorns have no stalk. They sit on the shoot like this – a feature that is known as ‘sessile’ by botanists.

2)

The English Oak leaf  has a very short stalk, hidden by two small leaves known as “ears” at the base of the leaf. 

The  Sessile Oak leaf  has  a long stalk.

3) LOCATION

The English Oak is the dominant tree in most of Britain, particularly on the richer soils in valley bottoms. It has been planted everywhere in parks, gardens, deer parks and woods. he English Oak is also known as the Pedunculate Oak because its acorns have stalks (known as ‘peduncles’ by botanists).

The Sessile Oak is also known as the Durmast Oak, a name that is possibly related to the feeding of pigs on acorn and beechnuts, known as ‘mast’. In Britain it is more common than the English Oak in upland areas in the North and West and is often found in woodlands on well-drained hillsides. The Sessile Oak gets its name from the fact that its acorns have no stalk, a feature that is known as ‘sessile’ by botanists.

..and then the sun came out! Half a mile from Withypool

Some snippets of deep meaningful conversation from today:

H. “I don’t think I would make a good dog“ ( after hearing a dog bark in the farmyard we were passing and trying to copy it ). “I think I would make a better cow” (having practiced the mooing over the last few days)

C: “ No you wouldn’t’. You’re not belligerent enough. Cows are belligerent, just staring at you with the belligerent stare” (Had to look up belligerent). “You’re more like a sheep, a lot of faffing, this way, that way, panic!”- (I’m sure she is thinking of someone else!)

C: What jungle animal would you like to be?

H: I’d be a Balloo the bear, standing with my back against the tree and scratching it to the tune of a beat

C: More like ‘Loving floating down a river with your dinner on your belly“!

H: And you?

C: I’d be a giraffe, elegant and calm

H: But that would mean your cup of tea would be cold by the time it got to your stomach…that long neck you’d have.

C: hmmm. Probably quite hard sipping a cup of tea off the ground too, bendy knees and all…

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🦒🦒🦒🦒

Needed another whisky at the Royal Oak!

…Henrik’s ‘tasting’

C: light golden

N: light peat/ toffee

P: toffee (sweet)

B: flowery 

F:medium 

Official tasting…

(Nose: Heather honey with hints of cinnamon and toffee bonbon with very subtle hints of peat smoke.

Palate: Light, silky peat smoke and creamy vanilla balanced with sweet honey and spice.

Finish: Full bodied, silky mouth feel with a dry, tangy and lingering aftertaste, coupled with delicious spice notes.)(whiskycastle.com)

STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO🤦‍♂️

Last day tomorrow 😢😭