Non touristy touring
I have recently been using my myspace blog a lot more than this one, it gets a lot more hits and I like my background. However, I've been trying to think of a way to keep using this one as it is my original blog, and I like the sense of community between me, Marco, Opie and Crispy - although he is shamefully abscent in recent months. Therefore I have decided to use this blog to post photos and write about our days out in Devon. With summer on its way, there should be lots to write about. The myspace blog, I can use for petulent post-teen rants and day to day mumblings.
Yesterday we took advantage of the first sunny day in a fortnight and ventured out into Dartmoor. We stopped off in the stupidly named town of Bovy Tracy and had a picnic next to a river, we then hopped on the friendly, wee bus to Widdecombe in the Moor.
Being the home of the Uncle Tom Cobbley rhyme, Widdecombe has considerable tourist fatigue. The car park was full of coaches, dropping off the EU's elderly for their obligatory 30 minutes of; cup of tea and a scone, a short wander, purchase a souvenir, a quick wee, and then back on the bus and on to the next place. So we instead ventured a short way from the green and found a lovely old Dartmoor pub which was relatively free of grockles (the Devonian name for tourists).
We then walked back to the village, walked a short way in the other direction and again found ourselves alone. My tip for visiting tourist hotspots is always to walk a little bit further than everyone else, and you'll invariably find yourself some space. We walked along a country lane for a mile or so, with lovely views of the surrounding tors and the local cows with calves (for city dwellers I mean baby cows, not lower leg muscles). We then came across a wood which was carpeted with native bluebells and had a stream running through it, magical. The best thing was, that apart for a few passing cars, we didn't see a soul. It just goes to show even the most touristy places can yeild a personal and tranquil experience, just head in completely the opposite direction of everyone else!
A happy tourist
posted by aurifex @ 9:37 AM
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