COMBESTONE TOR AND MORE FOALS

What fantastically rain-free weather we've had over the bank holiday weekend. It started raining yesterday evening but that just fed the parched garden. Tourism has been in full swing here so we try and avoid travelling; however, I had to pick some beef up from a farm around 45 minutes drive from here on Saturday and OB and I ventured forth, getting stuck behind many tentative drivers on the way over the moor. When we got there, I was shown the next animal to be slaughtered which was lovely (if you see what I mean). I think it's so important to know your meat is happy and this one definitely was. The best beef I've ever tasted. When we were done, I thought I'd try and take back roads home - big mistake, but I'll get to that in a sec. I turned the wrong way out of the farm track on purpose and we ended up here, at Combestone Tor. I'd never been here before and it was beautiful:

Looking out over the countryside, I decided we'd better go back the way we'd come as we were clearly heading the wrong direction. M had told me a simple route had been within my grasp on the way there, which I hadn't taken. What could be so difficult doing it in reverse? With no map.....and no phone signal. I had to use myinnate sense of direction, which EVENTUALLY got us back to somewhere I recognised, but it took forever. We saw some lovely bits of Dartmoor I've never seen before. Too stressed to get the camera out though!

The dogs and I have got out and about a bit when OB has been with friends, so I have many photos to share......

A Meadow Pipit rising up as a skylark does, singing:

Layers of Fernworthy Forest:

That Grey Wagtail again; still not a great shot......I'll get it eventually:

Dog heaven:

Jack be nimble:

The fresh green of new growth is everywhere:

Today I went a different route from planned to avoid a couple with dogs which paid dividends. I was slightly wrong about there only being the one foal. Here is our first one. Shakespeare's birthday seemed a popular choice for naming so he is Will:  

Never seen this mare before. I spotted them from a mile away as her foal's white tail stuck out like a sore thumb, reminding me of a rabbit's tail. Couldn't tell the sex but it will be Scut:

Fuzzy one - sorry. I couldn't resist the pose:

 

And then I spotted something brown in the grass:    

                                

Looks like a Nib to me. Can I remember these names? Time will tell. Those people with the dogs I mentioned were making a lot of noise up on Kestor. We were walking some way below but the dogs could here their barks:

I started spring cleaning today, taking everything off our big shelves and washing it. A winter's worth of coal dust and wood ash on the upper ones was not pleasant but it's done and looks a lot better for it. It's been such a busy weekend I haven't even finished replying to comments on the last post; I'd better get on and do that now. Hope you all had a great time and that your week is going well. So, until next time, here are those canine athletes.