A walk in the snow 07th Feb 2009

A walk in the snow

Snowed out in Chagford

One space remained outside the Pepper Pot amongst all the cars with icings of snow and unmoved for three days.  The Three Crowns was emptying and Big Dave stopped to discuss his birthday celebrations at Exeter Races.  With rucksack loaded with cashboxes from Borough and Broadway, provisions and surplus clothing, and with computer and briefcase I set off home on foot.  Down Mill Street past The Bullers Arms now playing host to the late customers of The Three Crowns, past 22 Mill Street offering credit crunch lunches and dinners and on towards the recreation ground. 

The few tractors and trucks had created tracks making walking a bit easier, but the frosted ruts were still very slippery especially where water had run during the day.  Trudging up Waye Hill with a full moon and a white landscape it was possible to see almost as far as during daylight, however watching where to put your feet limited this appreciation.  Very quickly the last houses were passed and the opportunity to stop for breath and admire the view at the first gateway.  Then on again to Waye Barton and its gaping letterbox demolished by a local stalwart, unnamed but known, on new years eve!  On up past Buda whose naming one can only wonder at, and then scareing the cattle in the first field at the top as an unexpected apparition.

Better progress along the level, now halfway, at Tunnaford Cross now piled high with snow where only four days earlier hounds had met for a most enjoyable gathering.  Then on down the slope past the smallest snowman ever seen - with a nose that Pinochio would be proud of and a smart set of buttons - and a hundred yards further on a fullsize version.  Leaving the cottage at Tunnaford behind home was the next house.  Ten minutes later, well pleased to stop, our gate was reached - in the process disturbing a fox that had been lurking near the mounting block.  Reassured the horses staring out of their boxes at the disturbance, and then indoors to the warmth of a welcome farmhouse kitchen and a mug of tea well laced with whiskey.