The Watching Way

 

For those of you keen to know, the fourth walk, The Watching Way is nearly ready for public consumption. Just a few minor details to complete as I have approval for placement of the secret signing book deep in the forest and have rearranged a little of the story to work with that final spot.

Previously as the storywalk was created for Somerset Art Week, there were clues left in each of the current walks. Put all the parts together and you would have the special secret download URL for the walk.

So the walk is posted, but awaiting approval from Geocaching.com to put on their site, when that's in order I will put the box in place. So if you want to download the walk, here is the link

www.toyahoy.co.uk/the-watching-way.php

One click and it'll start to download the .gwz file to go in the player on your mobile device. (Check here on my website for help on this.)

The story is set in Dulverton and is about clocks and time, it has site specific elements and you are asked to participate in the journey through the story, but I don't want to give too much away just now!

Huskyrat find the Winding Charm, Dunster

It is always a very rewarding feeling when folks do one of my walks, I suppose that there are enough reviews and history in the logs now, so there is less likely hood of people doing the walk unprepared. So this is what Huskyrat left as a review. (Thanks)

A fantastic tour which showed me parts of Dunster I had never been too.The whereigo adventure has a lot more going for it than first meets the eye, and this one has been lovingly written up.Did have a nervous start as Buffhusky and I had the geolurcher with us and dogs are not permitted where the adventure starts. 

Between us, we got going and every thing eventually muddled out.

Thank you very much. PS. Did just make it back in time for the parking! There is a lot to it.

The Lost and The Found

Yesterday I checked out the Dunster cache as there has been quite a lot of 'press' focussed on the little village of late. All the noise is about the removal of certain cobbles to lay some natural stone which will make the path smoother for all who walk upon them.

It has taken the village 10 years to get a single pavement changed and a lot of negotiations with the Exmoor National Park and villagers alike, but that's another story all together. The post I am writing today was about the loss of the little box hidden in the flower beds of (oops nearly let it out - top secret place!) When I passed yesterday I thought I should just check if it was still there and no!! it was gone!! With all the building works around and the general upheaval I thought there was a possibility of it disappearing and yes it had vanished. Possibly gone to that great land fill in the sky, to be lost forever.

I asked in the pub if the gardener had taken it but no, and they knew all about it so wouldn't have thrown it away. All those signatures and comments from all the walkers over the past year or two,

So I quickly bought a new box and prepared it ready for hiding again this morning, but as I passed through the village I thought I should ask the workmen who are still hard at laying York stone. There is an odd embarrassment when trying to explain what the box is, but finally I think I have cracked it. I say, I hid a box in the flower beds and have you seen it? 

Is it the one with the little book? 

Yes I said, 'well it's in the office, we thought it was some time capsule and were going to bury it some where else!'

Found. Brilliant.

So I dug a better hole this time (with full permission of course), and popped it back in it's place ready for the next visitor.

But the crazy bit was as I was popping the box back a man was walking across the new paving slabs and he tripped! Not badly, more of a stumble really but even so, got to chuckler

The sun always shines on the righteous!

Last week I walked the Winding Charm in Dunster and read it out loud to all who came. 

As with all performances I must admit I was a little nervous and on the morning in question the skies were black and pendulous, it had actually rained quite a lot over the last day or two and I thought the ground was going to be very slippery indeed.

I made my way to the Yarn Market to find my first companions waiting and already part drowned They had only walked from the car park in Dunster and looked like they had swam it.

But there is no such thing as bad weather just poor clothing, and my devoted storywalkers were suitably dressed in boots and proper coats.

Their heads were wet but spirits were in good stead, which is all the well as the walk does take a good couple of hours, and dragging little ones about Dunster in the rain would have been foolish.

There was rain and there was sun in equal measure, but my story, the Winding Charm has enough interactivity to draw in all the little (and big!) people along it's path. I was a little worried that I wold have too many people when I first posted and then have difficulty managing the crowd. But I was not to worry about over subscription as the rain was enough to make only the devout attend (or the fool hardy!) 

On the walk we did catch a heavy shower crossing Dunster castle grounds, but were more amazed at the mass of people picnicking at the same time, they were couched beneath umbrellas and parasols, bracing themselves against Britain's best. What gusto, and stiff upper lipishness, but picnicking in the UK is always a little bit like weather roulette.

The end of the walk finished with both sun and rain together which meant we had the treat of a rainbow which seems very fitting for the crescendo of a folk story.

Many thanks to all those who came.

The next one I will be reading out loud is The Last Queen, in Horner Woods. This is not actually in Horner but about 10 mins drive up the valley. The walk starts at Pool Bridge campsite entrance, with the nearest post code being TA24 8JS.

See you there.





Sunday 2nd October 2011

Horner water -  The Last Queen - No charge, just your time.

Meet at 11am (pool bridge) OS Land Ranger ref SS874447 with the family ready for a walk into the woods, and perhaps a wild swim at the end!

1.5 miles total allow 2 hrs

GPS 51.19058,-3.61124

OS Land Ranger SS874447

the keys to the trees

Yesterday I ran like the wind into the dark woods of Porlock Weir and Horner. Though truth be told the sun shone so they were not that dark and my running is certainly not like the wind! But these woods are truly magnificent whatever the weather, and whatever the excuse.

Today Somerset Art Week is live, open studios throughout the county and lots of 'Art Happenings' to visit and become involved in. So there was a need for me to check that all was ticketty boo with the walks and especially the visitors books hidden in their secret places.

 Not happy just to put three unusual art pieces into Art Week I decided to go that little bit further and create a fourth secret walk. This would only be accessible by those who have completed the first three, so yesterday it was time to put the keys in the boxes along side the log books. With the three separate keys you would be able to put the URL together and then download the hidden tale.

The Dunster log was easy, I pass it daily and though I have to be careful not to be spotted, I can check it easy.

  Horner is less simple and the same with Porlock, each have their log at the end of the walk, so hardest first I high tailed it to Porlock Weir, parked up and then changed into my running shoes in a very busy car park. Off up the track, I was out of sight from gortex clad Nordic walking maniacs, and into the hills. Half way to the cache I realised I only had one of the key cards with me, but one was enough (better be!), and I would be back there anyway a week on Sunday to do that walk again with SAW guests, I'd just drop the rest off then. I did run all the way with the exception of the steps, and it is up hill all the way, which for running means downhill all the way back - fabulous.

Back in the car park, I then put the yellow Somerset Art Week signs up to mark my territory, they say Venue 91 and have the storywalks url on. I was thinking for those finding a venue sign without reading about the storywalks will be none plussed indeed. Where is the Art, where are the chicken illustrations, where is the cake!?

Next to Horner but a little easier as it was not so far, then home for the school run, caches checked, yellow Somerset Art Weeks signs in place and pretty nervous about reading and walking the tales out loud over the next few weeks. I am sure there will be highs and lows, peeks and troughs.

Wish me luck and look forward to seeing you on the trail...

Dunster Sunday 18th Sept 11am and 2pm walled village garden - bring something to make wishes with!

Porlock Weir Sunday 25th Sept 11am Weir car park - bring your walking shoes

Horner (Pool Bridge campsite entrance)Sunday 2nd Oct 11am - bring your cozzey for a little wild swimming!

*Note pool bridge is at the top of Horner valley and is about 10 mins drive from Horner itself.

CamsWhittle visit the Winding Charm

The last few weeks have been great, I have handed a lot of Somerset Art Week brochures out and proudly say each time, 'my work is on page 56' or 'have a look at the Storywalks, I did that!' 

Quite a few of my customers at both Toy Ahoy and Number Seven Dulverton have already done the walks, but during Art Week they will be joining the foray again. 

(Remember the secret fourth walk - only accessible during Art week, and the first completing it will get a little something special from me!)

But possible the best thing has been that the walks are getting some attention, especially the Dunster walk The Winding Charm. Here are a few excepts from this summers storywalkers. Note these have all come through the geocaching portal, which is free to join and has lots of benefits when it comes to logging the find, feedback and sharing images. But you don't have to do it that way, the walks are open and free to all. 

If you do use Geocahing it appears to be essential that you have a crazy group name, as you can see below!

CamsWhittle (Photo left)

Our first wherigo and good fun we had to. Our youngest (7) was really into the story and discussed the antics of the fairies for hours afterwards. Took some locals with us and even they hadn't explored some of the places we went. A great couple of hours. See charm attached. With Thanks

BuffHusky (excert)

My first Wherigo, which I did with Huskyrat today. Only downloaded the Wherigo app this morning, as had been meaning to do one of these for a while - a lovely, sunny walk around Dunster, which took us to several places we hadn't seen before, as well as some old favourites, particularly around the Castle area.

Super Naitos

Thank you very much for the Winding Charm Werigo.
Completed on August 19th with Oregon 200 and also started on iphone, but I turned it off half way through to save batteries, wished I had done it all on iphone just to see if I could upload it directly to Werigo after.

My 9 year old daughter and I enjoyed ourselves on Friday 12th walking through Dunster for an hour following your well thought out story. She is not at all interested in geocaching, but thought this would interest her, and it did ( she wants to try your others-but not sure we will have time before we return to Japan !)
I had visited Dunster 3 years ago, but only walked down the main st with my parents, never explored the lovely stream area or walled garden.
My daughter was half believing it, and thought the gate opened magically when I whispered into it. After dropping our charm into the stream, we had to literally run ......well not giving any more away-but kids/girls will enjoy the story that goes with this well thought out and planned Werigo.
This is what goecaching is all about-not micros out the back of Tescos (IMHO!)

12th August=Completed the fantastic werigo but unfortuantly could not find the cache. Though I did disturb a large toad in a suitable hiding place for a cache box!

19th August=(Log updated above) Could not leave the area without going back for another look ( as cache owner kindly checked after my DNF and cache was there!) After a ridiculous 2 hour drive up from Tiverton (which should take about 40 min according to locals who know the way and do not get lost!) I finally made it onto the A39 and I headed west towards Dunster. Traffic terrible and still 6 km to go, after 40 min I start seeing signs for the Dunster show-TODAY!!! Should I give up??, but after 2 1/2 hours driving already -what's a few more KM? An hour later I finally arrive and find cache straight away-how on earth did I miss it last week!!! Then leave Dunstar to be hit with traffic jams on the M5 all the way back up to Bristol. But it was a fantastic Werigo that my daughter enjoyed and wants to try the others in the series ( Next year maybe when/if we are back in the area!)

Now thats dedication Super Naito's, thanks.

Go directly to Jail, do not pass go or collect £200...

...That's kind of the stage right now, I've got Somerset Art Week coming up really soon, and a promised fourth secret walk to produce, but not all is so tickety-boo! They do say lightening never strikes twice. Well we have two (ageing) computers and both have gone AWOL over the last few weeks. One losing it's mind in the process, and though I may be forgetful it would appear that my machines really take the biscuit.

On the one hand I feel my work is very grounded, I write stories, text based and free, but then I roll in the tech and wrap them up in GPS wizardry which does need a little more than pencil and paper. And of course with new tech (new machines) then there are new problems, but nothing like a dead line to get focused, and stressed which is not where I like to be, especially with this kind of thing. The walks are fun and when I start forcing things they lose their wings a little, or perhaps gain new heights!!

So readers and followers, if I have lost your email, then really sorry but fate has given me a clean slate, or rather hard drive! The final piece is coming together all be it in a new style, and the walks already posted are now set in stone. since The back end files for tinkering have gone so I must park those tales and focus on fresh ground. This is good because I did keep on returning to them, trying to improve and tweek, but now I can't so it's new work I must focus on.

All I need is a to roll a double and I shall be on my way once more...

Somerset Art Works / Weeks published

Somerset Art Week has just been delivered so I am very excited indeed. I am Venue No 91 and thankfully in three places (which is how it should be!)

So if you want one, give me a call, email, request. They list all the Somerset venues for the SAW event this September and there seems to be some damn fine stuff on the horizon.

But for now I shall just bask in the glory of being in print!

Another who caught the Winding charm

Just had confirmation that Hillhousehold completed the Winding Charm in Dunster at the end of May. Here are their comments, .

My first cache of this sort,found with the family whilst on holiday, struggled with the GPS on my Android phone, but found all the clues eventually. Great fun.

Short concise and straight to the point which I love, no photo's as yet but may come through in time.This one is from the Last Queen portfolio.

The other big news is that the forth secret walk is on it's way, and I shall be placing the 'keys' in the boxes at the end of  the three current walks on the  17th September. This is the start of Somerset Art Week,  but more about that in time, have patience, have patience!!

What are Story Walks?

I wrote this below for the Exmoor Magazines blog and felt it should be here also. The core ideals of Toy Ahoy (my toy shop) come from the place where children often reside - their imagination, that land of play and as an adult it seems to be a place we never frequent or at least very rarely. 

Whilst writing the storywalks I was determined to be creative in a manner I have not done before, to work in a new medium. In order to do this I felt I should draw upon my childhood somehow and also apply 'new tech' to traditional storytelling.

Many years ago my Mum said to me after seeing my teacher, that 'I always was a bit of a day dreamer.' I was only nine at the time but remember this vividly still.

Today I know my colours have not changed, and I am still in part the day dreamer but feel it is the part of me which hasn't been sanitised or educated away. the last bit of my childhood that is the fresh bow in the mind.

So here it is, the blog for Exmoor Magazine, hope it makes sense and draws a few more into the coven!

Story Walks – Tales from the Combe, are free site specific stories that you can download into your smart phone or sat nav. Each chapter of the story is linked to the location and with clever use of the GPS you are guided along, not sure where it will end or what will happen. The stories are all different, site specific, and ask you to interact with the tale as you journey.

Chris Jelley of Toy Ahoy Minehead has made these three stories, all of which are free to download and walk, and all take place in stunning locations in West Somerset.

‘I created them for my family originally (and myself!) but thought perhaps others would like to enjoy them too, so I timidly offered them to my regular customers who I thought might be interested. This went really well so the next natural step was Somerset Art Week this autumn which would connect to a different audience entirely.’

In preparation for SAW a web page followed (www.tinyurl.com/storywalks) which would answer those FAQ’s and put all the correct links together. I needed to make it as easy as possible for people to do the walks and not let the tech get in the way of the tale.

At the end of each walk is a hidden book for you to make your mark and prove that you have done it. They are great as you get to read what others have written after their experience. There is also a blog http://storywalks.blogspot.com/ (which is here!) where there are photos and testimonials from those who have recently done the walks.

So in a nut shell
Three walks, three locations, three journeys.
Site specific story walks in west Somerset,
Download app and walk into your smart phone,
Travel to the location
Read out loud to friends and family
Let the story unravel the secret path
Become part of the tale
Sign the hidden log
Spread the word
Suitable for all ages

Walking the walk

This entry was made just the other day and thought it should be shared, I especially like the photo they took.

We left Woolacombe and had a lovely drive across Exmoor towards the start point. We decided to attempt this one first as it looked a little shorter and boy were we right! We all really enjoyed the walk through the valley and found the story whilst caching a novel idea. I can definitely see the potential of Whereigo although it must take quite a lot of effort to set up. Thanks for bringing us to this lovely location - we really enjoyed our day out. We took a few photos too so I will upload those when I can.

tell tales

Some stories cling to you and the more you try to shake them the more they seem to rut in, like a song that pesters you relentlessly throughout the day.

Other stories I believe are the making of us, they are the foundations stones and the food of our early years. In a time before our own memories and speech we are fed folk stories and fairy tales at bed times. The last thoughts of the day are of heroes vanquishing dragons, and the wolf becoming undone. These in time become our very substance and moral tableau, the ground from which we have evolved into adults.

Personally I like a tale that has the texture of salted leather and enjoy the darker brush stokes of stories. Perhaps this comes from  Jack and the Beanstalk (giant killer and thief)  or Red Riding Hood (she knew, I know she knew,  I am sure she knew, didn't she?) Or the tale where the witch spins the golden fleece for the imprisoned princess, and her hands turn black with spindle grease (a tale of broken hearts and broken promises where there is honour in just the word.) All these tales have dark hearts and confusing morals, I think the only true moral of a fairy tale is that not all tales have morals!

In my mind folk tales and stories are there to challenge you, to hide behind half truths and fractured memories. They are shallow and foolish, beguiling and tragic,  subversive, evocative, under estimated and over looked but mostly they are haunting, and they haunt me gladly.

So there is a competition from illustrator Jackie Morris  She has released a challenge, prompted by questioning children as to what lies within the little bottle that adorns her. Jackie has set a competition which we have decide to pick up the gauntlet and also pass it on...

So what do I believe is captured in the bottle?  

Grease for the cold spring in her leg iron, for without it the joint would stutter and seize, sending hot humours to her heart, which could crack asunder like splint glass in a trice ,and then where would we be?

For a peek into the creative world  of Jackie Morris and her studio do take a look at Drawing A line in Time. Here you will find details, where you too, can enter her delightful competition. Also books by Jackie and other intriguing artists can be found in Number Seven Dulverton.

The first of many (hopefully)

 

Just had an email through with the first 'geocachers' doing two of my walks in the same day! I've not had feed back yet but hope they had a good time. I will include any images and comments on the site when appropriate.

But thought it would be good to put these pictures up of the church door at Stoke Pero. A beautiful place which is Anglo Saxon in age, and has great barrel vaulted ceiling. It's the highest parish church on the moor and overlooks the valley where 'the last queen' story walk resides.

Nobody knows what these words say, so if you do then you should get in touch. I am sure it's something like keep quiet, or please close the door it's drafty on the moor! The door is actually quite dark and tricky to see but the photos really show the carvings pretty well.

It is definitely worth a stop by if you are doing the last queen walk.

Faery brew and The Heather Drink

I found this bottle at the end of 'The Last Queen' walk in Horner woods. At first I thought, oh there's some litter, I'll take it home and put it in the recycling rather than leave it here spoiling a beautiful spot. But then I noticed it was not that new, the glass looks hand made and the words sandblasted onto the glass were unique.

This is no bottle discarded into the hedge by louts this is a piece of art placed in this special place. The engraving says 'A woodland house in a row of three' does anyone know what it is and why it was there?

I do know that I am not the first artist to do a trail in this place and am intrigued to find those who have trod the path before and pick their brains.

I thought I might brew some special beer (when I've given it a proper clean!!) ready for another walk. It does remind me of a story I used to tell around schools and festivals called The Heather Drink. It was based on a Scottish legend about the Picts who were early medieval people living in the highlands and brewed a drink from the purple heather.

It was said to taste like nothing on earth and anyone who tasted just a drop would become free hearted, fearless and fair. It's one of those great stories that has it's feet on some good historical truths and blends them with true storytelling guile. Ask me and I shall be happy to share it with you, and in return you could share your heather drink with me.

The last cache and the Billy Witch

Well, all three logs are now in place, the files are dressed up and in their requisite locations and all that’s needed now is storywalkers!

On Monday I dropped off the last cache box in Culbone woods and found one of these bugs. They are huge, the one in the photo I took the day before as it had been trying to fly through our kitchen window. They are called Cockchafers (I kid you not!! have a look at this Wiki page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockchafer ) though I like the name Billy Witch more.


Apparently they were serious pests back in the days before pesticides eating oak leaves mainly, and in ancient Greece children used to tie muslin to the bugs feet and watch them fly in spirals! When this one opened it's wings I was surprised at it's inability to fly up, it just seemed to kamikaze around into the lights (which we then turned off) and he then kamikazed into us!!

 When we dropped the cache and log book off, there were so many people walking the woods it was quite a surprise. One couple suggested it was like Blackpool promenade! Great the woods are walked though and a little shame that the tea making shack of yester year is no longer there at Culbone.

This is round the back of the church, and it's not the best picture but you can see a little chap with pointy ears and a long piggy nose. We wondered if all the residents of Culbone looked like this at one time!

And finally Art on the trail, this walk is so rich in many ways and to find impromptu art just on the path is very refreshing.

The secret journal

Yesterday I ventured into the forest once more to drop the second of the three journals (one for each walk). For those of you unaware, each walk has a journal hidden at the end. Only through traversing the walk through all it's stages would the log location be revealed. The Dunster walk and it's journal has been live for some time, but yesterday was the Last Queens turn.

In simple terms it's just a little book, but it becomes something else when everyone who walks the walk writes their little piece within the leaves. It is such treat when I return to read the log, sometimes very little is said but other times it there is an in depth account of one groups adventure. But what is really lovely is that when you leave a note you can read others experiences' too, with the knowledge that every person has been on this story walk.

Latest visitors to the Winding Charm in Dunster

This has just come through and it makes it all worth while. Many thanks ed2ed (the team who walked it yesterday)

 This was our first Wherigo and what a great introduction to this cache type!  It was also a birthday cache for Mr E AND our 250th milestone cache to boot.  The storytelling in this cache is excellent.  The location is used to very good effect and the story links in with the landscape well.  While we had no children with us we can see how this is a well-crafted family caching experience.  We have been to Dunster half a dozen times before in the past, but this adventure took us to several new places we would never have found but for following the faerie.  The Android player worked very well and did not distract from the gameplay.  All in all a very good cache and worthy of a favourite point.  Well done!  The added bonus was the physical cache at the end, which was quickly retrieved in high muggle territory.  Putting it back took a bit more stealth.  The log book was another treat to find. Very nice and in keeping.

Far from the real world

This Sunday we we're back in the woods on a different trail and had a great walk with the boys. Of course we set up a rope swing somewhere on route (which we took down as well ready for the next tree).

It was one of those 'do we have to' mornings which ended with 'that was a great walk, can we go again?'

The woods are all ready to erupt into greenery just now, though they are pretty well upholstered with moss anyway, but even so the canopy is brown and grey, ready for that singing green of new growth. And talking of moss, as there has been so little rain, all the moss on stumps and stones was really dry and perfect for bony bums!

Will be dropping off the cache containers soon and making the walks complete, ready for Somerset Art Week in September (and earlier for anyone wanting to do them) Rather pleased as we have permissions and all tickety boo, now need to create the log books (and box) prepared for placing.

Angels in the walls

We found these in Dulverton the other day on a walk up the river.

The Shiralee and the woodcutter.

When ever I walk in the forest and find a branch of one type of tree seemingly growing inside another I always think of this story.

The Shiralee is a forest demon who guards the woods at night, all wood cutters fear him as the story goes that one night the moon was so bright that a wood cutter found himself walking deeper and deeper in to the trees in search of the perfect sample for a beam in his house. It must not be too curvy, nor too thick, on and on he went into the thick forest until at last he found the tree he needed. He lifted his axe and began to chop, for a while he worked in the bright moon light cutting a wedge from the tree until a terrible screech stopped him dead. Suddenly coming towards him was an ancient mossed and gnarled tree, it was moving at great speed with branches flailing and a hideous cavernous hole in it's trunk shaped like a distorted mouth.

The woodcutter screamed himself falling to his knees in fear. 'What do we have hear, a wood cutter in my forest?' screeched the mighty tree, it's voice like ripping bark.

'No I meant no harm' spluttered the wood cutter.

'Too late. the deed is done, you are mine now.' and the tree stooped over the woodcutter to rip him apart. The wood cutter thought fast knowing that he only had moments to live.


'Wait, surly you can't take me yet as I haven't finished the job, the tree still stands.'

'Oh.' said the Shiralee.

'Perhaps you can assist me in finishing the job, you place your hand here and help me push the tree over.' The wood cutter pointed to the slot he had cut in the trees trunk. The Shiralee thought for a second and agreed, so put a branch against the tree as requested.


'After three, push really hard.' said the wood cutter, but in that instance he picked up the wedge from the forest floor and shoved it back in the slot trapping the Shiralee's branch in there aswell. With a swift swing of the axe he drove the wedge home locking it firmly in place, then quickly stepped back out of the Shiralee's reach.

The forest was filled with a mighty roar, a terrible ripping and ear splintering sound but the Shiralee was trapped. The wood cutter fled the wood and never returned.

Sometimes on windy nights you can hear the tearing scream of the Shiralee as he tries to pull himself loose to no avail. But if ever you happen to be in the forest and see a branch of one tree growing inside another what you have found is the entrapped Shiralee, and what ever you do, don't go cutting him free!

Great News - stop press!!

I am rather pleased to have permission to place a log book for visitors to find once they have completed a walk. They are hidden at the end of the trails so the only signatures will be those who have walked the path.

I do feel that things are coming together, and gathering pace. The original tech issues which I felt were a hurdle insurmountable have all been overcome (well nearly all - get on the programme Nokia!) So now it comes down to media promotion, getting the word out that these special walks exist, they are free and just simple family fun.

So where to from here? Well lots of promotion to do of course but I have a itch to do a fourth hidden walk, the clues will be hidden in the current walks. So the theory is that only by doing the three walks can you decipher the fourth route.

Still working on this so nothing live as yet, but all in good time.

Permissions to place the logs in the hidden valley of Horner

Great news, I have permission to place a log in the Horner Valley, so that all who tread the tale can sign the book. Top secret though as it would certainly spoil it if you knew where the log was hid. But just to let you know, it's not placed yet so don't get your twigs in a twist just yet.

Many thanks to the supportive folk at the Holnicote Estate, National Trust, who preside over and manage this corner of Somerset, epsecially Rob Manicom countryside ranger.

New media old story

I have been thinking about the mix of new media and tech and how liberating it is becoming, when I was a student (back in the late 80's) I was desperate to do film and video work. Cameras were available as this was the video age, but editing and actually putting a film together seemed impossibly difficult.

And here we are in the 21st century and even my eldest son (11yrs) has a video with editing ability on his mobile. But even when we are drowning in tech there is still the difficulty of just doing it.

It should be as easy as breathing to whiz a movie together, and with tech at the current level it almost is, but the real test is whether that movie is worth watching. Sure I would love to see a movie by my boy but I'm not sure if you would, its the strength of the tales that can enable it to travel.

I suppose this is the constant test of all authors, will the story stand up? Perhaps if it does or not just depends on the reader. I have customers in my Toy shop who will read everything and anything, I also have those who wouldn't be seen dead reading a children's book. I understand completly why and try to observe this in my self and then undo that knot (or tie it harder depending!)

When I originally started playing with these GPS stories I put in lots of gimmicks in the programming but they felt extraneous to the tale. The more I wrote the simpler the program became, and any task that was handled by programming that could be done for real was ousted. Why have a virtual flower when you can lean out and touch a real one. My theory was that this would engage the party reading and walking the tale within the story more effectively, and I think it really has, especially with the winding charm in Dunster. Perhaps I felt the walks were techy enough so going for the lo fi approach suited me better, and the walks aswell.

As always the proof is in the pudding, I hope you enjoy the eating. If these go well then perhaps I will break my procrastination and actually make a film!

Alternative reality games in Somerset!

I read recently about alternative reality games, you probably know about them already. They are puzzles that take place in reality but have a set of modern parameters for the followers to complete in able to get to the next piece. One involved solving a puzzle which released an email with GPS and time co ordinates in it, if you went to that place at that time then you would see a plane spiralling a message into the sky which would solve that part, and then give you vital information to solve the next riddle.

I am not sure you would get me jetting off to the requested GPS, but I love the ideas, the chase and the reward being as simple as I've done it.

The above image is from a tale that takes place near Porlock Somerset. To read the tale you have to journey to Porlock Weir, with GPS enabled device. (Possibly your mobile phone - fully charged!) The tale happens over the walk, as you journey chapters are revealed till at last the story is complete and you are at your destination. Of course you could walk that way without any device, and it would still be worth it, as the woods around here are stupendous. But having the story along aswell takes you to another place. It's a little like finding a hidden sculpture deep in a forest clearing. Someone took time to make, time to craft and then site all those years ago. Was that done just for you? Why did you see it? Was it the light, the hour, the angle, all coming together like an eclipse, after all those years hidden in the undergrowth, it can make you feel very privileged.

The story walks were created in this way, there was no big puzzle beyond the tales themselves, and you can't read the tales without walking the trail. Each chapter reveals the next location, so you don't know where you are really going at all!

You said tales, yes there are some other walks hidden in the hills around here too, and who knows I may put a code in at the end of each. Some kind of cypher to unpick a hidden web page with a special tale to download, revealing a clandestine destination only for those with mind and heart ready to venture into the inner circle!

to the trees . .

Just put my SAW application in and rather pleased too. Three tale three journeys, three locations.I have a feeling that this year is going to be rather rewarding. Still plenty to do, I was unable to automate the email responses, and after a good wrestle I decided to give up the good fight and do the manual thing.

To be honest this is the better option as when people visit the site and then email me, I would like to put something personal in the note. After all they are giving up their precious time which is a commodity which seems to be squandered so often (queues, commuting, holding on telephone, shall I go on!!) So when you have decided to go do something like this, which is a little out there on the edge, not sure what to expect or if it will all be worth it. Then I feel you need to be at least in connection with the creator even in the mildest way.

I am quite proud of these walks, they are in truly magnificent places, so even if the story doesn't play properly, your battery dies, or you 're chased from a field by a crazed sheep (can happen!) Just make the most of it, and enjoy the places.

Feel like I'm making excuses here, but these walks have been done quite a few times, but not across such a range of devices, and with such a range of players and applications. Just let me know how it went for you and then I can create a feedback page and testimonials page on the site. Actually I might do that anyway, that's a great idea, watch this space.

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The impossible we can do but miracles take a little longer

This weekend I shall be taking some more pictures for the Somerset Art Works brochure, the last ones of the hand through the tree have not come together as well as I'd liked even though we had great sunshine on the day. I have a hunch that the day coming to shoot on will not be so crisp, finding a tree that is in sun that has 'the right' kind of hole for this sort of picture, at this time of year!

Wish me luck, this image's hole is twenty foot up a tree hidden in the Horner valley. The book on the first blog is easier to access but the photo's are all OK not fantastic, and I'm really looking for the fantastic. As a boss said to me once 'the impossible we can do but miracles take a little longer'

On a file note, I have been struggling with email auto responders that can carry an attachment (my walks) any suggestions anyone?

Where the story begins

Art for me is a personal thing, it's about keeping a green bough in the mind. These tales came out of the ether, and my heart, I wanted to do something that felt fresh and different.

Something which encapsulated the diverse aspects which influence me, namely trees, storytelling, folklore, and tech! (and in that order too.)

It's odd where you end up at the end of this kind of journey, and in many ways these tales are still unfolding, still renewing.

I hope you like the journey and destination, the work was originally created for me and my family to enjoy, now it's time to share it with a wider community.

C Jelley