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.