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...