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Eastern Area |
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Eastern Area |
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| Skirting around Lewannick and on to Plusha we went off road through a farm lane to ford the River Lyner and emerged at Trebartha to rejoin the road to North Hill where we stopped top regroup and pick up a Major (nothing to do with the army!) Following on toward Bathpool it became apparent that word had got around of our arrival as there seemed to be quite a number of spectators all of whom seemed to revel in the sight and sound of these fine old machines. On the road up to Henwood we encountered a contingent of ponies from the popular riding stables based there, despite being a pain in the #ss to them they quietly led off into a yard and waved cheerfully as we went on by, everyone seemed to be in a good mood on Sunday. Our arrival at Minions was met with apprehension by some as there were a number of visitors walking around who by the look on their faces could not work out why the village had suddenly become besieged by old tractors! After admiring the long views from the high ground we dropped a little lower to the small village of Darite which consists almost entirely of miners cottages and then to the quaintly named hamlet of Crows Nest which was once a very busy place as it contained the Count House for the Caradon Hill mines as well as a very busy Inn catering for thirsty miners! |
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Running down the hill into Pensilva the village appeared to be very quiet but we soon changed that! The dinner stop was a little longer than planned and I am sorry some of you had a very long wait albeit a very patient wait, I had quite a lengthy discussions with the staff beforehand and expressed my concern as they had never catered for such a large number before in such a short period of time. However the meal was excellent and everyone seemed more than happy. One of the biggest problems of organising an event like this is the dinner venue as not many places can cater for such a large contingent and many places with not accept tractors! Leaving Pensilva our route took us downhill to once again cross the River Lyner and head upstream towards South Hill and on to Bray Shop to cross a double junction and head up over Tremollett down where wonderful views of distant Dartmoor were a joy to see. This road took us down into the valley of the River Inney at Trekenner Mill where the narrow bridge and tight corner by the old mill proved a bit of a challenge for me pulling the biggest trailer! |
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Just up from the mill we lost a few for a while because someone didn’t wait until the next one came up the hill before moving
on. This seems to happen every year so next year I think we will see one or two small changes to try to stop this occurring We were getting on towards the end now and everyone still seemed in fine fettle so it was no surprise that after getting back to Trethorne no one was in any particular hurry to go home but stood around chatting to friends. As for me well I was very pleased with everything as this years event proved to be the toughest one to organise so far. We went South this year in response to several requests to go out on Bodmin Moor, however this was more difficult than first imagined |
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| The landowners have been exceedingly helpful but alas so much moorland is now under countryside stewardship schemes that the landowners no longer have a say as to who can and cant go on the moor. They cant go against this as they can be kept under surveillance by satellite and could have their payments stopped. However one observation I have made is the fact that when we talk to folk who have made a living on the moor for generations as to what is needed to preserve the moor I get commonsense answers but when I talk to the experts? (no names mentioned) then I am afraid that speaking as a lifelong countryman their policies, schemes and long term environment protection ideas make no sense at all. |
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Well that about it from me. Thanks go to the Davey family for once again allowing us to use Trethorne and its facilities, thank you also to
Mr Peter Cutting for obtaining permission from the Latham family to use the offroad section, likewise to Ruth and Maureen and the team at
Millennium House for the excellent meal. Thanks also to my fellow organiser Mr Paul Burden who never looks for recognition but we would not
have had any offroad bits if it wasn’t for him, and to Mr William Brent who gave up an afternoon to take Paul and myself on a grand tour of
just about every backs road in the area! And thank you the participants one and all for your unerring support, as I have said before it is
your event we just organise it!
All being well there will be an excursion again next year and hopefully I wont have to walk miles of moorland to no
avail ! or talk to any
government departments. |
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