Sunday 25 November 2012

Floody hell

The West country is suffering after recent rains, videos uploaded to Youtube (removed Apr 2013) showed surface water flowing down Station Road in Bovey Tracey after several days - perhaps weeks - of excessive rain.  More than 5 inches of rain has fallen on Dartmoor in the past 4 days - according to Dartcom.

One Youtube video shows a Land Rover heading towards, and returning from, the swollen River Bovey passing a crowd of onlookers gathered outside letterboxer's favourite - The Dolphin Hotel - late last night.

The weather this past week has been bad enough to keep WITC away, and we are still to site our Christmas walk.  More news to follow.

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Christmas shopping

There are 42 sleeps till Santa, but we are still shopping for gear.

A new compass was the first thing on our list.  On Dartmoor days when the temperature was anything less than 'hot', a large bubble appeared inside the capsule of our old Silva Expedition 54, which was not just irritating, but bearing inhibitive too.  Fair play to the thing - it was well over a decade old and is well used and abused.  It's replacement is shiny, and certainly performs in lower temperatures!

We have been looking at other Winter bargains too.  The waterproof and grippy Regatta Mid X-LT boots at Gaynor Sports in Ambleside are reduced to clear:  Were £75, now £19.99.   www.gaynors.co.uk

Trespass's knitted Thinsulate gloves from Play.com.  £2 off, so now just £4.99.  www.play.com

"Engineered for optimal moisture management during stop-and-go activities", the Arc'teryx phase AR thermal long sleeve top seems purpose made for letterboxing in Winter.  And Kountry Kit in Tavistock have it at the most competitive price.  £46.  shop.kountrykit.com

Dry feet are a bonus this time of year, and containing both Coolmax (for dry feet) and insect repellent,  Bugsox do the trick.  These socks are discounted by 35% at Above & Beyond.  www.aboveandbeyond.co.uk

And while you're there, update your OS Explorer map.  £5.59 with free delivery is considerably cheaper than WHSmith or Millets...  www.aboveandbeyond.co.uk

The WITC Christmas Walk should be sited in the next week or so - weather dependant!