And here’s another one from Dartmoor in July, a penultimate Devonian tick. Can you guess the last one ?
Hennock is hard to hard to place, “Teign Valley, up the hill between Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh“, I guess. Till, you realise that you’re the only person in Sheffield who could place Exeter on a map, let alone Bovey.
Great views from the hilltop, and what looks like a UFO on the right but is probably a spaceship.
Normally I tell you about events that have already happened a month ago, but By George was already 3 months gone when I got there. Or else it’s in 2023. I NEVER book anything more than a day head; it tempts fate at my age.
Hennock is a delight for fans of untroubled, untouched ol’ England.
But after 90 minutes energetic walking the bounds I was bored and was wondering if the Palk Arma might open early if I paced up and down, particularly as I saw lights on.
No chance.
So I sat in the bus shelter across the lane for half an hour, ready to pounce when the door opened at 5, and planned my trip to Rousay.
Blimey, looked complicated.
A couple my age (middle) approached the bus shelter and claimed to have done a long walk as well.
“Any sign of the pub opening ?” they asked. “10 minutes, I’ve been waiting a while” I said, staking my claim.
And then they only went and stood at the door, queue jumping.
I amble over, pointed to the UFO to distract them, and sneaked in first as the door opened at 16:57.
Just as well, they were right ditherers. I’d ordered and, indeed, drunk my NBSS 3 half of Teignworthy (a steeper than the hill £2.25) while they were still coming in.
The Palk was charming; pickled eggs, dartboard, worn carpet, local beer, proper seating. There’s only another 3,288 pubs like it in Devon like it, I reckon.
And my FINAL Devonian tick wasn’t anything like those 3,288.
retiredmartin 