It was a beautiful day in Devon today and, as I'm feeling fitter, decided to take advantage of it. My daughter, Riona, was less impressed at being hauled out for 'Mummy time' but I think she secretly likes it.
Anyway, first off we headed for the day mark in south Kingswear. Delighted that I could simply pass the OS map to my daughter and say 'navigate me there'. "Mum," she said slightly rolling her eyes, "with parents like mine how can I NOT be able to read a map?".
TP8772, Day Beacon, is massive. It's impossible to miss and we sauntered up to it for photos etc .
What a gorgeous day to be by the coast.
With an opening like this I wonder if it was ever a night beacon too?
Riona climbing - tut tut.
We then drove up to
TP3276 Furland. Riona decided that she needed to look after the car so I headed off alone. First thing I stumbled across was a trig-like object in the middle of the field.
No idea what it is but it has a screw in the top. And it's leaning at an angle over 80 deg so can't be good for much now. I would have headed straight up to the trig but was deflected by a field of bullocks, so skirted to the west and found it.
You can't knock views like this can you?
Riona and I then attempted to find a passive trig by a roundabout. It was well and truely hidden so next time I'll be there armed with tape measure, spade and - I highly suspect - no children.
Our next trig before lunch (I work these children hard at 1400 hrs) was
Grattery pillar.
Not an easy find as it was on a single track road with privately owned land (and passing places?). I parked in a gateway and wandered off to find the trig. I was then passed by a horsey lady who asked if that was my Citroen in the layby. I pointed out that I was after a trig. And even when I explained what a trig pillar was, and how important they are, she thought it really funny that I was bagging them. I left her laughing to herself about me. She really should get out and meet more surveyors.
I re-parked the car where I was unlikely to be shot by a local farmer and walked back up to the trig zone. Riona had given up on me by now and was installed in the car writting the next chapter of her fanfiction. I bumped into a friendly chap who wasn't "local" (as in, I think he lived a few fields down) but knew where the trig was. He thought me far too young to be a chartered surveyor (hello?) then allowed me to jump a 'private' gate and bag the trig.
Not an easy one to find and I drew blood in the process. To be fair I'd already drawn blood on barbed wire bagging Furland but this time it was a gash to the head. I knew I'd done some damage as my head hurt but, since the farmer was watching, I kept going. I showed him my photos - nods from him - and he then proceeded to tell me about the trig pillar he had outside his back door. Which turned out, on discussion, to be a benchmark.
A slight pause in proceeding as Riona and I drove to the next trig whilst she daubed blood out of my hair as we headed for Berry Head.
We had coffee at the Gatehouse Cafe then bagged the trig with minimal hassle and no blood taking. I was somewhat disconcerted, though, that someone has recently painted this trig purple. Now, purple is my favourite colour but there is a time and a place and trig pillars is certainly not one of them! Honestly. I suppose I should be grateful that someone cares enough to paint it.
Grinning and bearing it.
Being a teenager.
We wandered off to Berry Head and lighthouse.
The Trinity House owned light is still going strong.
As is the benchmark on it.
Wonderful views.
