Wednesday May 17th

Walk from Bradworthy  (Forrest Moor) Eastcott (near  Crimp turbine site)

From the diary:

“The walk to Crimp, just over the border into Cornwall, was easy, and through beautiful countryside. I stopped near Stowford Cross to photograph the turbines one last time. Yet again, one of the turbines was not working, but it was a different one this time. The white van had been there much of the day on Tuesday, and it was back there again. I wondered how much those vans add up to in CO2 emmissions if it comes a long way each day. So many people have said that when they pass the turbines one or other of them is not working.

The rain began, almost as soon as I set out. It was also quite cool. I took the quietest roads and barely saw a car – perhaps one ? - just banks of wild flowers yet again, rolling hills and woods full of bluebells with intimate valley views. The primroses are still out, but fewer, pink campions, bluebells and the cow parsley type flower were predominant. Round cottage gardens I saw lilac and apple blossom, and sometimes azaleas.

In a wooded valley I met a sign saying “Cornwall”. The hill beyond was steep, then it wasn`t far until the main road. There was a verge on it, thank goodness. As I walked along it through the wet grass, I looked back, and saw the Bradworthy turbines on the skyline behind me. I had come five miles by road, although they were perhaps three miles in a direct line from where I stood . They looked larger, if anything, than they had looked nearby, they seemed to loom over the countryside, and their movement was visually distracting in a compulsive way. They dominated the whole landscape – it was difficult to imagine how it must have looked before.

After about half a mile, I took the turn to Eastcott. Sue and Pete`s cottage was some way down the lane, and after I had got confused and called (yet again!) at the wrong, empty house, I called them on my mobile, and Pete came out to meet me in the lane”.

I had only spoken to Pete and Sue on the phone and imagined them to be in their thirties, but they were more my age. On the subject of age, our opponents often say we are all geriatrics, which is why we resist change. The truth is that there are many young people who are against wind turbines, but they are in full-time jobs and cannot find the time that it takes too mount a campaign. The brunt of the work does fall upon people like Pete and Sue, who are both retired teachers. Pete was headmaster of Hartland School, while Sue was a teacher at Holsworthy Community College.

Below are photographs that I took as I walked, and then there is another excerpt from the walk diary.

After we had talked a while, Sue asked if I would like to have a rest for a while. I said what I would really love was a bath. She took me to my room, which had its own bathroom next door. It was very luxurious. “You must have a Radox bath,” she said, “a really good relaxing soak will do you good.”

I put my rucksack in the lovely little bedroom, with sweet cottage windows, and went back into the bathroom. I was about to get undressed when Pete knocked at the door. “Would you like some whisky in your bath?” he was asking. For a moment I misunderstood – whisky with the Radox? I thought, that`s a new way of bathing for me... But when I opened the door he was holding a tumbler with whisky in it for me to drink. It is not something I would ever have thought of before, but I can tell you that soak in the hot bubble bath, with the whisky warming me up inside as well, will stay in my memory as one of the high spots of my life!

I had just finished getting dressed when I heard a knocking outside. It was Marie, come with my other rucksack. I let her in – the back door was by my room. It was lovely to see her again, so soon. I introduced her to Sue and Pete, but she didn`t stay long, I think she had to get back to the puppies.

Sue gave me some crackers as well, and some tea, just to keep me going, while she prepared the supper.

Written the next day

"Thursday May 18th, 7.02 am

Here I am in a lovely cottage bedroom, having been wined and dined last night, as they say.

While supper was cooking, Pete took me out to Welcome in the car.

It had been raining very heavily in the afternoon and by the time the weather changed it was too late to walk there. As this was an “out of county detour” I was prepared to be driven a little way off the route, so I could see the area. I also was hoping to see the location of a painting that is on the Artists against wind farms website (of the coast at Morwenstow) by Georeg West. I did take some photos of what I think was the location.

Sue said” Don`t expect Pete to take you down any rough tracks in his Mercedes.” The roads around Morwenstow are famously narrow and steep, and somehow we did end up down a very rough track with deep water-filled potholes! I was quite worried myself that we might get stuck – there was no way we could turn round, it was so narrow – but we didn`t. It was good to see the sea, and pink clumps of thrift. The wooded valleys were full of bluebells. The gorse too was magnicicent – such a strong golden colour despite the time of the month (latish May)

Sue had made a large chicken casserole, with broccoli from the garden. It was an unusual recipe with apple in it as well, and I had two helpings, followed by lemon meringue pie– delicious. This is becoming quite a culinary adventure as well. Oh, and we had a very nice red wine as well.

Muriel rang to keep check on my progress and was thrilled with how well it was all going.

Two friends, and also Committee members of the group fighting the wind farm came by - Andy and Sue. Andy had made a lake on his land. Sue had told me about it, how lovely it is, and how upsetting it will be if the turbines are built, only about 200 yards beyond the hedge behind the lake.

We had an enjoyable evening – more wine – too much for me. I should have said no, thinking of the walk the next day, but it was good to relax and chat with them all.

This morning I hope to look at their garden, and will meet another committee member before setting of to Rose`s, at Buck`s Cross. I think that will be an 8-10 mile walk.

The forecast isn`t good for the next few days, with heavy rain at times. Never mind, Ive been lucky so far and must expect to get wet sometimes!"