Round the pond

That is to say that in order to recover from the ordeal of a long car journey - with my being a far from an enthusiastic driver  - we thought we would take a walk around Venford Reservoir, last mentioned at reference 1.

First thing, the first of two rabbits, compensation for the absence of tweetable birds. This one an adult.

Second thing, an odd smell from our newly laundered towels. A very faint version of the dreadful air conditioner pong you get in taxis in Swindon, or at least you did when I used to frequent the place in the early years of the new millennium. BH says that they add these pongs to detergents these days. But why?

Third thing, running low on bread, a bowl of warming porridge. Taken on this occasion with honey from a neighbour who got it from Harrods, honey which captures the aroma and flavour of 1,900 different flora grown beneath the warmth of the Cypriot sun. I found it a bit strong with porridge, but did much better with it later in the week on brown toast. Investigating today, I find that Harrods got it from P. S. Lambis, who appear to operate out of an upstairs office in Regent Street. The trail led me to reference 2. But there I stuck, as their shop appears to be even more exclusive than Harrods, as shown by the snap above.

Suitably warmed, on over the moor, over the dam to the car park on the far side, a car park which was reasonably busy with hikers, dog walkers and outdoor types generally. One chap had set up outside his camper van and was frying up - but not sufficiently outdoor that he was using a Primus. Camping Gaz or some such. And this despite the many notices forbidding sleeping in vans anywhere on or near the moor.

And so anticlockwise around the reservoir, surrounded by a screen of trees. Under which there were plenty of foxgloves coming through and plenty of bluebells. On which subject, the foxglove seeds I scattered last autumn in the new daffodil bed back in Epsom don't seem to have come to anything at all. Most annoying. While the fence with the little balls stuck on the spikes, first noticed at reference 3, clearly goes all away round, as can be seen from the snap above. But was the bank beyond natural or was it made from spoil from the reservoir?

Roots on path. The sort of thing that one of the wood engravers from the middle of the last century could have made something of?

No idea who or what did this damage. Deer could easily have got over the fence, but I have no idea whether deer are a problem on Dartmoor. And I don't think the responsible water board have yet been cajoled into doing beavers. Maybe that will come. At their peril to my way of thinking. Think copyu.

The waterworks, with the fine water board house beyond. Not a bad place to live, provided you don't fret about the dam above when you can't get to sleep at night. Plenty of conifers, but no Wellingtonia to be seen.

We didn't think that it was anything to do with fish or fish ladders, but maybe the spillway from the northern corner of the reservoir. No idea why such an elaborate structure is needed, which reminded me of a nineteenth century fortification, but it was a fine example of twentieth century concrete work.

PS 1: our cottage was part of the Fore stoke complex, bottom centre, offering fine views to the east.

PS 2: I have a query out with South West Water about where the water goes to when it leaves the reservoir. We will see how long it takes them to respond.

Reference 1: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2021/05/dartmoor-tweets.html.

Reference 2: We set up P S Lambis in memory of my father to bring you exceptional Cypriot food and drink including Olive Oil, Honey and Coffee. http://pslambis.com brings you ΟΣΟ/OSO. In Greek this means ‘as long' or 'as much’: an array of exceptional foods. Each of our products has a special connection to the life of P S Lambis and those closest to him. They each played a major role in his development and those of his family. They start from his youngest and most formative years in the village of Ayia Fyla, Cyprus, to his successful business life in England. Despite his humble beginnings he built (and lost) business empires. During these often turbulent times these products were instrumental in how he and the family dealt with all that life sent our way. Our exceptional products sourced from the finest producers in the Republic of Cyprus, ranging from the purest of Extra Virgin Olive Oils to outstanding Honeys and a Coffee that has a history dating back to Byzantium.

Reference 3: https://psmv3.blogspot.com/2017/05/on-holne-moor.html.