Bits and pieces

We have been a little quieter this week so I had the opportunity to have some time with mum before the busy weekend. We went shopping and then the touristy things that I never normally get a chance to do like going around Dunster Castle. The views from the windows are magnificent stretching right away to the coast and then up to the Quantock Hills.

It has been lovely having mum to stay and unfortunately she went back home to Julie’s today. Mum is quite remarkable for her age – at 86 she is totally with it and if there is anything we need to know it’s a case of paging the oracle!

GREAT excitement in the Brown household this week – we bought a new washing machine. After several attempts to firstly program it into English and then to actually get a load washed – mum and I resorted to the instructions!

Yesterday it was really hot and sunny – about 22degrees. I took the dogs up to Dunkery Beacon via Spangate and then to Webbers Post and home via the Dunster path. Soda and I were both a little tired by the time we got home but Wistful and Wagtail were ready to go on again – they are both so fit!

Derek has been out and taken some smashing photos on Codsend Moor near Exford. The trees are looking beautiful at the moment – just starting to turn and the red deer rut has definitely started judging by the strange sounds echoing across the moor!

Active Exmoor

Mum has been staying with us for the past couple of weeks while my sister Julie has been leading a Ramblers walk in Italy. It’s been lovely having mum to stay as we have been out and about - and I haven’t touched the ironing board in a week!
As always, there is something going on up here on Exmoor. For the past fortnight it has been Somerset Arts Weeks when people are invited to go visit local artists and view their work in their own homes and studios. It’s fascinating to see how different artists capture the essence of Exmoor in such totally different ways and through such different mediums.

October is very active month on Exmoor with a range of different events taking place from the Exmoor Walking Festival with 32 guided walks to choose from, to the Exmoor 30:30 – a challenge to carry 30lbs over 30 miles of open moorland for the benefit of one of the selected charities: Army Benevolent Fund, Help For Heroes, Royal British LegionSt. John's Ambulance.
The Exmoor Stagger and Stumble are annual events designed to provide challenging off road courses using the steep and varied terrain within running distance of Minehead with distances ranging between 6, 15 and 17 miles.
There are a whole range of alternative and extreme sports activities planned for 11-18 year olds during October half term with small group sizes and high staff ratios to allow the highest quality of coaching, catering for all abilities. These include Kayaking, Power Kiting & Land Boarding, Surfing & Power Kiting, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Mountain Boarding and Coasteering
For more information or to book call 01823 410 213 or email info@escapexsports.co.ukPlease see www.escapexsports.co.uk for more details.
FINALLY - just when you thought it was safe to put your bike away for the winter, the Exmoor Beast rears its majestic head to give you the last chance to test yourself in what will be one of the best and most challenging cyclo-sportives of the year. The Exmoor Beast started in 2007 and was immediately billed as one of the best cyclo sportif events of the year.
And if that’s not enough to keep the most energetic of people entertained there is always just standing still and enjoying looking and absorbing the total beauty of the moor. The weather has been wonderful for much of the time and the walks in the late afternoon and evening have been really very beautiful. Derek has just come back with some stunning photos of the moor taken within a mile of Dunkery Beacon - the most beautiful being the one of Soda!!