12 Across and 2 Down ( a run across Foggy, Boggy & Soggy Dartmoor)

The Grizzly Three ready to go!

Three Grizzly Bears (Hugh, Dotty and Julian) joined the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (Plymouth)'s 12 Across - 2 Down, walking / running event. (Click here for the DSRT Plymouth Home Page.)

Although the event is aimed at walkers, they're all a very friendly bunch and made us runners feel at home; even if we're considered a bit barmy.

The route follows a stretch of the Maltern Way, an ancient track from Buckfast Abbey to Buckland Abbey.  The Maltern Way is marked by a series of stone crosses. 

Today's efforts saw us running across Dartmoor from Venford Reservoir to Crazy Well Pool, thence to Princetown School to finish.  

We are proud of the fact that Team Grizzly were the first team home.  Mummy Bear (Dotty) is to be congratulated as the first to arrive at the final checkpoint.

There was no official timekeeping, but we recorded an "unofficial" time of 2:26 for the 12 mile route.  Conditions were hard, with a Dartmoor Fog keeping visibility down to 15 metres.  Accurate navigation was a priority. We avoided most of the bogs, including Fox Tor mire (Grimpen Mire for those Sherlock Holmes aficionados among you).  However, mud was knee deep at times and the water at the Hartor Brook was cold on the legs as we waded through.

The Grizzly Three at Childe's Tomb

Half-way around the route, we arrived at Childe's tomb.  This marks the kistvaen (burial chamber) resting place of Childe, a huntsman who lived in the 11th century.  He became disorientated in foul weather on the Moor, and knew he could die of exposure.  Sadly, despite killing and drawing his horse, into which he climbed for protection, he still died.  A ghostly tale for a ghostly day. Click here to see more about Childes Tomb!

We would like to thank DSRT (Plymouth) for staging the event.  The cup of tea at the finish was most welcome!