The week had been rainy and the forecasts weren’t too good but when we set off on Friday the skies looked promising. The journey turned out to be slightly more than a cat-jump away. Only one car managed an easy approach – that was the car with the organiser inside who had given out a nice map, but totally useless instructions, so most cars ended up on a very narrow, very dubious bridge over the river Dart.

When by midnight the last three cars arrived on the big empty green field of the Beara Farm campsite the usual thing happened. The latecomers felt sociable and entered happily personal tent space- Jane called it little Hong Kong . They then went on to entertain everyone, including the ones that had been sleeping nicely, at which time Nick and Claire would have definitely liked to draw a line around their tent.

The next morning it was raining. That had not been expected. People started discussing what could be done with the day and after a while a big crowd decided to go walking. This crowd was lead by climbers and there was determination in the air. Jane wanted a stomp. Sarah Glover, Robin Mitton, Andrew Tonkin, Catherine Billson, Steven Gandy, Matthew Fennelow, Lucy, Jim, Delphine Leroyer and Katharina Linke went with her. They walked through the rain to Stobridge. Katharina Linke turned around unnoticed at some point to have coffee and cake in the tent with Vanessa and Rob. The others continued the stomp only to end in a pub where they stayed long enough to need another walk just to keep face.

Meanwhile Simon Atkins, Steve Melvin, Nick and Claire who had announced they would go to a café and then to a local bouldering wall actually managed to do some climbing on a crag in the rain at Dewerstone. Simon, Nick and Steve climbed the 3 pitch classic Colonel’s Arete.

For dinner everyone met back at the same pub in. The food was good, the waitress especially entertaining. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

Sunday finally brought the right weather. After breakfast most people started packing. The patron who ran a nice and clean campsite - with one shower- kept friendly control of the finances. After arranging last lifts, time and locations the members of the MMC set off for a real day. Rob and Vanessa had brought their mountain bikes and went cycling somewhere.

Delphine, Sarah and Katharina chose a walk through the moor which turned into a real stomp because it was very suddenly time to meet the lifts.

Meanwhile the remainder consisting of a large contingent of climbers spent the day climbing at Haytor a popular granite outcrop on Dartmoor, before setting off for home. A few hardy pub goers called in at the White Hart for the customary end of a meet drink.

KL