Crossing the Tavy at Lopwell Dam with lurchers. Lurchers having long legs and small feet, they felt the causeway (which is underwater at high tide) was both slippery and terrifying. I had intended to take a few photos on the way over, not just this first one of philmophlegm setting out - but I was far too busy reassuring terrified dogs that they were not going to fall into the river and drown.
There were lots of these butterflies on the other side - I think they are fritillaries, but if I'm honest, all fritillaries look kind of similar to me, so I'm not sure which these are.
Before the causeway was built, a ferry used to connect the Bere Alston peninsular with the other side of the river Tavy. This ivy-covered green-grown building was the ferrymen's house, but when the ferry was no longer needed, nor was the house.
We walked up the lane on the other side. I don't think the photo really gets across the sheer steepness of the lane. It was like climbing stairs. So we were rather surprised when someone drove past us in a car. A 4WD, admittedly, but still. Rather them than me!
Back across the river, it was time for tea and cake. Yay, a cake with a view!
While eating cake, we couldn't help noticing that people were now motorcycling across the river that our hounds had found so utterly terrifying.
A couple of weeks later, I attempt to photograph the Lynher river (two rivers west of the Tavy) over a beautiful tangled mat of roots. But *something* keeps getting in the way...
Ah, there we go.
Apparently this river has otters in it, and someone we met saw them recently - just walking along the footpath with her dogs, at around 3pm in the afternoon. I had previously assumed that seeing the otters was something that could only be done at 3am with the aid of special equipment and enormous persistence. Now when I walk along this river I find myself staring fixedly at the water. But no luck yet.
