Show Me the Way to go Home . . . . please!

My home village is on the edge of Bodmin Moor, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It's a fascinating place to walk with the ever-changing scenery and the presence of the animals that roam freely; sheep. ponies and cattle as well as the wild creatures that live there.

Gorgeous views at all times of the year but thanks to all the rain we've 'enjoyed' in recent weeks it's n now rather squelchy and muddy underfoot - definitely requiring wellingtons or stout boots and a keen lookout for where to place your feet.

Benji is fully recovered now and the plastic cone has been banished, so I took him for his afternoon walk, along with a friend's dog, Goldie the Golden Labrador.  Both were on extending leads - Benji because he would chase after sheep if given a chance - and Goldie because she kept stopping to look back in the direction of the car park and I was worried she would double back to look for her owner. Despite the restrictions on galloping all over the place, we all enjoyed the walk and it was good to catch up with several of the regular dog-walkers - and my two reprobates were glad to cadge biscuits from the other dog-walkers!

However, I was keeping an eye on the failing light so decided to head back towards the car.  Then a friend called out to me, made a fuss of the dogs and started to chat . . and we chatted . . . and chatted until I realised that it really was getting dark.  A hasty goodbye and on we went towards the car park.  It was impossible to see the mud and the uneven ground so I was quite worried about losing my footing. In films, the clever dogs would unerringly take their beloved master/mistress back to the car and safety . . . I didn't have those dogs!  One was sniffing and trailing in one direction, the other pulling in the opposite direction. 

Most of the Moor is covered in bracken and there are grassy tracks criss-crossing the ground used by animals and walkers alike, but as the darkness deepened it was easy to wander from the tracks.  At one stage I was panicking because I had expected to come across a leaning thorn tree which marked the junction of two paths and the place to turn towards home.  Should I retrace my steps and try to find it or carry on a bit further?  I carried on and shortly came to that tree.  Phew! From there, it was much easier, though I was slipping and sliding all over the track where it was well-used near the car parking area.  Such a relief to climb the last little slope and see headlights of a few cars on the road that follows the edge of the Moor. Oh my - such a relief to get the dogs safely in the car and head home.

Lesson learned - get clear of the Moor well before darkness falls and carry a TORCH!