By: Blonde Two
Dartmoor can be at its most beautiful at night, it can also be at its most creepy. I have mixed feelings about being out after dark but am making myself do it at the moment to hone my navigation skills.
Blonde One and I have spent much time trying different torch approaches. Red is the one that is recommended for night navigation as it allows you to read the map but not lose all of your night vision. I think that I must be too tall for red though as I can never see where I am putting my feet – I like to know what I am about to tread on. So we have opted for white light which works with the map but unfortunately means that tors can creep up on you – you can be right next to one in the mist and not spot it.
On Tuesday however, it was just dimpsy (you will have to ask Blonde One what that means) and I came up with a much more exciting method of lighting the way. I wore the star shaped Christmas lights back to the car. I am not sure what the drivers thought as we walked the road section but hopefully I cheered their commute home up a bit.
You look stunning!!! Much more effective than a reflective jacket!!! IN my world DIMPSY means not light and not dark..That point in time when you’re not quite sure whether to have the lights on on the car or not and that point where its starting to get hard to read a map, book, watch etc! I think next year you need to organise a “Dimpsy Christmas Walk” where everyone has to go dressed on fairy lights – it would be an amazing sight on Dartmoor!!!
You’re right about the meaning of ‘dimpsy’. I think it’s a Devonian word but I could be wrong.