Floody Muddy Waters

The River Mole
AS you might have heard on various news broadcasts Somerset, Devon and Cornwall has been battered by heavy rainfall and storm-force winds since before Christmas.


The rain has hardly stopped, and with strong winds and high spring tides flood alerts have been in place almost every day.
Somerset and the south Coast of Devon, in particular have been hard hit.


Here at Windfall Farm we've been spared the worst, although the sound of the wind some nights is a bit scary, especiually when it comes direct from the south as i can hear it coming across the field, passing over the stables at the top of the garden and then it hits or windows before leap-frogging over the roof and tearing off down the hill into the Taw Valley.
A few nights ago it sounded like an express train roaring past.


Rain-wise, I'm sick of getting wet, the fields are growing a wonderful crop of mud and the horses are bored stiff as we are not turning them out (if we did, what was left of the grass would be ruined) Fortunately we have the menage, so they can stretch their legs in there/
Kathy is getting used to riding in the rain, but when the wind is high the horses don't like it, so on occasion it has been safer not to ride.



Grey skies over the sheep fields
rain-drenched Devon lane

Here's a few photos I took of the local rivers.

The Mole, just outside South Molton








The Taw, at the Portsmouth Arms (right beside where the Tarka Line train runs)



I can just see a small part of the Taw from our bedroom window - and I can hear it at night as it rushes along. Fortunately we are quite a height above the valley!

4 comments:

  1. Libby Millard5:01 pm

    Great photos, that river looks very fast, keep safe Helen, Feel so very sorry fot all affected by the flooding :(

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    Replies
    1. It is fast - I think if someone fell in they would have a job getting out. Somerset has been hit really bad - and I worry about the farmstock and wildlife. There have been a lot of animals affected, sadly a lot have drowned.

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  2. Glad you all are safe and dry inside your stronghold! Be very careful when you must venture out! Thank you for sharing photos of the area - those rivers look angry alright!!

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  3. We're fine, Cathy, just fed up with getting wet!

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Thank you for leaving a comment your interest is very much appreciated! It will be published as soon as possible - depending on whether I am at my computer or walking up the lane, or being chased by the goose or helping mend fences after the pony has broken through YET AGAIN.... :-)
Helen