The event, “Carry Yer Own - 2016” will start at 1930 on Saturday 16th July 2016 and will officially end at 2030. These times have been set to enable people to put in a long day’s geocaching on the open moor prior to the event and to allow those not intending to eat at the event or stay overnight time to get off the moor in daylight afterwards. It is not mandatory that one camps or stays overnight to qualify to record “attended”. However your host, Hobo, will be preparing the location from about 1800 on Friday and would welcome any company/assistance. Sadly, there won’t be any material for Captain Rico to exercise his magic arts!
Of course anyone wishing to camp in the area may do so but because of the very limited availability of some amenities and services at the venue it may be advisable to book one’s requirements before arrival. Please bear in mind that there is no road to the venue, no nearby parking, no helicopter landing pad, no space for those tin tents, no restaurant, no bar, no shop, no clubhouse, no toilets, no swimming pool, no gym or playground, no heating or hot water, no showers, no free WIFI, no TV signal and no electric hook ups. However, there is a plentiful supply of cold water (rain and/or river) at no extra charge. Put simply, if you want it you must bring it with you!
The location for this year is N 50° 37.251 W 003° 57.616. It is a somewhat more remote than usual. It is on ‘open access’ land and there are no restrictions or charges for entry. One is not obliged to make any purchases before making full use of all the facilities. The venue is not wheel-chair accessible but one could bring a wheelchair as an entry in this year’s competition.
As in all previous years, we will leave the place tidier than we find it!
A prize will be given for the most obscure, entertaining and least useful item brought to the event. Previous prize winners have included a water bottle shaped water butt, a working standard lamp with shade, a toy plastic egg whisk and bowl, a wooden rolling pin, a complete Witch and Two Wizards’ camp site, a dog-barking door chime, Henry the Hoover, and a broken rotary clothes line. The competition will continue this year. The prize will be for the person who brings the “MOST OBSCURE, ENTERTAINING AND LEAST USEFUL” item to the event. Judging for this competition will be by a committee consisting of everybody present who has signed the log book, including the competition entrants. There is no appeal procedure!
How you get there, is up to you. Where you park or walk in from is also up to you. I cannot advise any particular starting point - the choice has to be yours.
VERY IMPORTANT - FIRING RANGE WARNING
The venue is not in an army danger area but if you approach from the North or West you should be aware that you will be crossing the Okehampton Firing Area or the Merrivale Firing Area. Live ammunition and other pyrotechnics are used in these areas which are generally open access except when live firings are taking place. Warning signals, red flags by day and red lamps by night, indicate that live firing is occurring on the range. The range boundaries are marked by red and white poles. When warning signals are displayed do not cross into the range. If the warning signals are not hoisted by 0900 (Apr-Sep) or 1000 (Oct - Mar) no live firing will take place that day and any bangs you hear will be blank cartridges or fireworks.
Day firing is between sunrise and sunset and night firing is between sunset and sunrise. Flags are lowered as soon as live firing ceases.
See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme for updates on the firing programme or ring Freephone 0800 458 4868.