OUGS SW branch AGM weekend

The venue, Hartland - in deepest, darkest north-west Devon with snow and hail threatening...

Michelle had organised a full programme though so not too much time to feel the cold! We kicked off with a talk about Geomagnetism by Chris Turbitt from the BGS before he took us to the nearby BGS Geomagnetic observatory to show us around. Son Oliver (foreground) did the technical bits with the powerpoint presentation!

Just a tad chilly by the time we had walked back we were very glad of the hot, tasty soup on offer before we settled down to an AGM that perhaps broke some records at 35 minutes! Two of us who were retiring from the committee (Mike Hermolle and myself) were both thanked and amongst other things received a super mounted colour photo, signed by all present - mine was one of the clapper bridge at Postbridge on Dartmoor which Chris Popham, the BO had taken.
After that we settled down to a couple of interesting talks:

• Chris Cornford from nearby Hallsannery Field Centre on the 'Missing geology of North Devon' - i.e. the stuff that was there once and has since been eroded. All based on measurement of burial depths of various strata.
• Peter Keene from Thematic Trails on the 'Geomorphology of the Hartland Peninsula

Jan and I stayed at Hartland Quay hotel so we set out to find it in the dark which was bit interesting as the road at the end just seemed to zig-zag out of sight down the cliff! The full moon helped.

Anyway that was negotiated OK before we all met up again - 30+ of us, for dinner at Fosfelle Hotel. 

Next morning dawned dryish and cold, with a view of Lundy and assorted folds from the bedroom window. I was sorry I couldn't stay for the field trip but with a van full of assorted furniture and a 125 mile drive, and the weather a bit threatening we decided to pass.  

Not before doing our own mini trip though  - OK the view north (above) and the view south (right, with hailstones) from the car park

Chris Cornford had taken the group up the hill - to warm them up he said but we suspected it was because the tide was still fairly high so we were able to give them a last wave as we passed before heading off for the snowy delights of the North Devon Link road.

Great weekend - well done Chris and Michelle!