Pentewan Sands and Eden

Arrived at Pentewan Sands site, just outside St Austell, in time for the weekend. Friday was sunny but rather windy so after fighting with wind breaks and awnings for a while we settled down to chilling out in the sun followed by a breezy late afternoon barbeque. Had a paddle and a stroll to the small village of Pentewan during the day.

Saturday we all went out in Mikes van again and enjoyed a return visit to the Eden project including lunch in the cafe. Its still a very interesting place and well worth going again. Rosemary bought a 'sensitive plant' which collapses when touched or disturbed, riding in the van should be an interesting experience for it.

Decided to stay at Pentewan for another night.

Looe and Lanhydrock

Intended to stop for a night in Plymouth but the only convenient site would not let us on to the grass pitches which were still soft from the summer rains. Stayed instead on the caravan club site at Looe for two nights during which we all walked down into Looe via the steep footpath, had a nice fish lunch and good wander round the old quayside village then took the taxi back up to the site. Rosemary found something to buy in the sales. Lots of rabbits on the site. Left Looe for the St Austell area and spent most of the day en route at the NT trust house at Lanhydrock. Very large victorian house with a church adjacent and extensive grounds. Margaret took a ride in the old 'jalopy' down the long drive to the house from the car parking area. We 'picniced' in the car park before leaving for St Austell area stopping at the Tesco for provisions.

Another day older

We had to visit the nearby Blackpool sands beach but a little too far/steep to walk so we all took to Mikes van and combined a Sainburys shop with an afternoon on the beach. It was the first time that Mike had carried passengers - but not the last! I found a nice pink hat in the beach shop and Rosemary forced me to have some trousers, fortunately they were not pink. Ice creams on the beach - birthday just goes on and on!

Birthday Blog

We are now just outside Dartmouth and its my birthday weekend. Opened my cards and pressies including a bag of jelly atrics from Katie. We caught the bus to Dartmouth (bus pass again) and had a fish and chip lunch and a bit of browsing - rather cold easterly wind and a long wait for the bus back. Half of the bus got off at the camp site and all on bus passes (ie 'jellied atrics'). Rosemary made us a birthday tea with sandwiches, jelly and cake with musical candle, followed by a glass of champagne!!!!

Sunday was a rest day apart from a walk down to the village of Stoke Fleming about 1/2 mile away. There was a nice breeze for kites, so I amused the rest of the gang by flying my old spiderman kite. Mike captured my kiting skills and crashes on Margaret's new video camera. It was very pleasant behind the wind break, its still warm in the sun and forecast to remain so. Happy days.

A little Haven

After Charmouth we travelled to Exmouth via Beer and Branscombe down some very narrow and steep roads before emerging again at the Donkey sanctuary - as there was nowhere else to stop. We stayed at Haven's Devon Hills resort for a couple of nights. The touring area is very cheap, £6.50, for a premier pitch cos you are supposed to spend lots in the entertainment complex! We had two brand new pitches with a sea view (just) but a long way down to the sandy bay. We had a lunch time BBQ and even made it down to the beach for a paddle. Went clubbing to the sounds of Popcorn in the evening and the ladies spent a few pennies in the arcade.

The Old Fossils

Its Monday 15th September and here we are at Charmouth by the world famous Dorset fossil beaches - feeling really at home :-) Stayed overnight near Bridgewater on the way down where we met up with Mike and Margaret. Now we are here for 2 or 3 nights and have already been into Lyme Regis using the local bus with our bus passes (along with 90% of the other passengers).

Weather has been dry and was even sunny on Monday, but a bit cool today. We saw a kingfisher on the beach at Lyme Regis, thanks to another eagle eyed visitor who pointed it out to us and had the first crab sandwich of the holiday - wow this is living !!!! Cream tea tomorrow maybe.

What next

Well if September lives up to its reputation then a few weeks down in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall is on the cards. But if not - then its off to Greece (minus the van of course) for a bit of late sun.