Brean again

It sure is an interesting site. There are a large number of vans are here for the annual 10 day C&W festival and many of the occupants are wandering about with stetsons, spurs, Indian feathers and anything else vaguely country. The entertainment at all the bars is country music at night.

It's still windy with a few showers so I put up the windbreak allowing me to cook outside for a change. I spent the afternoon fishing in the lake and caught a few small fish. Rosemary went to Burnham on Sea, on the bus. She bought some red mullet and halibut, amongst other things, for dinner that I cooked on the Jamie.

We walked back to the main festival venue in the evening and browsed around all the western clothes in the pop-up marquees.

We passed a couple of sheriffs on mobility scooters! Some very expensive genuine cowboy hats for sale and some only £5 'made in China' copies.
We went to the beach on the way back to the van and actually saw the sea. It's been low tide and the water about a mile away when ever we have been around here before.

Minehead and Watchett

We left the Porlock site at 11:00am, wearing shorts for a change, heading towards Burnham on Sea. Stopped off at Minehead for a snack at the Somerset Steam Railway and again at the historic harbour at Watchett. Had a conversation with a Nuventure owner who also owned a farm in Wales with a CL and we looked at the small art exhibition on the harbour

We decided on a site called Northam Farm at Brean, between Burnham on Sea and Western Super Mare, for a couple of nights. Surprised to find that it has a free fishing lake and a country and western festival about to kick off. In fact nothing like a farm at all, but that's the entertainment sorted. Yee haa.
It's still windy with the odd shower but not cold. We are getting closer to home, but not giving up yet.

Appledore

We spent most of the day exploring Appledore. It's a fascinating maze of narrow alleys on either side of the Quay. Every cottage seems be different style or colour with many obviously holiday lets. Even so it had a very friendly village atmosphere but parking must be a nightmare in season. Rosemary tried to buy a book based on the recent events in Leicester (Lcfc and Richard iii) at the pop-up Waterstones at the book festival but they were sold out. However the author Michael Morporgo, who was at the event, left some signed plates to stick in his books. We left after lunch just as the clouds descended and the light rain set in. We went to Instow on the other side of the estuary to get another (murky) view of Appledore before heading East towards Minehead.

It was another drive in mist and rain through Barnstable and Lynmouth before we stopped at Porlock for the night. That's the place with the notorious 1 in 4 hill that burnt out clutches in the old days.

Boscastle and Appledore

The wind is back to normal, the van has stopped shaking and it is drizzling, so we stayed on site till midday before going to Boscastle. It's an attractive long village beside the river terminating in a small fishing harbour. It's famous for being devastated when the river flooded in after freak rain on the nearby moors in 2004. Unfortunately it was still dull and misty as we left after a couple of hours and we needed headlights on the way to Bude.
However by the time we arrived in Bude the sky had cleared and we sat on the prom drinking tea in hot sunshine. But it did not last and it was 5:00pm after all.

Decided to do a one night stop at a Britstop for a change. We chose a quayside car park in Appledore, near Bideford. We noticed signs for a book festival as we drove in and arrived to find the car park crammed with festival goers. There are some well known celebrities like Jeremy Vine and Mitch Tonks. Rosemary may go and buy a book tomorrow. We had both pasties and fish and chips today. Must try harder with diet tomorrow!

Bodmin and Tintagel

The promised rain arrived by dawn, mostly sideways. Our grass pitch was pretty waterlogged and the window started leaking slightly but we got away without any problems.

We went to Bodmin Gaol, to be somewhere dry, in the morning during a brief respite in the weather. Parking in the tiny car park was challenging and caused Rosemary to have some wet knickers.

The Gaol was quite interesting, as gaols go, at the same time depressing. Some of the punishments for quite trivial misdemeanors were incredible. There is a working hanging shed, reconstructed from genuine parts, but the last hanging at Bodmin was in 1909.

Next stop was Tintagel, a beautiful place on a sunny day no doubt. We looked around the old post office, a medieval cottage, saved by the NT and then had a hot meal in a village cafe. Just caught sight of King Arthurs castle without the long walk down the drive in the rain.

We are stopping the night at Trewethett Farm site, on a hard standing. It's between Tintagel and Boscastle. Fantastic views on a nice day allegedly. 

The rain gradually eased to be replaced by really strong gusty wind. We were pitched broadside to the 40mph gusts and endured 6 hours of being shaken to sleep.

Rock and Camelford

After the rain last night we awoke to a lovely sunny morning. After breakfast outside we set off for the Cornish north coast. Arrived in Padstow at lunch time but could not find anywhere to park. It was heaving!
So next stop was Rock on the other side of the estuary, the home to countless millionaires and a playground for young royals apparently. The specials board at Mariners restaurant included rib of beef for two, with trimmings, for £90. We found a more modest offering at £11 for roast Sirloin of beef, or roast pork, with trimmings. Huge portions no room for pudding.The alternative lunch was a ferry across the estuary to Padstow for Rick Steins fish and chips, but not enough time on the parking ticket.

We went on to Polzeath beach where the surfers were making the most of some big waves. Finally we made our way to a CC site at Camelford, for one or two nights, to sit out a forecast day of heavy rain. No WiFi or 3g, just wet campers but quite cheap.

Another day in Truro

We took the van to the huge park and ride where there is also a brand new Waitrose and Cornish Food store. We took the bus into Truro and looked around the markets and visited the cathedral. The cathedral is one of the most recent to be built and is very impressive with less gold and finery than most. Popped into the food festival again for a few cheese samples and a local hot dog. More street food stalls had appeared since yesterday.

Started to rain heavily so we headed back to Waitrose to buy some comfort food for supper and returned to site. Its now pissing down. We may not be able to hear X factor if it doesn't stop soon! Had a WhatsApp from Katie in Budapest.

St Mawes and Truro

We had a couple of hours in St Mawes, on the tip of the picturesque Roseland peninsular. Quite a nice place, with expensive properties but not much to see or do unless you want to take a boat trip. We just walked along the marine parade, had a coffee and a bit of food shopping.
Then we took the King Harry chain ferry across the Fal to Truro, it's 5 minutes for £6 but saves a 20mile drive. We stopped briefly at Tresillick House in the NT car park to make some sandwiches for lunch.
Parking in Truro was surprisingly easy close to Lemon Quay where the Cornish food festival was set up in a marquee. Not much to see or sample except cheese and sausage. M&S was just across the road so I used a free coffee voucher while Rosemary shopped.
We are booked in for two days at Merrose Farm CC site for two nights, not far from the previous nights Britstop. It's been sunny today but tomorrow is expected to be windy and wet.

on the King Harry Ferry

Heligan Garden

Had a good chat and paid for our three nights with the young site owner. We found the 'lost garden' again and spent a sunny afternoon wandering around the kitchen, flower and jungle gardens. We traversed the Burma rope bridge on the way to the lost Valley and then it was all uphill, really uphill, back to the tea rooms.
We are stopping at a Britstop at Henry's Farm Shop on the way to Truro. It's a field with a hook-up, clear views to the south, serenaded by ducks and cows. We had a cream tea in the van while waiting for the sunset.

The sunset was not very impressive but it's so dark and clear, the milky way is clearly visible. Even managed a photo.

Mevagissey Pasty Shop

Mevagissey

We decided to stay another night at East Crinnis with its free WiFi and fishing and have a day out at Mevagissey. It's a very pretty working harbour and provided an opportunity for Rosemary to buy some very fresh Megrim Sole for supper.
We had a Cornish pasty for lunch, fresh out of the oven at the ' World's best pasty shop'. (I wonder how many of those that there are!)
It has been a fairly dull mild day with a little rain early and some brightness later.

PS The fish was very nice with some salad.

Rosemarys main

Polkerris beach from Sams

Peter and Sams birthday lunch

It's my birthday today so after having scrambled eggs and smoked salmon for breakfast and opening cards, we took a taxi to Polkerris for lunch. We ate at Sams on the Beach, reputedly the best seafood restaurant in Cornwall. I had soft shell crab followed by Thai monkfish and prawns. Rosemary started with scallops and then baked hake with mussels. We shared a lemon meringue roulade and coffee. Excellent food in a restored lifeboat house. I walked round the old harbour wall for some photos while Rosemary checked the craft shop and art gallery. Back at the site by tea time and a bit of fishing on Grumpys Pond to finish the day. We both caught lots of small rudd, roach and crucian carp using bread and doughnuts.

The Boss Breakfast

Fowey and East Crinnis

We started the day with a full English breakfast at the excellent Snowlands site cafe. We had four to choose from and we had the smallest. The Boss was the biggest, with 4 of everything (eggs, sausage, bacon etc) and it was for real. It started to rain as we left and continued as we walked down into the pretty harbourside town of Fowey from the upper car park. We got a good soaking as we wandered around, but it was the first rain of the holiday.
Fortunately there was a shuttle bus back to the car park. It brightened up as we arrived at our next stop, a nicely organised quiet site near St Austell. We had a cream tea in the van with ingredients from Fowey and I went to look at the duck pond.

Newquay Fish Festival

We took the train from Par to Newquay to go to the fish festival around the old harbour. It took the usual format of street food, local music groups and craft stalls. The sea food was tasty and well priced on a sunny afternoon in an attractive location. We walked back up the hill to the station with a coffee break. The train journey took 50 mins over the moors, in time for me to have an hours fishing back at the site. Rosemary made sandwiches for supper with a dressed crab from the fish festival.

Abfest and Par

We called in to Abfest beer and cider festival this morning. It's only 5 mins away from Dornfield and was opened by Ann Widdecombe. We had a hog roast after listening to some of the entertainment before setting off for 2 nights at Par via Totnes and Plymouth. The site is part of a fishing and equestrian complex close to the railway station.  Walked to the station to check times for going to Newquay tomorrow and found there was a vintage diesel, The Cornishman, passing through. Just managed to get back with camera in time to take a photo from the bridge. Basic site with friendly neighbours and some good fishing potential.

Bright and Breezy Dornfield Farm

Well, we missed the storms that poured torrents on London and the Midlands and we have a bright but breezy day ahead. We are staying put on the site today after the drive down and may just walk into Ipplepen which is about a mile away. This is a really nicely laid out site with trees, hedges and grassy areas behind a very grand old farm house and out buildings dating from 13th century.

There are obviously a lot of seasonal pitches with some people just packing away. We are pitched around Little Cricket which is just like an immaculately mowed cricket pitch. There is a small chippy which just opens on Monday and Friday evening - so that is tonights meal sorted already!

Ipplepen and Torquay

After breakfast we set off for Devon coast and arrived at Torquay around 1:00pm. We had a stroll down the prom and around the harbour for a couple of hours before finding our site. We got our 10000 paces in today

Its a little way inland at Ipplepen near Newton Abbot, the site called Dornfield. Quite overcast and thundery skies but it has stayed dry all day. Storms are forecast overnight.

Breakfast

Sitting in the farm shop cafe watching the pigs and hens and eating a bacon and egg sandwich.

Bristol Britstop

We set off after lunch for an overnight stay at a Britstop near Bristol en route to Newton Abbot. We stopped at the best services in England, which is near Gloucester, for a cup of tea and shopping for dinner. Very hot drive without aircon.

Gloucester Services

Devon and Cornwall

Today we are setting off on a 10-14 day late holiday to take in 3 food festivals in the south west. Yesterday the temperature was the highest this year and highest in September for 100 years in the south east of England. In Devon and Cornwall it was raining!

So lets hope there is a bit of a change before we get down to Truro.