My week

We have been having a bit of a "staycation" here recently in view of the current warm sunny weather.  We managed to keep the diary clear and pretended that we were on a self catering holiday!  I must say the accommodation is very homely and has everything we need, there's been no need to take Thomas to a cattery, no waiting at airports nor needing travel insurance we just get up in the mornings and decide what we feel like doing.

FRIDAY 12th

 First off we went to Exeter to walk along the Exeter Ship Canal as far as Topsham - this was the walk I had hoped to do when I set off on my Bus Pass Trip back in June but as the ferry across the river at Topsham doesn't run on a Tuesday and it was of course Tuesday when I went I had had to cross over further upstream a mile or so where there was a bridge. (That's not us in the distance but another elderly couple!)

 This time it was Friday not Tuesday and according to the Tourist  Information Office as long as we reached the ferry before 3.00 pm when it would stop running due to low tides we'd be alright this time.

 It was a lovely day for a walk with sufficient breeze to prevent us getting too hot.  I was glad I wasn't carrying my big back pack though or it might have been a different story!

There's something cooling about walking beside water I always think.

 It was all very buccolic and peaceful in spite of the fact that it was only a short distance from the city and there were industrial buildings on the other side of the canal and trains too passing on their way to Exeter and pylons in many of the views but the human brain is very good at editing out those!

The noise from the motorway was harder to ignore however - I was glad I was  down here amongst the greenery and not thundering along above!

 Soon the noise was left behind though and the path continued between the greenery and the flowers with the canal just over to the left.

 What a lovely little cottage we spied on the other side of the canal - this view made me wish I could paint!

 We wandered on and soon came to a little bridge across the canal and discovered...

...we were at the cottage and what is more it was a cafe!  How lovely was that as by now it was time for something to eat and a bit of a sit down.  Apparently this is called Lock Keepers Cottage and during July and August is a cafe and the rest of the year can be rented as a self catering holiday cottage.

We decided to eat inside as all the outdoor tables were in the sun and we were by now quite warm.  This was the view from the upstairs room where we chose to sit - lovely isn't it?  I felt as if I had died and gone to heaven and was just thinking that what would make it absolutely perfect would be if there were a few crisps alongside the sandwiches - for some reason I'd been fancying crisps for the past few days and since we rarely buy any I hadn't had any to hand at home.  Well when the lady mounted the stairs carrying our lunch - my hummus and salad sandwich and elderflower presse, and Mr M's ham and salad plus an orange juice I knew just what heaven will be like if I ever get there as sure enough alongside the lovely sandwich with side salad was a little pile of good quality crisps!!  Doesn't take a lot to make me happy does it?!  Imagine what it might be like to rent the cottage and to sleep in this very room with the canal just outside and the distant countryside beyond - I am sure I'd sleep well here!

After a leisurely lunch we caught the little ferry boat with one other person and a dog, which sure enough would not be running after 3.15 today, and crossed the river Exe to Topsham.

 Topsham has a Dutch influence as you can see from the shape of the buildings and very attractive it all is but we had visited earlier in the year and had a good wander round so this time we just caught the bus back to Exeter, bus passes at the ready and after a short wait having just missed one, and from there took the train home again.  A lovely day out.

TUESDAY 16th

On Tuesday we decided to do a walk which Mr M had found on the internet - we needed somewhere that would be shaded as it was set to be hot again.  We duly set off after breakfast for Maiden Newton less than 15 miles away from where we would start our walk.

 The walk was called Chalk stream, Dragonflies and St George  and sounded just about right for a hot day. We wandered along the banks of the River Frome which burbled over the pebbles and looked most inviting being very clear and clean.  This was of course the chalk stream mentioned in the walk title.  We also noticed many dragon flies en route although I didn't manage to get a photo of any of those!

About 11.00 we decided to stop and have our elevenses having come across this bench in the shade.

After our refreshments - a flask of tea and a slice of cake I'd made for just this sort of picnic (notice the designer lunch bag - a recycled frozen pea bag!) - we set off again.

 Through lovely countryside...

 .. and along pretty lanes with wild flowers everywhere.

Here we crossed a little ford - the walk description had said it might be muddy in places and so it was even in the current heat when all around is dried to a cinder - it would require wellingtons to walk this route in the winter I think.

 The path led on past stands of pink rosebay willowherb and frothy cream meadowsweet...

...across this little bridge..

..alongside the river again....

with views of typical Dorset countryside here and there.

 We reached Cattistock in time for an early lunch.  Cattistock is a pretty village with many lovely cottages like this one.  After a sandwich and a drink in the local pub, which was obviously very popular and soon filled up so just as well we were there early, we set off again stopping at the church where we were told we would find St George and the Dragon from the walk title...

 ... and so we did painted on the wall of the baptistry inside!  There is a magnificent 20 foot high font cover here which was installed in the early 1900s which you can see to the left of the photo and isn't that ceiling lovely too.

 It was a lovely little country church with some beautiful stained glass windows including this one in the Arts and Cratfts style and designed by William Morris and Sir Edward Burne Jones.

We left the cool interior of the church and continued on our way, by now the idea of paddling in the chalk stream was most attractive as we wandered along in the dappled shade.

There was even a little "beach" just here though it wasn't really sand.

On the homeward straight now and we were soon back at Maiden Newton where the car was still in the shade where we'd parked it which was a wonder!  Back at home I sat in the garden with my cup of tea and a book and was well content.  I even went as far as to fill a tray with water and paddle my feet in it since I hadn't actually taken my boots off at the river!  Thomas wasn't too pleased though as I had used the tray he likes to drink out of and I had to wash it out and refill it for him as having sniffed it he wasn't going to risk drinking it after my sweaty feet had been in it!!

WEDNESDAY 17th

This time we decided to go to Weymouth - knowing that once the school holidays begin it will be heaving with holiday makers and we usually give it a miss then till September.  There were still plenty of people on the beach although nobody watching the Punch and Judy just yet.

We were headed for the Rodwell Trail - an old disused railway line between Weymouth and Portland which we had walked this time last year almost to the day but this was another shady walk.  It's obviously been a long time since any trains stopped here!

We enjoyed the walk, level and easy and much of the early part at least being in the shade.

We stopped for lunch at Sandsfoot Castle where we were lucky enough to find a table in the shade of a tree at the little cafe hut and we sat enjoying our sandwich and drink looking out across the harbour.

The castle was built by Henry VIII  - well probably not him but his minions! - after the Reformation as he feared attacks from the Catholic continent and had several such castles built along the south coast - mustn't it be awful to be powerful and rich but afraid of attack all the time?  I'd rather be me!

The Trail continues along the coast to Ferrybridge where we got a bus back to town and then home in time for Mr M to watch some more of the Tour de France with his cup of tea...

 ...whilst I took mine out in the garden along with my book The Road to Tholonet by Monty Don which I can recommend if you are interested in France, the French and gardens.

THURSDAY 18th

Was decreed a "domestic day" as it was too hot to go far although I did walk the half hour walk into town keeping in the shade but I nearly expired on the bus coming home and wished I'd decided to walk back as well as I am sure it would have been cooler!  No photos as Thursday involved some indoor games sorting out my photos, some ironing, and some sitting in the garden with yet another cup of tea and my book!

Watching the wildlife in the garden

 I have just been sitting in the shade at the table in the garden with my cup of tea and enjoying watching the antics of our resident blackbird and his wife.

 The attraction was this little tree - amalanchier canadensis - which has tiny fruit they apparently enjoy but these are on very delicate little branches not strong enough to take even the weight of a blackbird.

 Mrs BB came first and tried to take a berry and her weight made the branch bend so much she fell to the ground but still with the berry in her beak.  She flew off into the woods you can see over our fence here and soon returned to have another go.  Maybe she has young ones who all want one!

 After a couple of trips Mr BB arrived and he had a different approach - he stood on the ground beneath the tree eyeing up the prize and then jumped up to grab it!  After a few turns each they didn't return - maybe because the babies had had one each or maybe because I was trying to get a photo.

This is the same couple of blackbirds I think who came daily in the winter for their porridge.  Yes I did say porridge!  I was having porridge each morning for my breakfast and wondered if the birds might enjoy the pan scrapings along with the seed I usually put out and yes the blackbird did like it and started to come every day, bringing his wife, and to be ready and waiting when I put it out.  One morning I decided to have muesli instead and he got very annoyed that there was no porridge to the point that I actually made a small amount of porridge for him and he soon gobbled that up and seemed to say "Not before time"!  He has become incredibly tame - too tame for his own good I think and he will have his bath within feet of me sitting on the bench outside the kitchen door.  Mrs BB is a little more circumspect though and if she sees me she flies off but Blackie as I call him is as tame as a robin now!!  Thomas is no danger to them now that he is elderly and a bit slow but I can't be sure no other cats are not hiding in the garden - it would be sad if Mr BB's trust is misplaced one day.

Bus Pass, Boots and Backpack Part 2 - June 2013

Thank you to all those who left such kind and encouraging comments on Part I - much appreciated.

Day 3

After Wednesday's fabulous weather Thursday dawned rather grey and cloudy.  After another delicious breakfast I paid my dues to Mrs B&B and departed carrying my backpack and headed for the bus stop where I hoped to get a bus to Sidmouth once again and from there the little Sidmouth Hopper bus which would take me to the Donkey Sanctuary at nearby Salcombe Regis.  The driver dropped those of us who were planning to see the donkeys warning us that on a wet day most of them would very sensibly be indoors rather than in the fields!  As you can see it was now not only grey and raining a fine light rain but also foggy but these hardy souls were not indoors after all.

 I am sure it would be a wonderful place to visit on a sunny day as there are acres of fields to wander and over 400 donkeys to talk to but today the weather wasn't conducive to wandering about in the rain carrying my backpack!  Some of the donkeys were indeed indoors here in this lovely airy barn.

Whilst over in the yard this little poppet was standing in the open door of her stable and I stopped to make a fuss of her.

She was called Holly - all the donkeys wear collars with their names and information on them and the different colours of the collars signify certain things such as yellow for females like Holly's.  Whilst I was talking to her and one of the chaps who work with the donkeys another employee came along and said Holly was wanted - she had an appointment with the dentist!  I am sure she knew what was coming as she didn't want to go and refused to budge.  She had to be cajoled by both of the employees; not kicking and struggling but certainly not going willingly.  About 5 minutes later I noticed she was back in her stable and said to her "That wasn't so bad was it?"  I'm not sure what she thought but she gave me a look as only a donkey can!

 
I don't remember what this little cutie was called but she too was waiting for someone to fuss her.  The chap I'd spoken to earlier said they jossle for the front of the queue to be first in line for one of these stables in the yard each morning where they know people will come and talk to them and make a fuss of them!!  Donkeys are definitely not daft, indeed I think they are very wise animals, and it would be hard to be stressed whilst fondling one!  After a bowl of soup for lunch in the cafe and a brief look round the shop I decided to head off towards the main road where I hoped to get a bus to Seaton my next stop.  I had the greatest difficulty in finding my way out of the place on foot having to go back more than once to ask for directions and I then took the wrong turning along a narrow lane in the fog and drizzle until I decided that must be going the wrong way and turned back.  I did eventually reach the main road and the bus stop and luckily didn't have to wait too long for a bus.

The bus I caught was the X53 which runs all the way from Exeter to Poole along the Jurassic coast and normally the scenery is amazing but this time it was just very wet and very green with no distant views through the fog to be seen!  This was Seaton on Thursday afternoon - dreary and grey.  It is unfair to judge a place on first impressions especially on such a miserable day but I have to say it wasn't an inspiring little town.

I had imagined spending a couple of hours exploring here but instead I had a wander round and then whiled away some time in a rather dull cafe over a cup of tea before I could get another bus to Colyton where my last night's stay was booked.  I must admit I did wonder whether it might be better if possible to get a bus home instead!

Booking in time at the Colyton B&B was any time after 4.00 pm and as it was only about 3.00 pm I wandered round in the rain still lugging my backpack.  This is the church - it has an octagonal lantern tower atop the 12th century Norman tower which I gather is unusual.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside out of the rain - it was a lovely light building with a huge stained glass West window which is apparently one of the largest in a parish church...

... and two magnificent brass chandeliers each holding 36 candles which were purchased in 1796 at a cost of £82 - probably a fair amount of money back then.  I wonder how they light all those candles and whether the wax drips onto the churchgoers beneath.  And who cleans them and how?!!  I always seem to think of the practical side of things instead of the spiritual!  There was also a huge Saxon Cross dating from 900-1000 AD which was discovered after an extensive fire in 1933. Displayed alongside the cross was a clock face which was also rescued from the fire - though how old that was I didn't find out.  I felt calmer after my time in the peaceful interior.

Outside the church I noticed that rain had stopped play on repairing a thatched roof nearby (as with all my photos if you click on them you will see them full size and in more detail).  As by now it was not far off 4.00 pm I made my way to the B&B where I was booked.  The Budleigh Salterton one was always going to be a hard act to follow and so it proved although maybe the fact that it was a miserable wet day and I now had a long evening ahead of me with nothing to do and nothing to read didn't help.   (My earlier B&B had a shelf of books of every genre in the bedroom and a drawerful of local magazines with articles about places in the area)  No cup of tea and cake here either although to be fair I did have the facilities for making myself a hot drink and there was a little packet of shortbread biscuits too.  Having sampled both I put my mac back on and went back into the village/town to see if I could find a magazine or something to read and struck lucky at the little newsagents so at least now I had something to while away the time.  Back in my room I decided to take a shower and wash my hair which was now looking the worse for my day in the rain with a hood up and down all the time, and I felt more human once I was clean and fresh and sat on my bed in my PJs reading my magazine till it was time for dinner.  Luckily this time I didn't need to venture out as this was a restaurant with rooms so I just had to go downstairs.  (I did change out of my PJs though!)

The next morning I had breakfast and having paid the night before for both my dinner and my room I said goodbye and went to wait for the bus into Seaton.  Luckily I was rather early as the bus arrived and departed before the scheduled time - a few minutes later I was back in Seaton.  This time it looked a little better as the rain had stopped and although not sunny it was at least dry.

I walked along the sea front towards the estuary where the River Axe (remember I had seen it from the train on Tuesday) made its way out to sea.  - looks pretty doesn't it? You might notice that I spoke too soon about it not raining as a shower began whilst I was at this end of the beach!

Once again the mouth of the river has become silted up with a bank of pebbles which the tides have washed eastwards I gather this occurred when part of the cliff fell into the sea many years ago and this affected the direction of the tides.

Upstream is a bridge which is the oldest concrete bridge still in existence - built in 1877 and is also the youngest scheduled Ancient Monument in the UK!  This bridge has one foot in Seaton and the other is in Axmouth the little town across the river and slightly upstream.  I had intended to walk to it the day before on arrival in Seaton but because of the weather I had thought better of that idea and now there wouldn't be time.  By the time I had walked back to the town I had but a 30 minute wait for a bus to Lyme Regis.

Lyme Regis is a lovely town and well known as the setting for many novels and films.  Jane Austen said of it "The principal street almost hurrying into the water, the walk to the  Cobb, skirting round the pleasant little bay which in the season is animated with bathing machines and company..." (in Persuasion which she wrote in 1816 but which was published in 1818 a year after her death) and the main street does indeed seem still to be hurrying towards the sea.  I got off the bus here and set off  towards the sea myself.

I walked round to the Town Mill where I knew there was an exhibition of paintings, textiles, photography, land art and sculpture called Colour Line and Thread  which I wanted to see.  I enjoyed a potter in the garden there too..

and decided to have my lunch sitting outside in the pretty yard.  It was delicious!

This week I have seen the mouths of several rivers and today was no exceeption as along with the River Axe this morning at Axmouth/Seaton I now saw the River Lym as it joins the sea here.

I walked round the famous Cobb ...

... admired the planting in the gardens....

... and looked back towards the harbour and beach.

This time I was looking towards the east along the beach.  Notice the iconic lamps shaped like the fossils for which this area is well known.  (Again if you click on the photo this will enlarge it and the lamps will be clearer)

Then I made my way up the steep little high street and a bus was at the stop heading for Bridport so rather than spend more time in Lyme Regis and wait for the later one I jumped aboard - well  maybe jumped is not quite the right word as I was still carrying my backpack!

The journey took  me along the coast with lovely scenery to be seen from the top deck where I had secured a seat at the front.  This is the museum in Bridport...

... and this the little square - aren't those flowers pretty?  I also found the lovely Yarn shop which I have been receiving e-mails about for ages but never actually visited.  It stocked some lovely yarns and it was a good job I couldn't carry anything else or I might have been seriously tempted!  After yet another cup of tea I wended my way to the bus station where I waited for my bus home.  I didn't notice the scenery as much by now as I was on familiar territory and it wasn't long before the bus reached Yeovil where I got off.

A short walk down through the woods and I was soon home.  Kettle on, boots off and feeling glad to be back yet having enjoyed myself and wondering where to go next!