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Sunday 28 April 2013

First do your research!

We had a day out yesterday and knowing how you enjoy a day out with me I wondered if you'd like to see where we went?

We took the train to Exeter and from there we went to Exmouth, somewhere we had never visited before.  The journey to Exeter took us through lovely countryside with green fields, lambs gamboling in the sunshine, trees all bursting into leaf in that quintessential springtime green.  The sky was blue with cotton wool clouds and as we passed from Somerset into Devon the earth changed to a lovely rich red.  The banks were crowded with primroses and everything was perfect.  Arriving in Exeter we found the bus station and took a bus - bus passes at the ready - to Exmouth.


Exmouth is probably a lovely spot normally but we had not checked the tide timetables and when we were there the tide was well and truly out.  The wide estuary was a mudflat which is no doubt really interesting if you are a bird watcher but beautiful it was not! 

 Added to which the wind was bitingly cold again so we didn't stay long enough to wander round to the promenade and after a pub lunch we took the train back into Exeter - the route runs right alongside the estuary as you can see here and again might have been lovely had there been more water in place of the mud!


Back in Exeter we found people sitting out at cafe tables in the Cathedral Close (out of the wind) and enjoying the sunshine! 


 We had a wander round Exeter - an interesting city surrounded by beautiful Devonshire countryside.  Severely damaged during the bombing raids of World War II it still has some beautiful old buildings left amongst the more modern infils with all the trappings of modern day commerce.


After a cup of tea in John Lewis we wended our way back to the station for the train home.  It had been slightly disappointing day out but nevertheless we had enjoyed our outing.  As I am currently planning another of my Bus Pass, Boots and Backpack trips this was a bit of a rekkie and I will know now to do my research on tides before deciding on my itinerary!!!  The above photo was taken in the car park at the station on our return - it had obviously rained whilst we were away and the smell of these wallflowers which clothe the cliff behind the car park was fabulous.

13 comments:

  1. It sounded like a nice day out anyway.Forward planning is important but how many of us do it?We have turned up at National Trust places expecting to go round the house only to find it is only the gardens open on our chosen day."We should have checked first" is frequently heard in our house but we never change!Great to see signs of Spring but here in N Wales it is very,very cold.

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  2. Good to see you posting again.
    Wonderful photographs

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  3. I'm glad you had a nice day even if it wasn't quite as you'd planned. I don't know this area at all so i really enjoy travelling around it with you. I can imagine that those wall flowers smelt divine.

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  4. Nice of you to share! I felt as if we tagged along.
    All the best,

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  5. At least you made the effort but quite a way for disappointing weather. My memories are seeing it in the sunshine.

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  6. How good to see you back again....and another adventure with a bus pass?
    We are all suffering from wind really badly this year!

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  7. Oh we've done similar, what a blow! But you still had a good time. I can't believe how cold this wind is, even when the sun shines.Lx

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  8. Yes,the tide can sort of spoil your appreciation of somewhere can't it? We found the same on our holiday in Cornwall years ago. I'm glad you enjoyed the day out anyway.

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  9. How lovely to join you in one of your trips again, Jane, even if the tide was out.

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  10. How lovely to see you posting. Shame about the day but I am looking forward to hearing about your next bus safari!

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  11. What a beautiful sheet of wallflowers- almost worth the trip on their own! We always say Organised but Flexible is the key!
    Carol x

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  12. Hmm yes, mud flats are not the most picturesque sights at the seaside! And often rather smelly too! But Exeter looks very visitable. Do hope we can get rid of that nasty cold wind soon. I'm very hopeful for May as its usually a very pleasant month. Looking forward to your next journey.

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  13. As you know we are planning a museum and cathedral trip for Exeter sometime. Next time, don't go ar far as Exmouth, get off at Topsham. Believe me, this is somewhere right up your street and it has a station so should be 'doable' from Exeter by train even. It might not have been the perfect day but I think you made the most of it. Where next for a backpack and b&b trip then?

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