Destination Devon

Daisybank Cottage B & B has been charming but we were looking forward to our next stop in a self catering property in Budleigh Salterton, near Exeter in Devon.

At 0945 Murray was packed (already there is an extra bag), Pamela had been given instructions and we were on our way.

We made quite good time despite spending quite a while behind a lorry ( I’m using the local lingo, it’s not a truck) loaded with a massive pile of hay which alternately rained hay and tree prunings on us as we went.

Our path today took us due West and just before lunch time we rolled into the very picturesque town of Lyme Regis, known as the “Pearl of Dorset” which sits on the border of Dorset and Devon.

It is known for the fossils that can be found in its cliffs and beaches and there were many stores in the High Street offering them for sale as well as numerous fudge stores which the English seem very fond of. (Ok, we tried a few and they weren’t bad 😉

A recurring theme in these towns is the absolute dearth of parking spaces which we very much take for granted in Australia. Murray spent some time manoeuvring narrow streets and ‘breathing in’ his side mirrors before we eventually found a park and wandered down.

The harbour wall or “Cobb” featured in the book and movie, The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Today, the promenade was very busy with people enjoying an ice cream and the balmy 20C but only a few brave souls actually entered the water!

The pastel coloured beach huts are an interesting feature and can be rented on a daily or weekly basis but bookings are only open for one day in October of the previous year!

Long range weather forecasting is the key obviously.

Those that we saw open, ranged from spartan spaces with a couple of chairs right up to all mod cons including a gas ring and kettle – one even had a gas heater?

 

 

 

We had an OK lunch along the promenade and I swear I only had one glass of wine but still found myself seeing double on the way back….

 

 

 

 

 

Making our way back to Murray we resumed our journey on toward Budleigh Salterton where I had rented a cottage adjacent to and owned by the Riding School.

We had been supplied with instructions on how to find it but unfortunately they didn’t take into consideration a local diversion in place at the time and therefore necessitated a somewhat stressful ’20 point’ turn in a very narrow lane 🙂

Murray’s natural habitat is the autobahn not the English lane.

Eventually we found Tiddlers Paddock and were greeted by the lovely owner who proceeded to show us around the riding school and then invited us to the main house where we managed to devour a bottle of sav blanc between the three of us.

Much later we found Tesco’s and stocked with essentials for the rest of the week and pasta for dinner – so nice to have a Russell cooked meal.

Tomorrow, Sam and Bonnie join us…….

 

 

 

 

 

 

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