Summer in Devon - woolacombe

 It had been very hot and sticky in the night but we awoke to a bit of a sea fret. Consequently we lounged about, had showers, had yesterdays barbecue sausage sandwiches for breakfast, and generally chilled. 

Sausage sarnies

Misty chilling on the New Mat

When we were ready, round about one’o’clock, we took ourselves and a tiny backpack with just a bottle of water, Mistys bowl, and suntan lotion, off for a walk to Woolcombe. Following the lovely map from the reception, we went through the next camp site again, where a huge creature bit me on the leg! I could feel it biting!! I soon dispatched it with a blow to the head and we carried on over the camp sites golf course, through a field chockablock full of sheep and cows, down to yet another campsite. It’s been a bit like when me and Vicky went to Disney and checked out all the Disney hotels, but not so upmarket. Through the other side of this is a path to Woolacombe called The Donkey Path. On my map it points out that it ‘rises gently, good views, no cyclists.’ The first two points were correct, the last point didn’t make it as far as the cyclists. 

Striding down towards Damage Barton Farm

View from the donkey path

We passed by the stunning Combesgate beach, but alas no dogs allowed, and on into Woolacombe. As you can imagine, on a Saturday on the hottest day of the year, it was heaving. Thank god we didn’t have to find a parking spot. We checked out the allowability for Misty. No dogs on part one of the beach, dogs on leads past the stream, dogs go crazy past Mill Rock, which we could just see in the far distance. We could also just see in the far distance The Sea. The tide was well out. We had a sit down for a bit then headed past the stream where Misty had a nice paddle, then past Mill Rock where she tipped her toes in. Unfortunately for us, Woolacombe beach has no stones, but Ian improvised with her water bowl and she was soon chasing it in and out of the waves and begging for more.

A

The  beach from our seat

Paddling

Woolacombe from the sea

After all the fun we took a slow walk back to the prom and found a cafe for fish and chips. Nice but not as good as the Watermouth Castle ones. One of us had a beer too.

Fish, chips and beer

Luckily for us we didn’t have to toil our way back up the hill to Damage Barton. We took the Five’o’clock bus. It was great fun, what with the narrow roads and a driver who takes no prisoners. There were a lot of gasps and oohing and aahing when something was coming the other way. We made it though and were dropped off right at the gate. 

Back at dame Shirley it was ice lollies all round. Then a nap. At 7pm the temp was still 21 so Ian proposed a glass of white gazing at the sea. I accepted of course. By 9pm it was cooling off a bit so we went inside to watch Lizzo at Glastonbury, but neither of us could keep our eyes open so it was a quick drag to the dog walk area then off to bed.

White wine in the sun

OS watch

Neighbour watch

Our friend out front with the dangly baubles spent nearly every waking hour cleaning his caravan. Ian and I sat watching sipping wine and vaguely wondering if we should clean Dame Shirley at all. Decided no. A man behind has one of those cute, tiny, caravans. He has also set up a huge mast of some description.