Ilfracombe

An early start this morning as the nearby construction site sprung into life at seven o' clock. Throaty lorry engines with rasping banksman's are not the ideal alarm call. Never mind, the sun was out and the view not bad. We'd enjoyed our time in Watchet. the people were friendly, no noisy youngsters, bins were emptied and flower displays watered. If we come back to this area, we will defiantly return.

Off early to be sure of securing a motorhome parking spot in a designated area in a car park near the harbour in Ilfracombe, we embarked on a journey of narrow roads, high hedgerows, uphill and downhill and lots of bends. It's a good job Marge is quite slender as we met three coaches along the way. As you know, Marge is left hand drive, so John who sits in what he calls the 'suicide seat' near the centre line had the line of sight and had to warn Angela of approaching vehicles. All in all, an interesting drive. Arriving at Ilfracombe just before midday, Marge unscathed, we took a walk out to the pier to view Damian Hurst's statue Verity which is constructed of stainless steel and bronze and stands just over 20 metres high. The statue represents truth and justice and is on loan to the town until 2032.

Lunch in Marge, then keen to walk out again we headed over to the other side of the harbour to avoid the throngs of holiday makers, a little too many for comfort.

Rapparee Cove at the foot of steep cliffs was quiet and undiscovered by the visitors over near the town. We walked on the beach scattered with thin flat pebbles worn smooth by the movement of the sea. Sparkling in the light like an assortment of Christmas chocolate coins. Despite the signs not to climb on the unstable rocks and to be aware of fast incoming tides John picked his way across them to view the next cove.

Early evening and the car park is filling up, there are four vans at the moment and lots of cars arriving spilling out people and luggage ready to fill the accommodation in the already bursting nearby narrow streets. Meanwhile, for us it's curry night!