Pillaton, nr: Saltash

Before we left Exmouth this morning, we walked along the Queens Drive and down on to the beach passing beneath the red sandstone cliffs to Orcombe point.

From there we then took the south west coast path back towards the seafront.

We stopped to sit for a while looking out across the grey blue sea where in the distance, we could see four cruise liners at anchor. The sun shone brightly, lighting the red sand on the beach below.

Before leaving Exmouth a stop at Tesco and then on to Exeter to buy a camping gaz cylinder. All set, we headed towards Cornwall along the Devon Expressway. The road cut a thick slice through carpets of green and fields of corduroy, and Marge powered up the many long inclines with gusto.

Crossing the Tamar bridge, we knew we would soon be travelling on a typical narrow Cornish road, thankfully ours had plenty of passing places. Our destination was Bush Farm Wild Camping, 200 acres of Cornish countryside, and only four of us staying here.

We found a lovely spot by the river, signed as No Man's Land.

Today has been a good day. Marge dosed up on WD40 has not let us down and we've found a nice site where we can fill up with water and empty our toilet, which is always a concern. John is in his element, lighting a wood fire to cook on whilst Angela got on with the fun job of washing the smalls!

As the sun slipped away this evening, we could hear a woodpecker drilling, the river running and the sheep in the nearby field talking. Last night a couple with a converted ambulance had the inscription, 'follow your dreams, they know the way' on their door' Made sense to us. We are more than happy to live this life.

These are going into my breakfast omelette says John who loves foraged herbs, wild garlic in this case.

Exmouth

The rain arrived in the early hours of this morning, the first since we can't remember when. By the time we left Lyme Regis it had already passed through, and the sun fought with the cloud to break through. Just a short trip for Marge today to Exmouth, gateway to the Jurassic coast. Marge coped well, easily plateauing the tops of the hills. She seemed comfortable all the way and is now settled in an allocated motorhome spot with a sea view.

We are very happy with this spot, the car park will be secured from eight o' clock tonight so there's no risk of any boy racers arriving, or the idiot we had turn at 10.30 pm last night revving his motorbike engine.

At lunchtime, although the wind blew cold, we walked along the seafront to the marina and in to the town to buy some lunch and more WD40, our secret weapon we 'think' to easing Marge's ills. Then a trip to the bank for more cash to cover our overnight parking fees.

We walked back through Manor Gardens where we stopped to watch the squirrels raking over the ground in search for food before running to a couple who fed them nuts from their hands.

Back at Marge, who is sharing the parking area with a covid test/vaccination centre a lorry arrived to empty the porta loos on site. 'Hey mate, have you got room for a little one?' More vans have arrived during the afternoon, and the area has become reminiscent of a French aire. Hopefully it wont be too long now before we can return to France.

Meanwhile we study our map and guide books, both windows into our adventure.

Lyme Regis

This morning Marge decided to play up, taking three attempts to start. It looked like we might be in for another eventful day. All those thousands of miles spent travelling around France, Spain, Italy and Portugal with barely a murmur from Marge, then take her on a staycation, and well what can we say.

After checking the tide times for Poole harbour, and seeing it was a spring tide so it would be no good for us to go out kayaking this morning, we decided to set off further west. As we passed through Wareham, we decided to stop at Kombi Kampers as they specialise in V.W.'s. Yes, they could accommodate Marge for a few days and sort out her turbo, and also take a look at her bodywork and sort that out to. Age comes to us all Marge.

After crossing everything, we took Marge over the Dorset hills and all went well, until, Marge decided to pull her usual stunt. Luckily, we managed to get off to the side of the dual carriageway, turn the ignition on and straight back on, and resume our journey.

Our lunchtime stop was picturesque West Bay, where the television programme Broadchurch was filmed.

We couldn't resist the enticing smell of Cornish pasties, buying a couple and sitting on the shingle beach in the spring sunshine to eat them whilst monitoring the circling seagulls.

Further down the beach a seal sunbathed, flicking its head up every time the sea water splashed its face. It was more than happy to lay there and be photographed, too happy in fact, not even the dogs barking and scampering nearby caused it any alarm. We wondered if it may have been unwell. At the entrance to the harbour a sailing boat had run aground on the sand bar. The three crew and their dog were all sat at the bow end, but their combined weight could not stop the stern from rising up and down hitting the sand bar with a worryingly loud bang. The skipper of the yacht consoled himself with a bottle of beer, all they could do was sit it out until the tide turned.

West Bay is on the south west coast path. Angela is reading a book at the moment called 'The Salt Path' which is about this very path. She walked the section from Minehead to Croyde bay when she was nineteen, now at sixty-one she found the steep ascent from the beach a little challenging. However, she would not be beaten, and enjoyed the view back over the village and across the sea blue to the horizon.

The last leg of today's journey was going to be a test for Marge, but we're pleased to say she coped well and happily rested with her fellow vans whilst we took a walk down to the sea front, stopping by the old hotel that years ago John tried to save from being turned into apartments, sadly that is exactly what has happened.

Lyme Regis is known as the Pearl of Dorset. It forms part of the Jurassic coast and hosts a fantastic coastline as well as interesting architecture.

Back at Marge, we wanted to check with our fellow nomads if they were staying overnight, as the car park sign stated parking was free for all vehicles, but overnight sleeping was not allowed. Knocking on the door of a nearby van, the woman who greeted Angela was a little nervy and suspicious. She made a point of saying the couple in the van next to her were friends. She's probably even more worried now we've moved Marge in right next to them!

Tomorrow our adventure continues. A few days ago, we thought about knocking this trip on the head, but it is said that 'the greatest danger in life is not to take the adventure', so Devon here we come.

Norden

This morning we awoke to a still life painting of the new forest.

The ponies were rummaging the dry and exhausted ground, whilst birds fretted in the dust. Despite the sunshine, the morning air was fresh, cleansing out lungs. We realised how lucky we were to be away in such a beautiful place.

Our trip over to Poole was productive. We met with the owners of the house we are buying, and then took Marge to the garage. Diagnosis, new turbo required, but not to worry we could continue on our trip with not too much to worry about, just the inconvenience of Marge's engine might go into safe mode for a minute or two. As you get older, problems seem to become more of a worry. We'd travelled around Scotland with Marge unhappy at times, and that didn't stop us from continuing, so why worry now?

Late afternoon we took a walk from Ham Common to the beach at Rockley Park. The sea water sparkled like diamonds in the afternoon sun and the trees lightly waved in the breeze. Amongst the heathland a welcome splash of colour from the gorse punctuated the landscape.

Tonight, we are staying once again at the Halfway House pub at Norden.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by a herd of young reindeer in an area at the rear of the car park. Their curiosity satisfied, they skipped off into the nearby woodland.

By now the heat of the day had slipped away, and as we sat in the pub garden enjoying a pre-dinner drink, we planned our onward trip. Tomorrow, before heading west, we hope to return to Poole to kayak at Hamworthy beach. The sun now, is just slipping towards the horizon, the sky alight. Hopefully, we will enjoy many more sunsets whilst we are away.