Wheels Around Europe . . . . . . .

Saturday, 19 September 2020

A trip into the past .........

Saturday 20th September 2020

It blew a hooley last night and Ed was rocked by the strong wind throughout.

Thankfully we woke to a beautiful morning, the wind had died down and the sun was shining.

We left our overnight free parking spot at Sharrow Beach and set off for the lovely fishing village of Mevagissey.

Today has been a bit of a trip down memory lane for me.

In 1979 mum remarried and moved to St Ewe, a small hamlet three miles inland from Mevagissey and I spent many holidays down here in that time, before she sold up in 1997 and moved back to Altrincham.

Some of those memories are wonderful, some are not so good, so a bit of a day for reflection on the past for me.

Sadly, her marriage didn't really work out as Peter was a drinker, and Bells Whiskey eventually pickled his liver.

A nice man sober, but someone who changed for the worse with drink.

My regret is that she spent most of my adult life down here.

She moved when I was 21, a time when you just begin to get to know your parents as an adult, rather than as a child.

In the 1980's, Cornwall seemed a long way away from Manchester and contact was mostly a week together at Christmas and a summer visit to Cornwall.

Phone calls were long distance BT rates, so unlike today where communication is instantanious and almost without cost.

Anyway, enough of maudling thoughts, we're booked for two nights on the campsite adjoining The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

And a lovely site it is too, only small, but very friendly staff and set in scenic countryside, I've booked timed tickets for the gardens tomorrow.

The "Lost" part came about as Heligan House had a large staff of gardeners in the early 20th Centuary before WWl.

All the staff signed up to fight in the trenches of WWl and the gardens slipped into decline and were eventually lost to nature as they became overgrown and forgotten to later generations.

Most never returned to Heligan and the once grand gardens were just overgrown brambles.

In the 1990 storm, fallen trees made work on the estate essential and the remains of the gardens were re-discovered by accident.

Efforts were made in the years that followed to bring the gardens back to life.

I last visited them in 1995 with our good friends Sheila and Mick and it will be interesting to see how they have changed in 25 years.

Lauren was just seven at the time but she still remembers visiting the gardens and in particular the board walk through the jungle section of the gardens.

Mevagissey Harbour

St Ewe village

The White House St Ewe

Me at The White House St Ewe 2020

Me at The White House St Ewe 1981

Sue at The White House St Ewe 1981

Friday, 18 September 2020

Wembury Beach and over the Tamar into Cornwall

Friday 18th September 2020 Wembury Beach and Sharrow Beach Nr Plymouth

It was a peaceful night in Sidmouth free camping spot on Mutter's Moor, we were joined by a couple of other vans later in the evening.

After breakfast we set off for Wembury beach, still in Devon.

This is a National Trust carpark but unfortunately they don't allow dogs on the beach until 30th September 😕 we're 11 days too early.

The Great Mew Stone Rock sits off Wembury beach and makes for quite a sight

Instead of a beach walk, we did a coastal path walk but Louis didn't seem to mind much.

About mid afternoon we'd explored most of the delights of Wembury, except the beach, so we hit the road again.

This time it was over the Tamar Bridge and into Cornwall.

We're parked up in another free spot called Sharrow Beach overlooking the sea close to Plymouth.

The first place I tried was a little exposed and with the wind getting up it was rocking the van rather, so I moved up the coast a little to another spot with equally spectacular views over the sea.

The evening was spent watching the sun setting over the horizon.

It's considerably more sheltered here so moving was a good choice I think.

Wembury beach

Ed enjoying the view of The Great Mew Stone Rock

Wembury beach

Sharrow Beach

Sharrow Beach - hardy folk diving in off the rocks

Sharrow Beach

Sharrow Beach park up

Thursday, 17 September 2020

Free at last to visit Devon and Cornwall

Thursday 17th September 2020 Sidmouth Devon

Today we set off for our first proper trip away of the year in Ed, courtesy of Covid-19 messing things up for the entire global population.

First stop, apart from Gloucester Services M5, is Sidmouth Devon.

It's a sleepy little town but quite genteel in a quirky sort of way.

On the Jurassic coast, it has some interesting geology and in particular red sand on the beach which gets stired up by the waves and colours the breakers on the beach.

I'm sure there are plenty of oportunities for fossil hunting, but I think the kids beat us to any dinnosaur finds today.

We had a walk around the town which has some interesting little shops.

We parked up on Manor Road P&D and a couple in a motorhome were just leaving and kindly gave us their parking ticket, winner.

Unfortunately were parked under an oak tree dropping it's seasonal haul of acorns onto Ed's roof which sounds like gun fire when they land.

Needless to say we'll be moving when the cuppa tea has been supped.

So move we did, just five minutes away onto a Mutter`s Moor above the town.

It's free parking and has some spectacular views over the town and the coast below and a decent sunset.

A walk along the cliffs followed curry and nann bread for tea.

Sidmouth Beach

Sidmouth Park

Sidmouth Town

Sidmouth Town Church Graveyard

Sidmouth Beach

Sidmouth Town Parking under the Oak Tree

Much better here on Mutter`s Moor above the town

This sign was just past the car park entrance ... and we wouldn`t have fitted !

Mutter`s Moor

Mutter`s Moor Sunset

Mutter`s Moor cliff views

Friday, 14 August 2020

Church Stretton Shropshire

6th to 9th August 2020

This may be the wierdest of year ever with Covid-19 dominating everything, but the weather has certainly stepped up to fill a void.

Foreign holidays may be a thing of the past for now, but the English countryside is looking at it's best in the glorious sunshine we're enjoying at present.

After last weekend trip to Anglesey and the weather forecast good for this weekend I decided to head to Church Stretton in Shropshire.

I'd booked a small campsite called Small Batch in Little Stretton, two miles south of Church Stretton.

It's a lovely little campsite, simple but functional. No frills but everything you need.

There is direct access to a footpath from the site going up to The Long Mynd.

The scenery is very beautiful.

On Friday I walked with Louis up Ragleth Hill, 397 metres.

It's quite a steep ascent from the south side which I did, and I was regretting not putting walking boots on. As usual the path up seems to go forever with false summits but the views from the top are worth every bit of the effort.

The views across the valley to The Long Mynd are spectacular.

I lay on grass at the summit and watched two Red Kites circling above for about ten minutes, catching the rising thermals.

In all that time I don't think I saw them flap their wings once.

I couldn't help but think what better way to spend a Friday ?

Thankfully the decent was rather less adventerous. I gently walk across fields and meadows to the lane taking us back to Small Batch.

On Saturday I decided we should head up The Long Mynd and I wasn't disappointed.

There are numerous walking routes around here and I think all are pretty special.

I followed a stream up the valley and Louis enjoyed paddling in it to cool off at regular intervals.

I'd planned a circular walk but Louis was flagging a bit in the heat by the time we got to the top, so we went back down the way we'd come up.

There`s a really interesting little church in Little Stretton. It is the only church I`ve ever seen with a thached roof.

Apparently it`s not that old but is certainly very picturesque.

He needed a good bathing when we got back.