Anniversary #15

During our week in Essex, Andy managed to get the Wednesday off work - on the proviso that he had to work on the Saturday instead - sorry love!  So we had a very chilled out day in and around Maldon - a bit of sightseeing, a bit of retail therapy, a tearooms for a coffee.

But mostly eating!  We found a sweet country pub on the way back to the caravan from Maldon - one that we could take Finn into as well.

And as if this wasn't enough, we'd bought cheese and biscuits and some port in the morning to have for our tea that night.  

The most perfect day - very relaxed and not doing much of anything.   Just wish we could have more of them.

Holiday Randoms - Essex

Our second week's holiday was very different to Cornwall - we had a few days near Maldon, in Essex, and we don't know that area very much at all, so it was all about exploring this week.   (Before we set off for Cornwall, I knew exactly what we were going to do while there because I'm pretty familiar with that area - and it was all about revisiting old haunts and not having to think too much!)   The caravan we had in Essex was an eight berth set up with two bathrooms!   And set by the Blackwater estuary - really peaceful, just how I like it.

I felt quite "wifey" this week - Andy couldn't take any time off (except the Wednesday which was our fifteenth anniversary) and, because he's working in central London at the moment and commuting in and out, Finn and I were left to our own devices during the day and I'd start cooking about six each evening, so that I could have Andy's tea on the table when he got in from work at eight.   The weather changed pretty drastically this week, so we were generally out walking in wild and woolly conditions in the morning, and then back at the caravan for about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, ready to sit in the front of the fire with knitting or book.  

I didn't take very many photos this week as the weather was quite grim and we didn't have much in the way of views, even when we ventured as far as Walton on the Naze and Frinton.   We did quite a bit of driving to get anywhere - our caravan park was "near" Maldon, but out at St Lawrence Bay, so we were back and forth on the same road to get to Maldon, from where we could drive on main roads.  Some beautiful houses out there, but I think it would be incredibly bleak in the winter.  I did, however, spot this lovely cottage so had to pull over to take photos.   This is how I would like my garden to look - the reality is, of course, somewhat different!

Crackington Haven

Two of my most favourite beaches are up on the North Cornwall coast so, on a pretty grim day, Finn and I drove cross country from South East Cornwall up and over the moors towards Bude.  The weather was appalling - grey and raining hard - and the scenery was very atmospheric and eerie.  The sun had come out by the time we got to Widemouth Bay but it was still raining, although only lightly by now.

Finn had a good run and a swim - albeit in the rock pools and not the sea.  I think it was too choppy, even for Finn.   It's such a dramatic stretch of coastline up here - very rugged - and the beaches go on for miles.   Dogs are only allowed on the beaches from October to April, which is what determines when we take our holidays.  But Widemouth always seems to be busy - the last time we were here was in November 2012, but there were always plenty of people about, even at that time of the year.  

After an hour or so, I was getting pretty cold, although Finn was showing no sign of giving up.  So I bundled him into the car and we drove to Crackington Haven.  By this time, the rain had stopped and it was warm enough to actually sit on the beach - although I was wearing quite a few layers as it wasn't that warm!

I could have stayed here forever, but the beach was beginning to fill up with lots of other dogs - which wasn't a problem, but they were all teeny tiny dogs and Finn is such a bully!   He loves small dogs and they seem to like him too, but I never feel totally comfortable - he can be a wee bit unpredictable sometimes, so it's best to keep them all apart.  Besides, he'd run around for hours by then and I wanted a cream tea!   There are two beach cafes at Crackington and we generally go to the one just behind the pub - it was getting colder, but just warm enough to sit out and have a coffee and scones, before manhandling Finn back into the car - he really didn't want to go! - and buying a couple of Cornish pasties to transport back to Heathrow for mine and Andy's tea the following evening.  

Such a lovely week - as always - I could quite easily move down here.  It's such a long way to drive from Norwich, or even Heathrow, but always totally worth it.  

Talland Bay

One of my most favourite walks ever is the stretch of coast between Looe and Polperro and I've done it a couple of times now, using the local bus services for access.  I did this stretch back in 2004 with Mum and Dad, and again with Amanda back in 2011.   This time, though, the weather wasn't great and that, coupled with the breathing issues, decided me to only do half the walk - a "there and back", rather than a circular, or linear with a bus ride.

So we parked up at Talland Bay in the beach car park before climbing the (massive) hill out of Talland to the start of where we needed to be. There has been some coastal erosion on this stretch of coast so the path has been diverted inland slightly until it picks up again further on.   This road walking didn't detract at all from the views although we did have to trespass slightly into a local garden to get a couple of decent pictures!

It was a really breezy day and the sea was really choppy - we got the odd spot of rain, so didn't hang about too much.

Polperro has got to be one of the prettiest coastal villages ever - the streets are really narrow and not wide enough for cars, so you need to leave your transport in the large car park at the top of the village on the main road .   Coming into the village on foot from the coastal path is really the only way to see it - it simply takes your breath away.

We headed a short way into the village, but the rain started to come down heavier and you're a bit limited about where you can go with a dog in tow.   There is a great pub in the village which has a rooftop garden where you can take dogs, but I really didn't fancy sitting out, braving the elements.  

Before the coast path had become dangerous and been diverted, it had originally gone straight past a war memorial which had  a strategically placed bench and I've sat there now every time I've done this walk, gazing out to sea.   So I was very pleased that a path had been excavated out as far as the memorial as a diversion.   We didn't stay long though - far too windy for us!

So it was then a quick leg stretch back down to the start of the walk - not before having to hoick Finn out of a local garden where he'd gone to investigate their veggie patch.  Bloody dog.  

It was far too cold to sit outside and have a coffee, so I had planned to stick Finn in the back of the car and go and sit in the cafe for a cream tea. However, the Talland Bay beach cafe have converted three beach huts into seating areas and the lovely lady there said I could take Finn in with me.  They're all done out with Cath Kidston cushions, bunting and even crockery and the coffee comes in the old blue and white Cornishware mugs.  Heaven.  Despite the beach hut shaking about in the wind and the rain thundering off the roof.   Total heaven.

Polruan

Day 1 of our holiday started off with a bit of a wobble and not a few tears!   I had felt so rough for the past few weeks but the thing that had kept me going was the thought of a couple of coastal walks in Cornwall. However, I had forgotten about the steepness of bits of the coast path and it was only when I was standing at the top of Pencarrow Head (having parked at the National Trust car park there) that I had major doubts that I'd be able to walk any of it.

(I've since read my walk diary from this stretch of the path which I'd done in April 2004 and am glad I didn't read it in advance of walking - otherwise I'd never have done it!  "My guidebook said I had a "strenuous" seven miles to Fowey and that "we advise anyone unaccustomed to coastal walking that this is one of the toughest sections.")

I'd chosen a four mile circular walk from Pencarrow Head along the coast to Polruan, with a short stretch along the Fowey River through woodland to climb up to Lanteglos-by-Fowey church and back to Pencarrow.  (This "short" four mile walk took me four hours!)

It was a lovely, bright and sunny day, although quite breezy and we met quite a few other walkers en route. Finn made a few friends with other dogs on the path and spent most of the time off his lead chasing around, which is good for both of us.   It means I get a really quiet time for the rest of the day - with him gently snoring beside the fire and generally leaving me alone!

We reached Polruan by walking steeply down the narrow streets to the harbour.  Sadly, dogs aren't allowed on the beach at Polruan at any time of the year, so Finn didn't get his paddle.   We sat and watched the boats in and out of Fowey and Polruan for a while until it got a bit cold and we set off again.   I did toy with the idea of getting the ferry over to Fowey for a while but Finn has never been on a boat before and I was a bit worried he'd jump overboard and try and swim!   I have used the ferry before and I remember it being a very choppy crossing.

So, after a short sit down, it was time to head off again, alongside the river and through woodland which opened up occasionally and gave stunning views over to Fowey.

Once out of the woodland, it was a bit of a climb along lanes to the church at Lanteglos, and then another climb up the lane back to Pencarrow and the car.

A fab day, really enjoyed it - it took quite a long time, but the overwhelming feeling was of relief that I'd actually managed it.   Perhaps I'm not such an old crock after all!