Tuesday 16 August 2016

Holiday memories - day 1




Remind me next year, when we plan a couple of days away, NOT to go in the middle of August as the world and his wife makes the same decision . . .  This was the view on the M5, driving down into Somerset on Saturday morning.  The traffic was ten times worse coming home and we had to leave the M4 at Newport last night as it was just chocabloc.  It took us 6 hours to get home (via Abergavenny and the dear old A40!)


Anyway, we had a very busy 3 days away.  We drove down and managed to find an afternoon car boot sale after we left the motorway (intending to head across the Somerset Levels.)  This boot sale was a nice break after the driving, and I found a couple of bits of Torquay pottery for my collection and some other bits and pieces to sell on.


We went to Cheddar via Wedmore.  There used to be a very good antiques dealer over that way we knew from our Dorset days, but he must have retired as there was no proper antique shop in Wedmore.  We stretched our legs in Cheddar and found an old barn at the back of the Tesco Extra which was selling various antiques and collectables and bought two WW1 badges there.


We needed to check how long it took to get from Cheddar to our overnight stop at Clevedon (half an hour) as we were heading for the huge car boot sale there the next morning.  We had booked a chalet at a holiday village, and found it clean, tidy and just what you need in an overnight stop.  We were somewhat amused to find that the couple at the next table to ours were breaking their journey (from N. Devon to Brum) with an overnight stop.  Heck, we might be getting long in the toof but we can still manage to drive for four hours without needing a bed for the night in the middle. . .  Ah well, perhaps they were just trying to extend their holiday a little bit (and miss the traffic we didn't!)



We had a meal on site, and then drove the mile or two down to the sea front at Clevedon and took lots of scenic photos of the sunset, which don't really need much explanation . . .  This is looking up the Welsh coast towards Cardiff.



. . . and to the left . . .


The Manx flag was flying, just for us (OH has a Manx name and roots).


Looking across to the main part of the town.  In the foreground was a safe swimming area constructed around the 1920s.


Looking back into Wales.  Newport (I think) vaguely in the foreground, and behind the flat top of the Sugarloaf, with the Skirrid to the right of it.


Straight down the middle with Cardiff in the distance.


The other end of the swimming area.  There were teenagers enjoying the water despite it getting a bit dimpsey.  Sadly, when we walked up that end, around the corner there was a young Chinese chap with a needle in his finger, tied in with a bit of tape.  The seemier side of Clevedon.


There was a little tower on the coastal path and we took one last photo in the direction of Cardiff before going back to bed.

15 comments:

  1. Well you seem to have enjoyed your holiday even with the traffic. It seems it was a 'busman's holiday' with frequent stops along the way to buy. Like your photos of the sea it has a very calming effect.

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  3. A collector's trip! The M5 is always a nightmare in Summer, it's usually solid after Bristol all the way to Exeter and beyond

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  4. That traffic looks horrendous and is the main reason we never ever go away in August/

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  5. It's always a Busman's Holiday Thelma! It would be daft to walk past the chance of a bargain or two, and I got 3 lovely pieces of Torquay pottery for my collection. Photos to follow.

    Simon - the section (late morning) between Cheddar and Totnes was fine, traffic flowing. Coming home though - O.M.G. - what a nightmare! September next year . . .

    Pat - a wise move, but needs must and we have been SO BUSY this year.

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  6. How come whenever we go anywhere we never seem to be in the right place on the right day for car boot sales!
    Love the views across the channel. We used to have holidays at a campsite high up near Woolacombe and I loved watching the lights across in Wales, it looked so close yet hours by road.
    Hate traffic jams with a vengeance!

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    1. I'm an Aries - I rest my case ref. traffic jams!! On a clear day, looking across at N. Devon from Swansea, it looks like an easy swim (as long as you're not me!)

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  7. We love Clevedon, spent many lovely afternoons walking around. The pier is always a favorite walk.

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  8. Gosh... how dare some people ! hahahahahahahahahaha, everyone had the same idea.
    Your photos look like you have a lovely time minus the traffic.
    It the same here in the U.S.

    cheers, parsnip and thehamish

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    1. Well, the West Country is THE place to head in August. We just agreed with everyone else!

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  9. Gorgeous photos. Sorry to hear about the traffic - if it is any consolation the M5 was horrendous when we went to Devon in June especially coming home. Huge queues round Bristol and even worse round Worcester :(

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  10. We loved Clevedon when we lived just up the coast from there. Beautiful evening photos across the Severn.

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  11. I don't envy you driving in that traffic! Lovely sunset photos at the end of the day though.

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  12. It took my sister 12 hours to get from Cornwall to oop North thanks to the lovely M5! How inconvenient other people are, trying to get away from it all!!

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