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.
