Smugglers, lifeboats and cream teas

Driving from Bath we passed through beautiful, rolling hills and patchwork fields surrounded by neat hedges.  The roads are no narrower then our country roads but because there is no shoulder they seem much narrower.  Traffic comes swiftly and sometimes unexpectedly - a large tractor pulling trailers, trucks, buses, even an ambulance - often well over the imaginary line in the middle. 

Bradford On Avon a short distance from Bath was a really quaint town with thatched cottages and houses extending up the side of the steep valley.  Once a centre for weaving, the little weaver cottages have pretty gardens where every advantage of the sun is taken.

After meandering through hedges and by-roads we arrived at Ilfracombe - what a view of the seaside!  A harbour guarded by sea walls to protect the fishing and recreational boats with towering cliffs overlooking the stunning coastline.  Yet another great dinner - how we are enjoying the fish.

He bridge over the Avon River - there are umpteen Avon rivers in the UK - Avon simply means river in old English.

The tide is out on the other side of the sea wall at Ilfracombe.

As we enjoyed the beach we noticed a swimmer trying hard to pull himself up onto a rock some distance from the shore but he kept slipping off the slimy rock back into the water trailing blood from his knees.  We felt very sorry for him but rather wondered why he was so far out if he couldn't do the distance.

Later when the tide was out we realised that the rock was high and dry - a huge difference between high and low tide - very Doc Martin. Notice the green weed on the top of the rock? This is the spot the swimmer was trying to reach - only this green weed was out of the water!

Our accommodation at Mullacott Farm is lovely with cheery rooms up under the rafters and surrounded by farms - pigs, horses, ducks and chooks -won't need an alarm clock tomorrow morning.