camping

We are just back from camping at a campsite near Porlock ( which is on the west coast overlooking Wales near Minehead).

Anyway left a bit early on Friday and drove in the rain for 2 1/2 hours to then get the wrong road and have to backtrack only a couple of miles.

Arrived and met Ann and John and put the tent up in the rain in a valley with a stream, very reminiscent of NZ.

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Shortly after Debbie and Steve arrived and we helped them get the tent up then we lit the BBQs and settled under

the gazebo, that Steve bought, in all out wet weather coats and over trousers

to have tea and a drink. It was really pelting it down so I had my

brolly up the whole time

Then to bed in our landladies tent that we borrowed , a nice one with two rooms and a central space. Not a bad sleep on two single airbeds and our duvet from home.

Next morning fog

We had breakfast (

bacon and eggs for the meat eaters) and headed off to the top of the hill behind the camp and along the tops. Foggy all the way so did not see a lot at all.

We had our lunch sitting on bracken in the fog.. ( I had my mini picnic rug that I won at bingo in Italy so had a dry bottom) Walked along the tops and into the valley,finally we got

below the fog and it was lovely and sunny so had to stop for a cream tea. Then walked back to the camp, 14 miles all up.

Big tea, the others all having too much meat and actually giving up on it. We built up anice fire and sat around until the dark and bed time very nice. We had a baby arrive in the tent next door to ours and were a bit worried about it walking up in the night. Fortunately it only woke at 7.15 the following morning. Good nights sleep and woke to bright sunshine.

Packed everything up... why do people camp so much you need to take so much stuff.. the UK camp sites don't have kitchens or dining rooms so you need to take everything.

and headed off to a lovely old village parked the car and started on what Steve assured us was a 5 mile walk ( 8 at least it turned out)

through a forest along a beach like Napier with rocks and rocks and rocks for miles, including pill boxes.

got to Porlock Weir and had an ice cream ( disappointing meant to be hokey pokey but not a patch on tip top)

then walked back Debbie and Ann gave up and Perry and I walked back and got the car and drove them the last mile or so.

scorching hot day so shorts and light cotton top, lovely views.

then home