A Glory of beaches

 Almost every moment (when not exploring ancient Abbeys and flower filled lanes) I spent on the beautiful beaches of Devon. I have returned to my favourites and discovered new places and as always, been extremely happy. Like everyone I have my worries and my down days but time spent on an empty beach always lifts my spirits.

It is even worth the pain of getting to them. I did fall some considerable distance out of a hedge to the lane below trying to take a short cut and avoid the steepest part of the hill but that was entirely my own fault...

I love pottering gently up and down some quiet cove, looking for pebbles and playing my ‘Beach Art’ games. I have even had a couple of exhilarating extreme paddles.  The water was so very cold and misjudging waves left me breathless and totally soaked- yet I was also laughing and fizzing with the enjoyment of it all.

One evening, after a rainy day, I ended up on Bigbury beach near the famous Burgh Island. The sun was coming and going behind the clouds and the waves were sliding across the sands with hardly a ripple. Everything was lit up with the clear blue light and from the reflections in the water.

It was a magical moment and I felt so lucky to be there to see it.

 

The best of friends

I have known Pippa since our children were tiny and we were both young mothers dealing with the joys and traumas of life and finding kinship in the way we saw the world. She is the best of friends and has been by my side during so many of the important times in my life. We have grown to know each other's characters and always feel comfortable together- we laugh and cry in equal measure. We've been on holiday, had parties and many adventures. We both share a deep love of the countryside (hers is a more active love...) and she is an amazingly talented sculptor.

I missed her dreadfully when she married and moved to Devon but her husband Andy is a brave man and he copes with my frequent visits and he too has become a friend.

There had been some changes of plan which meant I have stayed with Pip and Andy for five days. This was such a treat as we normally only manage short visits and it was so good to have a chance to spend some relaxed time together. Pip understands how I can't manage strenuous walks and that I will sometimes need to have very early nights, so I feel at home.

I had a yearning to be by the sea and we caught the sunshine on some happy pottering walks and beach wanderings. Spring has come to Devon and the glowing green of the grass and sparkling blue of the sea was beautiful. 

On my last day, Pip took me on her favourite walk along the cliff path at Bolt Head where we looked down at the beautiful beach at Starehole Bay. It has been a perfect start to my adventures.

We talked non-stop over the time we spent together and I think that we have nearly caught up...!