Five are together again

Actually, Five came together again in the St Pancras Chapel carpark before leaving in their separate cars!

The sad day had come when the last of my daughters was to leave home (again). I don’t know about anyone else but I LOVED lockdown, especially the start when we were all trapped at our house. But then Vickys evil employer forced her back to Devizes at a moments notice and she took Alex too. I was bereft. Still, kathy stayed. Until now. Thank god I have Chris locked in the attic.

The morning was spent packing and tidying up a bit, I even got Chris with a brush in his hand. That’s the thing I hate about a holiday cottage, you feel you have to leave it in some semblances of cleanliness. Whereas with a hotel room you can just leave it trashed. Jane had said we should be out by eleven, which was a very civilised time. In actual fact we were ready about five to (I know!!). We hugged and cried before waving each other off. Chris and Misty were on their way to Aunty Susan’s as someone had forgotten the presents and he had to Deliver them. Vicky and Alex were going back to Devizes before Alex returned to his Bristol flat on Sunday, the last of the Quarantine Six to return home. Vicky was obviously worried about her car and had checked the water several times that morning alone. Jason’s telling off had had a dramatic effect on her. And we were going to Whiteley. 

The sat nav took us cross country due to traffic and we found a lovely country pub for some lunch.

It wasn’t long before we were driving through the roadworks on the M27 (we worked out they had been there for more than two years with no discernible progress, and pulling up to her Whiteley home. Ida was waiting for Kathy for a tearful reunion. Then Ian and Kath went out to try and Stuart little red. No Dice. So we finished the holiday as we started it, with a call to the AA. Up to two hours wait, so Ian and I scootled off to The New Place, our hotel for the night. After checking in we took our included bottle of Prosecco on to the terrace and did a bit of people watching.

That done we went back to the room to watch the second half of Arsenal winning the FA cup before having a lovely meal. 

Then Ian romantically showed me some bats before we turned on the fan (hot room no air con) and retired for the last night of our hols. Funnily enough, we both missed Misty snorttling around the room. 

TOILET WATCH

Well the bathroom in the hotel is adequate. Clean. As you would expect. 8/10

STARWATCH

No stars but lots of bats. 7/10

Five have plenty of fun

Ian woke me in the middle of the night with bad news. It was 4.30am before he needed the loo and was too light for stars. The final day of our holiday was set to be scorcchio. We decided on a lazy day with a trip to the beach. All except Alex who was going to do a suicide run over the Quantocks. we had another full English then played more pool and lazed around in the lovely garden all morning before leaving Kathy and her pigeon and shoehorn companions. We drove to the bottom of a Quantock hill in Bicknoller and threw Alex out. Off he went while we drove down to Klive beach. It turns out this is actually called Kilve, much to my consternation. 

Klive beach is a fossil hunters beach which have Vicky and Chris an hour or so of amusement. It also had crabs. ‘Have you seen any?’ I asked Ian. ‘Just the dead one Misty just ate.’

Fossil hunting

Fossil finding

It was also pretty cold on there and a rain shower started pelting us due to the wind. At that moment my watch pinged. ‘Heathrow records 3rd highest temp on record. 37.3.’ 

It wasn’t too long before Alex arrived on the beach so we all retired for a cream tea. The guy on the next table was obnoxious, which gave us loads to talk about.

Alex’s run

We arrived home early, much to Kathys delight. The girls had decided to buy the tea and decided on pizza from the cider farm. Unfortunately I was cream tea stuffed so didn’t want any. More pool, Richards quiz, (sorry Heather) then bedtime. 

TOILET WATCH

The tea room was outside only and had no toilets so I have nothing I’m afraid

STARWATCH

Cloudy

Five on a hike together

In the middle of the night, around 2am, Ian shook me to tell me there were loads of stars and did I want to see them. My answer was no. 

It was a lovely day for a hike, which is what we had planned. A nice round walk from Tarr steps to Withypool and back alongside the river Barle. Around 7 miles in total. We messed around most of the morning, then pfaffed a bit more, until it was about noon. We then decided to set off for the Tarr steps car park. But, due to the fine weather, the Tarr Steps car park was heaving and we couldn’t fit. No problem. We can park at the other end in Withypool. But, due to the fine weather, Withypool was heaving. Mmmmm. We decided on a drink at the pub in order to use the facilities, then parking at Comer Gate, just outside Withypool, and walk down to the river from there. ‘This will cut the walk down to 5 miles’ I confidently told Chris. The drink at the pub turned out to be really nice so that was a plus.

It was about 1.30 when we eventually parked up at Comer gate, and we had to evict a few Exmoor ponies in order to manage it

We were soon on our way over the moor and down the valley to join the river, after navigating over a few fords. Vicky had picked this day to wear trainers not walking boots for some reason so was a little hesitant

The walk by the river was really beautiful and Misty got to swim loads

Eventually we came to Tarr steps themselves, which are really big slabs from hundreds of years ago that form a bridge. Here we had ice-cream! Then we crossed over and walked back up the other side.

We had then spotted a path that went up the hill and over the moor back to Comer gate. We waded through bracken up to our eyeballs and up a steep rocky path to the moor at the top before the path took us through mud, mud,mud, bog, more mud, and a final boot sucking (trainer sucking in vickys case) bog. Eventually we came to the crossroads which Ian and Alex had been searching for for hours. As we looked back the way we had come we were eternally grateful we had chosen the right path.

We had popped out on the moor and before long the cry came from ahead, ‘The Car!’. And there it was, surrounded by ponies. Ian shooed them away so we could all remove our boots (or soaking wet caked in mud trainers) and head for home. Ian checked his Strava and we had walked 13.3km. Much more than we were going to do, as Chris kept telling me. 

I must admit the little peak at 6km was Ian, vicky and Alex going to the loo. Chris and I missed that section out as it was all uphill. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Kathy had spent a long, lonely day, alone. Except for a shoehorn and a pigeon.

We decided on fish and chips for tea so Ian and I popped to our favourite shopping Mecca of Wilaton and Andy’s chippy. My list was long and involved, mainly because there were no veggie options (they are frowned on in this part of Wiltshire) so Alex had to have chips, mushrooms, onion rings, mushy peas, and gravy (??!!). After a chippy tea and a few games of pool (I beat Chris), we were all off to bed. Plus Misty.

TOILET WATCH

Apparently the one up the hill was very nice. Clean with plenty of paper. Too much effort for me though. 7/10

STARWATCH

OK but missed the dark ones due to Ian’s toilet habits

Five go to Mystery Moor

I awoke to the sun streaming through the curtains. Looked like a lovely day. Misty was in the room with us having been brought up in the middle of the night. Ian also went outside and saw a cornucopia of stars. ‘Why didn’t you wake me?’ I yelled at him. Oh how he laughed. He then promised to wake me the next time he went midnight stargazing. We had a quietish day planned so started it with a full English. An aga is great to cook bacon and eggs on, I almost wish we still had one at home. Alex had another mountain run planned so the rest of us except Kathy decided to try out the none existent path to the cider farm. The field it crossed was full of high flowery type plants, which did not suit Vicky. She kept seeing bees/wasps and panicking. It was hilarious.

Vicky panics

Our house across the field

Those plants are high

The path then crossed a river before going up a steep set of steps. No way Misty was going up there! 

Over a couple of fields and down a lane and we were at the cider farm. We tasted a couple of samples before purchasing some for Kathy.

Cider farm

 We then took the road way home. Too many steep flights of steps and waspy fields the other way.

We had a little lunch sat in the garden before our next foray out to Dunkery beacon. Because it was just a short trip, Kathy asked if we could wait till she had finished work giving us time to play a little pétanque. Misty was particularly fond of the jack. 

At 4.30 we all piled in Ian’s car and took a risk on the country roads, Roland’s driving having rubbed off on Ian, for a trip to Dunkery Beacon. This is the highest spot on Exmoor and you can see for miles, and miles. I was very grateful for my sticks both up and down. 

Then it was time for our second Barbie of the hols. This time we had steak! The veggies had some kind of plant based kebab, and halloumi, which the meat eaters stole due to it’s deliciousness. 

We stayed outside deep into the dusk before retiring to bed, Me Ian and Misty together. 

TOILET WATCH

No Extraneous ones to report, so here’s the upstairs bathroom. Plumbing bad again so just a trickle of water. No-one has tried the bath. 7/10

STAR WATCH

Quite a few at bedtime, but Ian’s neglecting to wake me when the sky was alight left a bad taste. 5/10

Five go to Billycock hill

As members of the national trust we understandably want our monies worth, or as much as we can get during a pandemic. We therefore HAD to visit Dunster Castle during this holiday. Looking at the map it seemed to be round 7miles from our palace to said castle. Luckily, Chris decided he didn’t fancy the walk so we arranged to meet him there, all go on said visit together, then get a lift home. So we booked in to Dunster for 2.30pm, and arranged to meet Chris at a little car park in the village at that time. 

Yesterday we had planned to leave at 10am giving us plenty of time. We arose earlyish to a middling day. Middling heat, middling cloud. After breakfast and preparation Ian, Vicky, Alex, Misty and I were ready to leave at the allotted hour of 10.30. (You don’t think we would tell Ian the real time do you?)

Vicky was wearing a jumper. The first little bit took us up the same hill as yesterday, where we branched left instead of right. We would be following the West Somerset branch of the McMillan way. It’s quite exciting to be following a ‘Way’. Sometimes the sign posts even had a little sticker on them. Most times there were no signposts. 

We stopped for lunch at Bat Castle at about 1pm,  but before that we had crossed fields, gone through a couple of small villages, crossed a Ford, gone through a wood, climbed two hills, and every step of the way we had fantastic views, a lot of the time of the sea. 

Misty can’t do this one!

It’s a buzzard!

Misty and Buddy in the Ford

Lunch at bats castle which is an ancient iron aged fort, and the Piccadilly Circus of the Dunster deer park.

Look at those climbs!

You can probably see the route from both pictures together

After lunch we made our way down the hill to the allotted meeting place. Buddy’s Ford was the last stop. Once over that we looked for the car park. Remember. We had been walking/eating for four hours and we arrived at exactly 2.30. As we set foot into the car park Chris arrived. We couldn’t believe it! 

We all jumped in and drove around to the NT car park for Dunster castle. The one way system was clearly marked and as you can imagine it was quiet.

We arrived at a little pop-up cafe and had coffee. It was freezing. Wish I had a jumper. Ian brought Misty an ice cream, which she loved

On the way back to the mansion, Chris dropped us off at the pub at the end of the lane so we could book a table. We left Ian’s name and number (eek!) In between I had a shower and went to Vickys Magic Box for a haircut. At the pub we had to sit in our seats and not stand up unless we needed the loo. The food was good and plentiful, Alex’s two mains actually filled him up. 

Socially distanced dining

We strolled back to the Villa well stuffed. It was a little chilly so Ian and Alex lit a roaring fire. The evening was taken up by the only connect missing vowels that we had neglected. I think I won the most rounds. Then most people had to leave the room due to the heat of the roaring fire. Vicky removed her jumper. 

At bedtime I went out and viewed the stars for a bit before retiring. A little later Ian came to bed, leaving Misty downstairs. About 2am Misty came to bed with us. 

TOILET WATCH

The ladies toilet at Dunster was very nice. Clean, newly painted, nice hot water and power to the max none Dyson hand driers. Only problem was that the toilets were really low so you kind of plonked down. Because of that I am deducting a full Mark. 9/10

STAR WATCH

Nice clearish Sky, but a little light still when I went to bed. I was a bit cold as well as I had left the side of the roaring fire, so it was just a quick look. Saw quite a few stars though. 6/10

Five go down to the sea

We were awoken by Misty mooching about so I got up and fed her. It was raining but that was OK as most of us were planning an easy morning. Alex was planning a 22km run. We breakfasted late, except for Kathy who was hard at work when we got up. Bitter had let her down badly leaving her in the lurch. She was trying to get Stig Larsen to fill the breach. Vicky had received a very stern e-mail from Jason telling her to get her radiator sorted immediately so she wanted her dad to find a garage. Luckily, there is one in Roadwater about half a mile away who could replace it for her. I took Ian down and the man located the radiator to come tomorrow. Probably ready weds he said. We then popped into Wilaton for some food. The Double yellows in Wilaton are advisory only apparently. We did find a nice pie and pasty shop where we bought some for tea. Back at the ranch we heated up the left over barbie and left over pizza stuff and had a veritable feast. All except Alex who had left for the run up and over the Brendon hills. 

Chillaxin 

As soon as Alex returned we ushered him into the shower, forced half a left over pizza down him and set off to walk down to the sea. Just opposite our little cottage is a public footpath leading up to a bridle way on a hill. There is also a public footpath, exceedingly overgrown, right next to our little cottage leading to the cider farm (closed), but the less said about that the better. No one needs to know that Ian was right, again. Anyway, up on top of the hill we got some fantastic views over to the sea. 

Leaving the Chapel by the side gate

The field above 

Views to the sea

Misty wasn’t too impressed by the prickly bits left in the farmers field after he had harvested his barley though. We crossed a few stiles (luckily there were some Misty size holes) and a cow field before coming into Washford. This is where the old train line started. 

The railway

The river

After a view dog on dog altercations, a stonechat spotting, and a swim in the river (Misty) we arrived on the outskirts of Watchet. This is a pretty little town, but the greyness of the late afternoon, and the fact the sea was waaaaaaay out again and the beach muddy, didn’t do it any favours. We did find a pub where we could take Misty through to the very small courtyard. Ian left his name and phone number (eek!) and we ordered a swift half. If it wasn’t for the rain coming on it would have been almost continental. 

We had arranged for Chris to come collect us. Kathy came too on the promise of good things in Watchet. But there were none so we came home.

The evening was spent doing Richards quiz (sorry Allum’s!) and consuming the pasties, which were delicious. After such an energetic day we were all exhausted. I went to bed leaving Ian to let Misty out. Apparently the skies were remarkably clear and he saw loads of stars. Not too long after Ian came up. Not long after that Misty retired to our room too.

TOILET WATCH

None on our travels today, so the downstairs bathroom in the house. A bit small. Shower is not very powerful. Water in tap is a trickle. 6/10

STAR WATCH

Well Ian says he saw loads but couldn’t name any. I’ll be staying up myself tonight.