Kingsbridge and Salcombe

We say farewell to our little cottage and Cornwall.

Heading back into Devon through more narrow laneways, someone always has to back up.

We arrived in Kingsbridge where we shared one last meal with Graham and Ammie before driving to Ashleigh House, where we will spend the next four nights, while we visit family here.

I was amused, as our host Sue chatted freely to us, and Graham and Ammie exercised great patience, knowing that they had more travelling to do before they arrived in Exeter. But she did stop talking so we said our goodbyes.

Our time in Kingsbridge was a lovely quiet time, not as Robert had planned for us. He went bike riding on Dartmoor last Wednesday and took a big tumble over the handlebars. The end result was a helicopter ride to Plymouth Hospital, several stitches in his hip, crutches and bed rest. To say that Robert was frustrated would be an understatement, but we did our best to encourage him that we had come to visit him not be entertained by him.

On Saturday morning we caught the bus to Salcombe for a lovely sunny morning strolling around the foreshore and through some cute galleries. Londoners have discovered Salcombe and are forcing the local housing market up, much to the consternation of the locals.

Salcombe is a popular resort town in the South Hams district of Devon. The town is close to the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary, mostly built on the steep west side of the estuary. It lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

We sat on a bench at the foreshore and watched a farmer mowing the fields across the water and enjoyed the boaters coming and going.

It was great to catch up with Robert and Vanessa and enjoy sitting in their house, watching the tide come in and out of the estuary, which sits right behind their house, with rolling green hills above the water. We indulged in another feed of fish and chips before Robert drove us back to Ashleigh House.

On Sunday we gathered for a family lunch with Mandy (another cousin) and Eric coming from Exeter. The traditional roast beef with Yorkshire Pudding and all the trimmings was our fare, finished off with a Summer Pudding and clotted cream or "thick runny cream". It was two days of glorious weather; such a bonus in an English summer and a wonderful time spent catching up on family.

Britain in Bloom is a competition run every year for communities to enter in different categories according to the size of their town. Kingsbridge won their section in 2018 and are now competing in the over all title in 2019. This little community looks beautiful with their various clever floral displays through their town, with the rolling hills and the water surrounding it.

We enjoyed strolling through Kingsbridge, remembering our last visit and locking into our memory this one. This time is made more special because of our family and their warm welcome. David (another cousin) collected us on Monday morning and headed out of town to pick up his dogs, a black Labrador and a fox terrier, a great combination. They had been at a dog kennel on a farm which sat on the most spectacular spot you could imagine. We could see for miles with little hamlets tucked into coves along the coast and cliffs rising above the ocean, and of course the usual rolling green hills. David said that he always reminds the dogs of how fortunate they are to stay here!

We then went to Start Bay for a walk along part of the South West Coast Walk. Sorry to repeat myself but it was gorgeous. It was fun to walk with the dogs as they dashed forward and occasionally stood on the edge of the cliffs and looked out to sea. But they were always too quick for me to capture with my camera.

I am amazed at where some of the houses have been built. They sit so close the the cliffs and some of the cliffs look like they are about to fall into the sea. It's quite remote and perhaps idealic for a quiet weekend but to live there day to day would be very inconvenient.

The fishermen don't seem to worry about being swept away as they stand on the rocks in the ocean.

We stopped for a coffee break and a swim in the ocean.

Later in the day we went to David and Jane's home for a BBQ dinner. They have a beautiful garden which includes an impressive veggie patch.

Right behind their house is a field of potatoes and many rolling green hills. David bought 7 acres which surround them so that they could control what happened to this land. They didn't want to lose their pristine surroundings.

The chicken got put on the barbie and then down came the rain in torrents. Allan and David made a great team - Allan holding the umbrella while David attended to the meat. We ate in the conservatory while the rain pelted down but what a delightful experience. A super day. We bid them farewell until they visit us in Australia.

One last view of Kingsbridge before we leave this pretty part of the world.