Congresbry, Somerset 5th August - 12th August

 

Jeff spent a happy morning at the Clevedon Mens Shed. He had been given a piece of oak from Blenheim Palace Estate and needed to make it acceptable to bring into New Zealand - planed and oiled. Their space was very cramped but socially in good heart. I meanwhile took the dog for a two hour jaunt across a large woodland hill overlooking Clevedon.  We were back at Clevedon a couple of days later to visit friends Jean and Lew, ironically enough from Nelson, who were seeing Jean's Mum. We had not caught up for sometime at home in Nelson so Clevedon, Somerset it was. Jean's Mum is late 80's in her own home, a real doll. Lew finds these small English towns restrictive being an outdoors man, so was away to Ireland a few days later to look at their dairy industry as you do.

Bristol University opened 1876.

Bristol Harbour, well worth a wander around. The council have really tidied it up but kept the history. A wee ferry putters back and foward you can go on with the dog  £1.

The Bristol landmark Clifton Suspension Bridge, a masterpiece of Victorian engineering by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

The Royal Crescent, very similar to the one in Bath.

We drove to Bristol city early in the  morning straight into a central carpark. Jeff had plotted out the highlights so we had a happy wander about for a few hours. Bristol is on the River Avon and has a long maritime history. The city centre port has been turned into cultural hub with  museums, re-purposed warehouses. We have found that the dog Suki is a "babe magnet". Folks smile when they see her, want to pat her and chat about their dog or one they had.

Next day we did a long walk called "Goblin Combe & Wrington loop from Cleeve." Just love the names so you have to do it. Quite a variety of landscape including the above resident goats - dog and they ignored each other. 

Weston Super Mare is a coastal town about 12km south of Bristol. An "affordable" town which means you have to pay to use the trolley at Tesco so that they do not get flogged according to the security guard at the entrance. He lent me a £1 which I gave back after using the trolley. This town probably had its heyday in the 50's. The big plus for it is that it has beaches and a couple of pennisular walks. We were going out in tbe evening so a beach outing in the day should tire the dog out. She love "zoomies" as friend Claire calls them. Running madly in circles, sprints and biting at the water.

Weston Super Mare beach has a massive tidal range. In the background is Brean Down which we circumnavigated.

Hundreds of caravans line the foreshore.

An old church overlooking the beach. Abandoned in 1846. There is a church with the same name in Bristol that was bombed in WW2. Unfortunate.

Kiwi dog sitters doing a selfie. Tricky to get Suki to face the right way.

We went up to the Swan Inn that evening and met David and Peri. We had cycled with David last year on the Channel to Med tour. Was great to see them and the next two hours passed quickly. David is riding Munich to Rome in September which we will undertake late May next year. He is hard out training concentrating on hills as the ride is graded 8-10. Hard.

Wells Cathedral built from 1175AD over the next three hundred years. Fabulous.

The astronomical clock has jousting knights that perform every quarter of an hour. The cyclist is dwarfed by this massive building.

Note how the stone steps have worn over the centuries on the way to the Chapter House.

The Chapter House with impressive stone vaulting.

Wells, other than the Cathedral and Bishops Palace, is famous for the natural spring water running down the stone gutters on Market and High Streets. There is also a market day on Saturday which is always interesting to walk around.

See springwater running in tge channel on the right.

The dog is always thirsty so any opportunity.

Another day, another hike curtesy of our Komoot app and recommendation from our Friday night dinner friends. This one wth the mouthful name of "Beacon Batch & Dolebury Warren loop from Burrington Combe". A solid 13km. Had the dog flagging a bit near the end but so worth it. Woodlands, heather tops, trig point with 360 degree views. More wild horses in the bracken. A lazy afternoon reading the Sunday papers was a joy.

The trig at the top only 400mtrs but that dog was chuffed.

 

Dolebury Warren had been an iron age fort.

Wild horses.

This week from the 10th August is forecast to be tbe UK's fifth heatwave.  In the 30's. So we have planned beach mornings Wednesday/ Thursday and no walking for the dog's benefit as she overheats easily. 

After our long Sunday hike of 13km a 5km only loop only around Chew Lake (no swimming allowed) next day was in order. Suki got a few swims in the River Chew which flows into the lake. There is also a well known fish and chip shop at the top of the lake called " Salt and Vinegar".  We had yet to try any f&c in the 8 weeks here so seemed a good idea.

Chew lake from Knowle Hill.

Suki is not a natural swimmer but gives it her best.

Choice of Haddock or Hake for the fish. 2 pieces of Haddock and a scoop chips was £30. Served with lemon in a box with wooden fork/knife.

Ok once a year was our feeling. 

Flying under the radar are the stone circles at Stanton Drew. Not on the scale of Stonehenge or with the hoopla but interesting nonetheless.

We love some of the figurines on new thatch, very clever. This is a very small round house at a Y intersection.

So as promised 36C here today so our usual very early morning out the door and drive 20mins to the beach for the dogs benefit. She can then lie about inside out of the heat mostly for the afternoon.

Last of Wales then Somerset 31st July - 4th August

We had a happy day wandering around Hay on Wye. Astounding number of bookshops of every genre.  From wee tiny walk sideways in to shops to well displayed not sideways shops. Hay on Wye also has an annual literature festival where authors of notable note speak at; Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie.

This is an incredible hardware store, absolutely jammed. Narrow but very deep. Selling everything from lawnmowers, drills, hotwater bottle covers, jam jars, 12 different types of brushware, scews, bolts, tableware etc. It reminded us of another go-to institution in Invercargill called E Hayes & Sons before they "tidied it up". We once bought dishrack feet there to stop the rack scratching the bench. Sad but true.

There was a small market day on 

Hay on Wye also has  Sheperds icecream parlour. Not quite Top Top but pretty good. Wearing my glasses so I can peruse all the books.

We returned to Foyles in Glasbury, our hotel, where one of the staff, who had sent us off on a walk the previous night, had dreamed up another for us called Begwyn Hill. It was on common ground again complete with wild horses and sheep foraging in the bracken.

It may look like a crop but it is acres of bracken. No rain for 7 weeks reflected in the landscape.

This is the keep at the top of the hill

These look like mule sheep we scanned in Scotland.

We left for our next housesit by a somewhat heart stopping route recomended by a Guy Cooper. We did not have to meet the owners of the property we would be looking after until 4pm so "had all day" as Guy would say.  First stop Gospel Pass. 

More expansive views of the Welsh countryside

Can only imagine how bitter the wind must be up here in the Winter.

More wild horses

The roads are so narrow. If no passing places someone has to back back until one found. We keep the wing mirrors pulled back to the car. Hedgerows are generally higher than the car, even a Dodge Ram would not see over the hawthorn.

We met one of the folks we are housesitting for and their female boxer dog called Suki. Actually in Congresbury, a village about 20 minutes from Bristol city centre. Residents commute to the city on the A370/M5. Our initial Google view showed the address to be a fish & chip shop which in fact is across the road. The house is with three others in a small cul de sac off the busy thoroughfare, 10km from Bristol Airport. The owners are away to Crete for a wedding and holiday for two weeks. We stayed at the local pub on the Friday night. The folks were leaving at 5am Saturday morning. Arrived at their house 7.30am to feed the dog and get settled in. Headed off to the supermarket to stockup in a town nearby called Weston Super Mare. Ghastly place but has a beach so Jeff walked the dog while I whizzed around Tesco. Congresbury only has limited convenience stores and of course said fish and chip shop.

The dog Suki should probably called Sookie. Bit of a timid girl, gets a fright from shadows, will stare into space like a lost soul. Very affectionate and she loves hanging out with us. Although in the mornings when we head off for a walk whereas previous dogs went ballistic beside themselves with excitement Suki just stands there getting her lead harness on like we have asked her to walk the plank! 

Went to the cliff top walk at Cheddar Valley Sunday for a 6km loop walk. We arrived early, only second car in the carpark. Hike was quite gnarly, Suki not as fit as she could be, a townie dog Jeff calls her.

The view from Jacobs Ladder. The reservoir in the distance provides water to Bristol.

When we got down to the Cheddar village it was jammed (Sunday) with a tailback of two miles and cars circling the now overflowing carpark like reef fish. We had a coffee and left.

Suki a bit tired after a real walk with the Kiwis. This is her sofa in the living area.

Today we went to Blagdon Lake for another loop walk, there by 7.30am for the two and a half hour walk. Temperature forecast of 30C and like the Labradors, Boxer dogs overheat.

Suzi quite happy trotting along with Jeff

This lake is also a reservoir for Bristol.

Honestly the English are completely obsessed with "do not" signage. Did you know that "the water could be cold, the lake bottom muddy, lake currents?, water fowl" blah,  blah, blah.

We all enjoyed the walk then carried on to a National Trust site called Tyntesfield near Wrexham.On the lookout for coffee and cake. Parking in the UK a hit and miss affair, you always have to pay even in tbe most God forsaken town. May take coins or card or have to use a parking app. Or not working at all. Jeff paid the £5 at the entrance. Tyntesfield was very good. Stables converted into a cafe, beaut walks, walled gardens etc.

Has been an estate since the 1500's but no house as landowners lived elsewhere. This gothic pile built from 1860 by an Englishman, William Gibbs, who made his fortune from guano used in fertiliser would you believe. Estate was privately owned until 2002 when the National Trust purchased it when Richard Gibbs, the then Baron of Wrexham died. They wanted it to be available to the public. Over 400,000 people visit each year. Not sure the income would cover the maintenance costs notwithstanding all the labour is from volunteers.

Magnificent copper beech tree

This is a split leaf plane tree. We had planted them down the driveway at Jefferswood.

Beautiful blue cedar glauca trees in the grounds. In addition to a kitchen garden there was an orangey - Victorian glasshouse. Funnily enough tbe volunteer gardeners had moved the potted citrus outside because they thought it was " too hot" in the glasshouse.

Jeff took this fun picture of the Kiwi shadow walkers plus willing dog.