Tuesday 17th September

 

Sunday 11^th July

 

We are off again.  This time it’s a two-week stint.  We aim to do the entire stretch from Hartland Quay to Padstow.  This is ambitious because we don’t really have two weeks.  Chris has to leave early to attend James’ graduation.  He’s got a first!

 

We leave Hampton Hill at 09.00, and we are at Becky’s for lunch at 12.50.  It’s just Becks and John.  The boys are both out.  Will is working at an ice-cream stall in Sidmouth, and Luke is doing whatever 19-year-old lads get up to.

We go for a walk after lunch.  It is raining.  Not a good omen – but not an accurate one as it turns out.  Rosie the sheep dog puppy comes with us.  She is still bionic, but less bouncy than in April.  Becky believes in training by administering treats.  John by discipline, so Rosie is a tad confused.

 

We drive to Bude, 15.00 to 17.30.  The plan is to base at the Edgecumbe Hotel for the entire trip.  Normally we would book along the way, but the pandemic makes this impossible.  It was hard enough to find a hotel in Bude.

 

Finding, being the operative word.  The satnav loses us in an alley behind Sainsbury’s.  I cancel Edgecumbe and put in Summerleaze Crescent.  This works, but there is nowhere to park and nowhere to even stop.  While Chris listens to the receptionist’s spiel, I move the car. 

 Our room is bijou, at the top of steep stairs, facing back with a view of Sainsbury’s car park and  the smoke outlet from the restaurant kitchen.  We shut the window and keep it shut.

 We did have a booking in the Deck restaurant on the hotel ground floor, but it was for eight o’clock.  Euro football final.  I cancelled and we go in search of a take-away.  Bude on a Sunday night has little to offer, and we end up with some Indian.

 We turn on the telly, and England score!  It’s not going to happen, is it?  No, it isn’t.  The England nightmare all over again, they lose in a penalty shoot out to Italy. More about this tomorrow.