By: Mike

 


Thursday 22 October

 

What to do? It was too late to go back as we were due for lunch with Becky at Cuckoo Down Farm. We considered stopping in Exeter to buy trainers, or borrowing boots from Becky.  Finally, Chris decides that her fashion boots which, luckily, she is wearing will have to stand in for the real ones.  And please don’t mention it at lunch.

 Lunch at the farm is a happy occasion – it’s John’s birthday and we celebrate.  We have a short walk round the farm, where the camping ground is still open and booked through to the end of next week’s half term.

 It’s also an opportunity to have a first look at Becky’s child care operation which has just opened.  There are three munchkins.  We say hello to Hetty, Harry and August. We are introduced to the lovely Ellie, who is one of two carers.  John and Becky have built a sweet house for them, but the idea is that they will spend most of their days out on the farm and in the woods, weather permitting.

  We see the boys briefly before going on to our hotel at Hartland Quay.

 It’s a beautiful day, but the weekend forecast is ominous.  As we leave West Hill at 15.45, I am thinking that we should have been walking today and come over to see the family on one of the rainy days to come. We get to the Hartland Quay Hotel just in time to watch a magnificent sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.  Nothing between us and America.

 After watching the sunset, we book our taxi for 08.45 and repair to the bar for supper.  Fish n’ chips for both, and pea soup for me.  I order a pint of ‘Proper Job’ Cornwall beckons.



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