Somerset Summer Heatwave
We didn't really get very far this summer. But then again I don't suppose many of us did. As the beginning of August arrived, we didn't really lament the fact that we'd cancelled our fortnight on the Costa de la Luz a few weeks earlier. We'd agreed that high summer and mandatory face masks in South Western Spain didn't really appeal. It will still be there when things return to whatever the new normal is. At the moment we are possibly or probably or maybe or not going to Northern Portugal at Easter instead. Perhaps. Besides which, we've loved being at home in Cornwall with its stunning coastline and a better than average spring and summer where the weather was concerned. All in all we were happy to be at home. I've never felt quite so connected to the county I've lived in since I was 9 years old as I do right now.
But then my friend Emma, who'd dragged me out running over the clifftop coastal path at Crantock one Sunday morning mentioned that she'd just returned from the Somerset Levels. So it seems, it's a place that most visitors to the West Country ignore on their mission to get down to Devon and Cornwall - it does get very busy at home in the summer. And so the promise of a quiet place, combined with a Government initiative that promised half price restaurant fare from Monday to Wednesday each week throughout August resulted in us bookiing 4 nights in an Air BnB in the hitherto unknown village of Middlezoy. Somewhere familiar, but at the same time completely new. Our visit coincided with the hottest few days of the year as temperature gauges popped under summer skies. Ok, so 34 degrees may not sound a lot for many of you in more exotic locations than ours, but in the UK those sort of temperatures are jostling for the opening story on the 10 o clock news.
On the Tuesday, some inexorable pull found us at the rather too popular Cheddar Gorge, a place rammed full of visitors, many of whom didn't appear to know what Social Distancing meant. It confirmed our suspicions that we probably should have gone somewhere else. So after another one of those pocket pleasing half price lunchtimes at the Bath Arms we decided that the coast and some cooler air was needed quite urgently and we repaired for Burnham on Sea and its famous lighthouse. And there we sat for at least 3 hours in our camping chairs, watching the endless procession of people passing one another with friendly nods as they attempted to separate their respective canine companions along the way. I had a feeling that the sunset was going to be worth waiting for, and barely moved more than a few yards from my chair to set the camera on its tripod as the golden hour arrived. The joy of lazy summer days. OK, so a lady decided to walk straight into the shot to take one of her own on her phone and gave me a thumbs up after she'd finished. As you can see I cloned her out of the shot to reflect my corresponding feelings of bonhomie. I decided to leave the couple on the shore though. "Telling a story" is what people who are cleverer than me say.
Finally I just noticed that I've left my logo on this one. I didn't really intend to do that, but I've written the background tale now and I want to move on. Five points for the first person who recognises it.
Somerset Summer Heatwave
We didn't really get very far this summer. But then again I don't suppose many of us did. As the beginning of August arrived, we didn't really lament the fact that we'd cancelled our fortnight on the Costa de la Luz a few weeks earlier. We'd agreed that high summer and mandatory face masks in South Western Spain didn't really appeal. It will still be there when things return to whatever the new normal is. At the moment we are possibly or probably or maybe or not going to Northern Portugal at Easter instead. Perhaps. Besides which, we've loved being at home in Cornwall with its stunning coastline and a better than average spring and summer where the weather was concerned. All in all we were happy to be at home. I've never felt quite so connected to the county I've lived in since I was 9 years old as I do right now.
But then my friend Emma, who'd dragged me out running over the clifftop coastal path at Crantock one Sunday morning mentioned that she'd just returned from the Somerset Levels. So it seems, it's a place that most visitors to the West Country ignore on their mission to get down to Devon and Cornwall - it does get very busy at home in the summer. And so the promise of a quiet place, combined with a Government initiative that promised half price restaurant fare from Monday to Wednesday each week throughout August resulted in us bookiing 4 nights in an Air BnB in the hitherto unknown village of Middlezoy. Somewhere familiar, but at the same time completely new. Our visit coincided with the hottest few days of the year as temperature gauges popped under summer skies. Ok, so 34 degrees may not sound a lot for many of you in more exotic locations than ours, but in the UK those sort of temperatures are jostling for the opening story on the 10 o clock news.
On the Tuesday, some inexorable pull found us at the rather too popular Cheddar Gorge, a place rammed full of visitors, many of whom didn't appear to know what Social Distancing meant. It confirmed our suspicions that we probably should have gone somewhere else. So after another one of those pocket pleasing half price lunchtimes at the Bath Arms we decided that the coast and some cooler air was needed quite urgently and we repaired for Burnham on Sea and its famous lighthouse. And there we sat for at least 3 hours in our camping chairs, watching the endless procession of people passing one another with friendly nods as they attempted to separate their respective canine companions along the way. I had a feeling that the sunset was going to be worth waiting for, and barely moved more than a few yards from my chair to set the camera on its tripod as the golden hour arrived. The joy of lazy summer days. OK, so a lady decided to walk straight into the shot to take one of her own on her phone and gave me a thumbs up after she'd finished. As you can see I cloned her out of the shot to reflect my corresponding feelings of bonhomie. I decided to leave the couple on the shore though. "Telling a story" is what people who are cleverer than me say.
Finally I just noticed that I've left my logo on this one. I didn't really intend to do that, but I've written the background tale now and I want to move on. Five points for the first person who recognises it.