Just had best part of a week away, doing very little except cruising around Devon, Dorset and Somerset (in the UK) on the LittleInsect. No great mileage, but lots of things to see and do.
For a start, I stayed in what was formerly an old inn, that is reputedly haunted by a big black dog. Never saw it though.
This is Abbotsbury. It was once a Benedictine Monastery, but now is renowned for it's Swannery. Swans were farmed by the monks for food in Medieval times. In the UK, all swans are the property of the Queen, and as such are cared for, bred and nurtured here.
The shingle bank in the background (that's pebbles to you) is 17 miles long, and a huge lagoon has formed behind it. The seawater seeps through the bank, which is called Chesil Beach, and mixes with freshwater from streams. This provides the ideal location for swans apparently.
The next picture is a place called Branscombe, in Devon. The wreck you can see in the distance is the MV Napoli, which ran aground last year. It was carrying, amongst other things, containers of BMW motorcycles. The containers were washed up on the beach and all disappeared. Apparently, they've now recovered all of the bikes except one.
This is the Museum of Motoring Memories in Colyford, Devon. Basically, it's full of things like petrol pumps and oil cans from the early 20th. century. A lot of film and TV companies hire stuff from here when making period films.
This is Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset. It was once the holiest place in England and the abbey was the largest church ever built. The original one was a wattle hut, reputedly built by Joseph of Aramathea. The second one was stone, but burnt down in 1185. This is the remains of the third one, which was torn down by order of King Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 15-something. King Arthur and Queen Quinevere are supposedly buried here
And finally, this is Lyme Regis, and the harbour arm, known as The Cobb. This is where the film, the French Lieutenant's Woman was filmed.
As I said, no great distances, and nothing startling, but a very enjoyable browse about doing not a lot.
(behind me at this point)
