The Ocean Road Home

It finally happened - the day I had been waiting for the last four months. The day of the road trip, the big exciting one - the one that heralds the beginning of my summer adventure.




Since I've come to Uni, Dadda and I have made a tradition that when he comes to pick me up to bring me home for summer, we have a proper road trip and instead of taking the M5 which is by far the quickest route between Bath - Cornwall, we follow the Ocean Road all the way home stopping in the quaint, market and fishing villages on the way down to experience the variety that the coast road has to offer. Sometimes we go the Exmoor way, last year visiting Tar steps which were beautiful. This year, we followed the coast completely making stops/at

Dunster medieval village/castle

Minehead for an ice cream sundae 

Selworthy thatched village & green 

Lynmouth Funicular 

and

Ilfracoombe harbour 

It was all mizzle in Bath as I shut the front door and waved goodbye to the four floor maisonette we had been living in all year but as we approached Minehead, the sun finally began to shine and it felt like summer.

I love long trips flying over the roads with my dad - it's a pastime we've always treasured together, Especially when it's through windy country roads on his motorcycle. When I was a small kid, we'd often take evening drives and have an impromptu car picnic on the beachfront or Gwithian cliffs and watch the stars come out. We'd let our dog out because he'd be slobbering all over our heads with excitement and then he'd chase the car along side running about the dunes like a mad thing, high on rabbit smells. 

I was so excited to see the Lynmouth Funicular! Unfortunately we didn't have time to make the journey that day so instead I watched it longingly to-ing and fro-ing up and down the cliff wondering what the view must have been like from the top. 

These Seagulls weren't as menacing as the Bath gulls. The other day I had my sandwich stolen when I was on my way to work so I'm not sure if I've forgiven these guys quite yet...

We didn't really use the Satnav as it's pretty easy to follow the coastline all the way down South :) But sometimes it's fun to watch the little map moving about ^.^ 

Dad and I looking for a nice basket. I want something to keep my veggies in when I move into my new flat! Plus something romantic and lovely to go picnicking with so I can live the life of  somebody from an old story. 

This is my Dadda. He raised me, a single parent which is a pretty cool achievement. He's also one of my best friends. He's travelled all over the world on ships and been to strange places like Fiji, used to perform in Gymkhana events with his horses and once had a pet goat that lived in the house with him.    When I was four, he made me a little mermaid themed birthday cake by hand, drawing the characters on top, and threw me a birthday party every year on the beach. Dad loves Disney and we've travelled to Florida three times together and California and he has a collection of Mickey Mouses. He's always supported (and encouraged) my obsession with mermaids and fairies and most importantly, supported  my random life decisions and constant changing mind. He's quirky, and sometimes shy but he's my favourite and will always be my mad old Sea King. 

The road went on forever and it was magical, winding around and dipping into little valleys and seaside villages - all the way, following the ocean 

I made a little video of our journey home, a small narrative about finding my way back to the Sea. I wanted to upload it in this post but the internet connection back here at home just can't handle the uploading so that will have to wait for another day. It's been by first week back in Cornwall now, and the weather's been all over the place. On Tuesday, I'm off to the Scillies for an early birthday treat with Dad although the weather is forecast to be terrible. I can't let things like this matter - there is no such thing as bad weather, just different types of good weather. Right? Right?? I do love thunderstorms after all, and sea mist is one of my favourite types of weather.