God is being nice to us today it is overcast, which means it should be a nice day with possible sunshine. Our little motorhome is back to normal all clothes packed away, my remark to the Owners about the domestic laundry facilities fell on deaf ears. Their answer was the machines are a complimentary extra that they didn't really have to provide seeing the caravan site is on a working farm. My lesson learnt and will remember to use only certified sites. Quick trip to Bideford ASDA for extra forgotten supplies before heading off to Ilfracombe where Richard’s sister Joy was born, pity we didn’t know where Richard’s parents live there. Richard was only two then and it would have been lovely to see their home.

We are very familiar now driving on the A39 plus getting good with all the English roundabouts, we navigated our way over the River Torridge bypassing Barnstaple to another very high bridge over the River Taw following the wide scenic river to Heanton Punchardon on the A361 then inland. Got caught in a midmorning traffic jam in the larger town of Brauton then full steam ahead to Ilfracombe and you wouldn’t believe how many petrol stations we passed on the way.

Again the normal scenic drive through the lush green countryside, miles of fields dotted with sheep, cows, odd horses, farms, quaint little villages.       Driving along drives fringed with hedges or canopy of trees blocks the view most of the time and it is a bit hair raising looking down into the valleys when winding up and down the steep rambling hills till we reach Ilfracombe.

Ilfracombe is quite a large seaside resort town rows of B&B’s, boarding houses, apartments, and hotels to cater for the many tourists. It is the start of mid-term holidays and the town is packed with families and children hard to find a place to breath without being squashed.

The Harbour area is quite quaint, lots of yachts moored and on the southern side of this working harbour you can buy seafood and fish fresh from the trawlers (very smelly area on the wharf). Looking across on the busy northern side there is a bustling range of harbourside cafes, shops, restaurants and bars plus plenty of ice cream parlours.

Beautiful panoramic views from the Pier also from the St Nicholas Chapel (dating back to 1321) on Lantern Hill. On the end of the Pier overlooking the harbour is the 20m tall bronze pregnant statue of Damien Hirst’s Verity holding a sword a lot and a set of scales representing truth and justice.



Too crowded for us walk round to Capstone Hill for a bit of quiet to enjoy the fabulous views of the sea front of Wildersmouth small sandy beach with stream and rocks, kids fun park next to a mini golf garden and Fore Street the "Foodie Quarter" of dining along the foreshore of beautiful Victorian buildings and some taverns dating from the 14^th century.



Grey clouds quickly appear and the rain has set in with no raincoats we dash to find a Tearoom to try a crab sandwich, which everyone raves about and a Devonshire tea. The rain has cut short our exploring of Ilfracombe, as we would have liked to see the tunnel beaches. Victorian hand carved tunnels through the cliffs to unique tidal bathing pools.

Time as usual is against us next destination is the towns of Lynton and Lynmouth passed the beautiful Chambercombe Manor before stopping on the hillside to view Hele Beach in a pretty sand and pebble cove and the rugged cliff coast. Now back the horrible A399 a steep wet winding drive with hairpin turns to Combe Martin, the views might be panoramic but you need your wits about you and when we entered theA39 to Lynton it wasn’t much different.

A few mishaps of finding a caravan site without calling the Caffyns farm had no power plus didn’t look good missed turn to Caravan and Camping site ended back on other side at Channel View Caravan and Camping where we first went. Had a good laugh with the lovely lady in Reception and booked in for the night. Nice site with surrounding views of the countryside and lambs in the next field, has holiday homes some families in tents and campers. Pity the kids didn’t go to bed till after 10pm.