Today we took a trip to a couple of coastal towns and to the Exmoor Forest.
Our first stop was Bideford where there was this neat old bridge - the Bideford Long Bridge - it was built sometime around 1325 and it is one of the longest mediaeval bridges in England, being 677 feet long with 24 arches. It replaced an earlier wooden bridge.
Then I could hear all these high pitched squeals and along came several boats loaded with about 9 and 10 year olds. They were having some sort of water rescue training. Different ones would jump in the water and the others would use various pieces of equipment to get them back into the boats.
.
would you feel confident going over this bridge?
East-of-Water (a town) across the river - tide is out and boats are
stranded until the next high tide
this was an Ambulance parked at the quay - it was just a van so I assume
for transferring the walking wounded or minimally
injured to hospital or an minor treatment center
Statue of Charles Kingsley author of the Water Babies and
other children's stories.
He was born near here in Holne, Devon. His statue has been "yarn bombed"
as have several other objects in town
then we toured a local museum
a silver hoard found in 2004, I believe, by a contractor
building a foundation for a barn
Visiting or calling card cases, made of many different types of materials, some intricately designed others more simply
these are all either vinegrettes or snuff boxes
locally made pottery
loved these "puzzle" jugs - with all the holes around the neck, there was
a secret way to pour the contents without spilling
this is from 1874
typical British row housing
Next stop Ilfracombe
This is the local theater - the two towers, which looked like nuclear power plant towers to me, are considered to enhance the acoustics of productions
the shoreline was beautiful
Now on to the Exmoor Forest - this has to be one of the most evocatively beautiful places we have visited. When I first saw it, I was reminded me a bit of the Cabot Trail
Exmoor ponies
I really liked the deep rich color of this brick and stone
