COLERIDGE WAY 3

COLERIDGE WAY  3

A satisfactory week-end:  son No 2 and wife came and S2 repaired my video recorder, made Film Four available, and got the new DVD working.  As if that weren’t enough he went down to the town and got me ‘Lost in Translation’ knowing how disappointed I had been to miss it.  And he didn’t pay the full price!  Well done my son!

Saturday night we went to an Indian Restaurant and I managed not to christen my new pristine, white skirt – that must be a first.  Today was feeling a little sluggish and the weather seemed uncertain but my suggestion of a ‘pottering day’ went down like a lead balloon.   So we decided on Part 3 of the Coleridge Way – from West Quantoxhead to Bicknoller.  As it was just two miles it would have been churlish to refuse and now I feel tired but virtuous.

MTL was driver – dropping us at West Quantoxhead and meeting us at Bicknoller Inn for lunch.  It was Sunday so we tried to book but they weren’t listed in the phone book and a phone call to the Tourist Office proved that they had no knowledge either but promised to call back if they could find it.  Sure enough they did but we had already left.  MTL’s task was to find the pub and book it.

Having learnt my lesson from Part 2 I had purchased a new map which inadvertently did not include today’s stretch so I deemed it wise to make S2 navigator.  He said later he didn’t realise that meant reading the instructions out loud so that ‘the boss’ (me) could make the decisions As before the instructions went pear-shaped at one point but next time we will be on the map.  Relief all round.

We had extensive views of the Brendon Hills and Exmoor and it was at Weacombe when one felt the writer had maybe nodded off for a while.  Although I have been to Bicknoller several times we had difficulty finding the inn but eventually found someone in this sleepy village to ask.  MTL was there with Sunday papers and a good table.  The owners were new and blamed the secret phone number on the previous owners.  One doesn’t push oneself in West Somerset. Lunch was good and the weather held until we got out of the car.  We walked through forests of ferns so I pray we are tickless.  DIL told me that recently someone near them had died from septicaemia after a tick bite.  Fingers crossed!

info@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

Exmoor National Park Authority,
Exmoor House,
Dulverton,
Somerset YA22 9HL
UK