A birthday trip to Devon

It was Son the Younger's birthday, so we decided to go to South Devon together for the first time since the loss of caravan rights. We parked by the old site in the village of Holcombe, which, instead of luxury park homes and lodges, is now advertising retirement homes.  

We got on with making the most of our day out and set about walking into Teignmouth.

It was misty, and there was an end-of-days feeling to the place.

The tide had done its usual scene-shifting and deposited a load of sand in unwonted places.

On the back beach we waited for the ferry.

Ted loves the ferry.

It was a bit too murky and chilly to eat outside, and it took us six attempts to find somewhere to eat in Shaldon that was a) not no longer a pub; b) open; c) not renovating its kitchens d) not completely full up in its dog-friendly areas (although completely empty in other

rooms); and e) not completely full up in its dog-friendly areas (although completely empty in other rooms) apart from some ridiculously high, bar-type tables and chairs which are completely inaccessible if you are disabled. 

But then we did, and it brightened up, and by the time we hit the Ness beach, it was almost sunny.

Even though it's the school holidays, the beach was pretty quiet. 

The busiest things were the inhabitants of rough cockles and common otter shells, marching up and down the tideline, which was fascinating and creepy all at once.

Devon in spring is violets, primroses and bluebells.

By now it was misty blue ... 

... and time to head back on the ferry so that the birthday boy (and the rest of us) could get an ice cream in Gay's Creamery in Dawlish before they closed.

It would have been lovely to have stayed for longer.