Got up about 8 30. Didn't bother with breakfast just started packing.
Helen suggested booking the place again in a couple of years time which people were up for.
Got away just after 9 30. We had to be out by 10.
There were some road works on the A39/361 that slowed things up for a bit.
Stopped at the Bridgewater services on the M5 for some breakfast. I think they are the most depressing services I've been to.

Sadly sat and ate breakfast in the car in the car park.
From then on it was plain sailing.
Got back about 1 30. Dave the tiler was still there. Its looking good but not finished.
The house was freezing so got on with some jobs whilst it warmed up.
Cooked a chicken casserole for tea and caught up on some telly.

A simple breakfast of toast and cereal this morning. There was a suggestion to walk to the Westleigh Inn in Westleigh of all places. Steve's suggestion was to walk over the top to get there but M didn't fancy that so we opted to walk along the beach where she had been the previous day then back along the Tarka Dhal Trail.
Those not going over the top sort of did their own thing.
On the way to the beach I spotted the place we had stayed with M's mum a few years ago.

We had the balcony on the left

 It was very windy on the beach but there was some shelter in the dunes. We didn't see much wildlife on the way out (apart from dogs) probably because of the wind. We walked to a sort of abandoned jetty and turned back. It was more or less on the opposite side of the river to where we had been on Tuesday.

Appledore from across the estuary

On they way back we met Hilary and Helen who were easy to spot as they were colour coded in yellow and red. As we walked along the TDT past the NDYC we saw a shelduck, a couple of curlews, a couple of redshanks and a small wader that took off as soon as I trained the bins on it.
Pub was good. Andy and June were already there but the over the top team hadn't arrived. They were about to stop serving food but were OK to hang on for them. They had liver on so had to go for that. They had Exmore and Bomdadier on draught. Tried both and the Bombadier had the edge. Dave and Jane turned up a bit later.

Sally's birthday so we whatsapped her. Hope she got our card on time. M had also sent a present.
Breakfast was haggis and potato cakes provided by Dave and Jane, Surprisingly good.
Today's walk was around Clovelly which involved driving for the first time. Quite a straight forward drive but stuck behind tractors carrying what we thought were manglewurzles
M had spotted a line in the walk description that said 'clamber up the gully'  so decided at the last minute to give it a miss.
We started off in the visitor centre car park at Clovelly and walked through mixed to terrain to Brownsham. It was good to be doing a different type of walk as the previous ones had been very flat.
 A decision was made to do and extra bit to take in Windbury Hillfort. There was quite a steep descent from there followed by a steep ascent. M had made the right decision.

 This lead us down to Mullmill then up again.
When we got to really steep bit the group split. Me, Stuart, Clare, Lucy and Hilary carried on along the coastal path and the others went on a gentler route more inland. After the steep bit it was fairly flat. We came across  an interesting shelter called the Angels Wings.


We met up with the others just before we got to the car park. There was then a bit of a kerfuffle as Lucy, Clare and Hilary decided to go down to Clovelly. The rest of us weren't bothered but Stuart wasn't sure whether to come back with us or not. In the end he decided to go down too. When we got back 5 of us piled into the hot tub. Worryingly we spotted 5 buzzards hovering overhead.

Back to the full English today provided mainly by Stuart.
There was a bit of a kerfuffle as something fused the electrics. This turned out to be the toaster. Then the kitchen filled up with smoke as Andy had left a naan bread in the oven from the previous night.
We were reduced numbers for walking today, just me, Stuart, Clare, Helen and Hilary. M was having a day off and preparing lasagnes with homemade pasta.
The plan was to get the bus to Braunton and walk round Braunton Burrows. As you can see some of it is marked as a danger area so we weren't sure what to expect. Managed to get a group saver on the bus which made it a lot cheaper for those who have to pay. It did take a while though.
The first bit of the walk was by the river Caen more or less to where it joined the estuary. It was mostly on a high bank so quite windy like the previous day. We spotted an egret and some shelducks. There was also a murmuration of starlings which we had also seen the previous day,
Eventually we turned north and walked near sand dunes so it was a but more sheltered. We came across an unexpected little cafe in a car park so stopped for refreshments. Unfortunately it wasn't licensed. We had just missed a bunch of marines apparently.

Today's breakfast was croissants, fresh fruit and yoghurt.
Today's walk was round Northam Burrows Country Park. This involved getting our favourite bus to Appledore.

There are some windsurfers out there somewhere

After another fine breakfast cooked by Stuart we took the Tarka Trail the other way to Barnstable. Quite a nice walk with the wind behind us.
Saw lots of egrets.
When we first got there we were near a big retail park which wasn't very pleasant and it started chucking it down. It was quite nice by the river though.

After a fine breakfast made by Stuart and Bobby we decided to walk into Bideford along the Tarka Trail.


Passed the NDYC (North Devon Yatch Club) which lead to comparisons with the NYPD
Spotted a curlew and an egret.
It was wet and windy but we made it and headed for a pub. The Kings Arms I think.
Had a pint of Landlord. They didn't mind that we were a bit wet and locals were very friendly.
M got the bus back with some others but I walked back with Stuart and Clare. It was much better on the return leg as the wind was behind us.
Picked up a birthday card for Sally and 10 kilos of potatoes from the deli.
Considered going in the hot tub when we got back but thought it was a bit too windy.
Had my first beer about 5 30 again followed by a GnT made with some of Dave's 60% gin.
Bobby cooked an excellent roast chicken dinner.
They had quite a nice beer on called Reef or something that was £3.50 a pint. Not bad for a venue.
Sinful Maggie came on about 10 30. They were also loud and not as good was I had expected. They did a couple of OK numbers though, Shitfaced and We're Not Fuckin' Irish
The accordion player seemed a bit ill at ease and didn't really engage.


We decided not to wait until the end of the set and got the early bus back. Rock n Roll.
When we got back a game of articulate was just winding up.
Chatted to M and Fiona for while, then went to bed.

This is the start of the annual week away with the The Society walking sub-group. This year we are in Instow near Bideford in Devon.
Set off about midday and nearly got to the A4 when I realised I hadn't brought the suitcase.
Stopped off at Membury services for some lunch and started eating in the car park. Not quite the same as stopping to eat out of a tupperware box in a lay by but close. We need to keep an eye on things.
Arrived just after 4 and most people were already there. We didn't win the raffle for the big room with the balcony but we didn't know there was one so no problem.
Nice place. Big kitchen, massive dining room, two lounges and good bedrooms.
Nice view of the estuary from the kitchen.

Had my first beer half an hour early at 5 30 as I didn't like seeing Andy drink alone
Although lots of people had offered to cook later in the week there was no real plan for Friday so M suggested baked potatoes accompanied by baked beans and grated cheese. Hit the spot.
Things were going along quite normally until Dave and Jane arrived.
Dave had a bottle of Snake Venom which is a 67.5% beer.