Showing posts with label Wanderlust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wanderlust. Show all posts
Posted by
Sille Bliss
I hate when winter starts to slowly creep in for the season... you start to instantly feel the cold in the air. Just when I'm getting use to wearing my sleeveless tops and flip flops, even running outside barefoot, suddenly all that is gone. I start to dread it, thinking about how long it will be when I'll be able to wear and do these things again. Now once I've gotten over that sadness and I'm dealing with it, it's a whole other story. I begin to embrace the coldness, the shorter days and extremely longer nights, I start getting excited to wear my cozy jumpers and my many jackets & coats I've now accumulated since living here, as well as my many cute scarves and hats. So then I start to enjoy the winter... but then after about 4 months of the blistering cold, constantly having to layer my clothes just to run to the shop, wearing double the socks and leggings under my jeans, I'm just soooo ready for spring and I'm back to hating winter all over again. That's my love and hate relationship with winter since I've been here, and so here we are once again with another long cold winter.
Another photo I do not remember where we were coming from. But the sun was setting and we were just passing Salisbury cathedral. This was a lucky shot and how amazing it was. The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the UK.
Spending time at home right where I belong...
But not on this day, we had to go out to Reading. My first time here and did a little shopping and walking around but I was too cold and a bit sleepy so I headed back to the car ASAP.
Back home, relaxing... :P
Soon we were back out on the streets, the busy streets of Poole a couple days before Christmas in the town center... sounded like a bad idea but we had to go and it actually wasn't that bad at all and quite festive! :)
The day before Christmas eve we were in Weymouth to drop off some things for a client and OMG was it packed!! People everywhere, cars everywhere, it was nuts! I didn't want to get out of the car but our favourite little baker is there and we had to get something for breakfast.
Doctor appointment and a chance to wear my newest jacket :)
Christmas came and went. It was great as always and the same with new years! And another year bites the dust!
2016 was a great year thanks to God! Our family was healthy and our lives full of positivity and love.
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| December 1st - yes, really. |
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| I think this is a start to a very cold and long winter.... I hope not though. |
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| That's probably as much sun as we will be getting for the next 3 months :P |
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| Stocking up with books at the library... we plan to hibernate for the winter. ;-) |
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| Heading to Exmouth, Devon - 12 Dec 2016 |
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| Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth - 12 Dec 2016 |
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| This was one day in somewhere in Dorset heading to Devon |
Another photo I do not remember where we were coming from. But the sun was setting and we were just passing Salisbury cathedral. This was a lucky shot and how amazing it was. The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the UK.
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| Salisbury Cathedral - 14 Dec 2016 |
Spending time at home right where I belong...
But not on this day, we had to go out to Reading. My first time here and did a little shopping and walking around but I was too cold and a bit sleepy so I headed back to the car ASAP.
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| Reading, Berkshire - 21 Dec 2016 |
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| Saw this van in Reading, loved it! :) |
Back home, relaxing... :P
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| My first taste of mulled wine for the winter! |
Soon we were back out on the streets, the busy streets of Poole a couple days before Christmas in the town center... sounded like a bad idea but we had to go and it actually wasn't that bad at all and quite festive! :)
The day before Christmas eve we were in Weymouth to drop off some things for a client and OMG was it packed!! People everywhere, cars everywhere, it was nuts! I didn't want to get out of the car but our favourite little baker is there and we had to get something for breakfast.
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| Bacon and cheese |
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| Weymouth, Dorset - 23 Dec 2016 |
Doctor appointment and a chance to wear my newest jacket :)
Christmas came and went. It was great as always and the same with new years! And another year bites the dust!
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| New Year's Eve - 31 Dec 2016 |
2016 was a great year thanks to God! Our family was healthy and our lives full of positivity and love.
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| Beautiful sun rays over Poole |
Posted by
Sille Bliss
I had just got over a very bad pulled back muscle and vertigo for a whole week. I was in bed for 3 days straight and in the house for more than that. It was time for me to get out and get some fresh air, and what better way then to travel somewhere new.
Before getting to our new destination we had to go all the way up to Bideford in North Devon. We seem to love driving from one end of the country to the next. Not really though, but it usually ends up that way. Bideford is directly above the red dot on the map below, just straight up to the other end of the coast.
Coming down to Hope Cove we had to drive through Dartmoor National Park which is always a nice sight and pretty ride.
Before getting to our new destination we had to go all the way up to Bideford in North Devon. We seem to love driving from one end of the country to the next. Not really though, but it usually ends up that way. Bideford is directly above the red dot on the map below, just straight up to the other end of the coast.
Coming down to Hope Cove we had to drive through Dartmoor National Park which is always a nice sight and pretty ride.
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| Dartmoor National Park |
So our last stop, Hope Cove is a little itty bitty seaside village with two small beaches in south Devon just 5 miles south of Salcombe and Kingsbridge.
We made it to our hotel just in time for the sunset and wow was that was nice.
I could of stayed watching it till it got dark, but we both were ever so tired, cold, sleepy and hungry. We just wanted to get in and take a little nap before dinner... pretty much the usual when we are out like this all day. We got all checked in into our spot for the night - The Hope and Anchor Inn. We were shown to our room and oh, lo and behold, we were in a cove view room and our window was directly towards that beautiful pink sky.
After getting settled in we were ready for our nap. We were so close to the sea that with our window open, we were able to fall asleep to the seagulls and the soothing sounds of the crashing waves. It was like listening to one of those relaxing audio recordings to help you sleep. It was pure bliss.
After our much needed nap we were ready for some food. This place had a huge and really nice pub. The restaurant area was up on the first floor (2nd floor in American) with windows all around. It was too dark to see the sea from here but in the day time you could definitely get a full view while enjoying your food. The menu was really good. Obviously great seafood choices and that was what we went for.
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| Starters: Steve's fish chowder and my calamari rings |
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| Mains: Steve's beef & lobster burger & my fish, chips & mushy peas |
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| My cider and Steve's Cornish lager |
After dinner we didn't last long... we had a little night time walk down to the cove and quiet road to another cove/beach area on the other side. It was very eerie and quiet, very dark on the beach and towards the sea. I love the eerie strange feeling and how my mind plays tricks on me. You could hear the waves crashing against the large rocks that looked like big monsters in the distance cause you could only see their shadows. I would be back here in the morning to get a better view in the light.
After our little walk, we were back in our room relaxing and in total chill mode.
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| Hope & Anchor Inn |
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| Choco and something to read |
Waking up to the sound of the waves and seagulls... ahhh... I could do this every day. We already have the sound of the seagulls in the morning at home.. but the waves, oh yes, I'll have that too please. We made it in for breakfast and this time got to get those nice sea views from the windows in the restaurant. We had the whole place to ourselves too. I was sure anyone staying over wouldn't possibly be getting up at 8:30am. I was right about the hotel being quiet, but I was so wrong once I was out. People were obviously up and out, maybe we weren't the early birds I thought us to be. The local shop was open for business and I had my little stroll to the other beach and there were quiet a few people out having their little walks with their partners or dogs.
This is such a very pretty area. I don't know about coming back in the summer. It's so small and closed in I can see it very packed with families and lots of kids. This really wouldn't be the same quiet and romantic place we visited today. I think I like it better as just us two with it all to ourselves. Now if we did have a family, most definitely. But I don't think this would be the place for quiet time in the summer.
Either way it was a wonderful new location to visit and I'm glad we got to experience it. :)
After leaving in the morning we still had to go to Salcombe. It started to rain once we got here but it was fine. I wasn't planning on going anywhere. Though this is a very lovely place, we were in a completely different area from the town center and there wasn't much to roam around to. So I spent my time chillaxing in the car until my Babz returned. <3
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| Salcombe, South Devon. England |
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| Salcombe, South Devon. England |
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| Salcombe, South Devon. England |
Posted by
Sille Bliss
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| Inside Exmoor National Park |
It should of been about 3 1/2 hours to get to Lynton from The Lizard Point (see last blog post) but with traffic and taking different routes to try to avoid it, we ended up taking a little over 4 hours. It was LONG.
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| Map: From Lizard Point to Lynton, Exmoor National Park |
But once we entered the national park, I was so excited. I had been wanting to visit Exmoor for so long already, especially this location. I knew before I even saw it that this would be my favorite national park in England that I would have visited so far and it didn't disappoint.
We entered from the Barnstable side and had to drive all the way through to the end at the coast.
This place is extremely hilly with sharp turns and narrow windy roads next to huge rocks and steep cliffs. It's kind of scary of you are not careful and with bad weather. But we were lucky to be going in with pretty decent weather.
We entered from the Barnstable side and had to drive all the way through to the end at the coast.
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| Map: Barnstable to Lynton |
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| At the edge of entering Exmoor |
So this little part of our travels was a belated Valentine's Day stay. We decided to celebrate the week after since we knew we'd be out this way and decided to pick a romantic hotel. You couldn't get any more romantic than this location and hotel. As soon as we entered the driveway of the hotel we were hit by the amazing view. I knew our room and the hotel itself was in a perfect spot for the most amazing views ever but to read about it and see it in photos was nothing compared to the real thing.
We had such a really amazing time here. The whole place was so beautiful. The hotel and our room was perfect. The service was so personable and the food was delicious. I wish we could of stayed longer and I can't wait to go back.
We had such a really amazing time here. The whole place was so beautiful. The hotel and our room was perfect. The service was so personable and the food was delicious. I wish we could of stayed longer and I can't wait to go back.
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| Description of hotel view from book author of Alice in Wonderland |
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| Framed photo of hotel in lobby - Lynton Cottage |
Did I say the food was freaking delicious? Oh my god, it was the best! Locally sourced and cooked to perfection. It was unbelievable. Thought I'd only share my main course. But there was still starters and dessert that I am not posting but still yum.
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| Mussels |
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| Smoked Salmon and Eggs - breakfast |
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| Morning view from hotel |
In the morning we had a walk down a public footpath from the hotel along the coast. The path started out on a small road along the cliffs one one side and a few houses and fences with some borders on the other side facing the sea.
As you walked further the fences and borders went away and the side along the cliff to the sea got more steep. The footpath was fine to walk through but I can see someone with fear of heights having a hard time.
As you walked further the fences and borders went away and the side along the cliff to the sea got more steep. The footpath was fine to walk through but I can see someone with fear of heights having a hard time.
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| A memorial of what looks like a child who died here. Very scary and sad. |
The wind didn't help because it was pretty strong at some points very mild but then suddenly a strong gush of wind would surprise you. That seemed a bit dangerous and scary to me. But it didn't stop the few people I saw walking further around the cliff side corner. Not me, I decided to play it safe. :) Oh, Steve was even more safe and stayed a little more further back where the trees along the steep seaside cliffs disappeared. :)
The views were no doubt completely beautiful and peaceful, a bit intimidating as well. But oh so well worth the visit.
After our walk we took a drive to the Valley of the Rocks. You could get here from the public footpath we were at before around the cliffs but with the crazy unsettling weather up there, it was definitely much safer to drive there directly. Good decision for when we got there the, weather was much more windy and it started to drizzle a lot, but still another awesome place.
Here is a video of our drive from the hotel to the Valley of the Rocks and a sample of just how windy it was there.
The views were no doubt completely beautiful and peaceful, a bit intimidating as well. But oh so well worth the visit.
After our walk we took a drive to the Valley of the Rocks. You could get here from the public footpath we were at before around the cliffs but with the crazy unsettling weather up there, it was definitely much safer to drive there directly. Good decision for when we got there the, weather was much more windy and it started to drizzle a lot, but still another awesome place.
Here is a video of our drive from the hotel to the Valley of the Rocks and a sample of just how windy it was there.
This place was pretty outrageous. I couldn't believe the wind!! The different shades of colors from the fall and winter and the dead trees permanently blown to the side from the strong winds in the valley were unbelievable. It honestly felt like we were somewhere completely out of this world. These colors, the mist in the air that you can actually being blown sideways and gray overcast sky... you wouldn't dare get all these elements in the summer.
This is one place I will never forget and would love to return to. We had a blast. I would love to visit in the summer time. It would be be cool to compare the scenery.
There is sooo soooo much to do here in Exmoor and I'm sad we couldn't do it all but that leaves things for us to do during the summer when we return. On the way out, the drive was horrific and very nerve wrecking... the drizzle and the wind stayed... not as windy as in the valley but still enough to make your car shake a little and that with small narrow roads didn't mix at all.
But the views..... Oh the views!
So we made it out and on the main road home... our jeans were soaked from being out there and it was not warming up at all. So we had to stop on the side of the road and change our trousers to prevent ourselves from getting sick. Once dry and warm we felt much much better. As we got closer to home between Yeovil and Dorchester with that long drive behind us we needed a little recharge. And what's better than some hot tea and scones, cream and jam?? Nothing at all!
We found the cutest little garden off the road with a sign that said 'cream tea'. We passed it up but did a u-turn asap and made our way to it. There was a lady outside the fence emptying out her van with some garden stuff. We asked if she was open and she said, "I could be!" :)
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| The Potting Shed |
That was good enough for us. She took us inside the garden gates through the garden to a little shack where there were a couple of tables and a little kitchen area. She really did open just for us. It was pretty damn cool.
She had the most amazing scones and homemade cream and jams and it was oh so cheap. She also had a little menu with soups made with freshly grown veggies from her garden. She was a sweet lady too!
Just another place to add to our return list for sure. It was the perfect ending to a very fun, exciting, romantic and memorable weekend.
She had the most amazing scones and homemade cream and jams and it was oh so cheap. She also had a little menu with soups made with freshly grown veggies from her garden. She was a sweet lady too!
Just another place to add to our return list for sure. It was the perfect ending to a very fun, exciting, romantic and memorable weekend.
