Oh what a joy. A trip to Blue Anchor and a walk to get some sea air.
We live in a rural part of England and from time to time have to travel to other parts of the county for shopping and medical needs.
This one involved a routine annual medical checkup in a big white van located in the car park behind the Coop in Williton close to the Somerset coastline.
The weather had been lovely for several days but on the day in question it was foggy. As we drove into the car park the only van we could see was the dustcart and the chaps in their fluorescent jackets. Bad start, I thought but the correct van was spotted and all was well. We had promised ourselves a little walk along the front at Blue Anchor which has an excellent "outdoor-enthusiasts cafe" called the Driftwood which we know well.
We thought it would be good to do a Christmas fun take on our visit.
So when we got there we found a sea mist and we could hardly see the Bristol Channel which was only 100yards away.
We decided to try and take some interesting pictures.
If you can't see the sea then admire the guard rails!
Sheila, should you park your car there?
Its the same colour as the fog!
Ahh stones and a sign. There should be a nice view of Wales from here, but not today.
The stones are colourful too. Could they have been laid by a kindly person?
See below.
Teazles on the beach. Not ideal for bathers after a swim looking for something to haul themselves out on.
Teazles. A tall prickly Eurasian plant with spiny purple flower heads.
These fishermen go out in all weathers
The eternal optimist, with 2 rods
I am reminded of the old table, how many rods to a perch.
A rod is 16 1/2 feet. Rod is a surveyors tool that is a quarter of a chain, making an acre 40 by 4 rods.
A Perch (as a length) contains 18 feet (French measure) and 1 Foot (French measure) = 12.789 inches
If this one of the Blue Anchor fishermen catches 6 perch he would need 6.98 rods.
I tried to persuade Sheila this was the old wooden pier but she wasn't having any of it!
Whilst Naval Gazing
Notice the ship out to sea as the cloud lifted. Also non identified ducks in the sea.
What could it be?
Easy,
Sheila's App shows that it is an oil tanker called Skagen at Anchor off Blue Anchor destined to arrive in Denmark on 8th December. It sails with the Marshall Island Flag.
i hope you realise just how educational this website is.
This sign amused us as the pathway finished at the door!
We had reached Dunster Beach and the carpenters had made a special, varnished, moveable standing stool for when required.
I didn't use it because I have a fear of heights.
There is a sort of pathway from Blue Anchor to Dunster Beach and onwards to Minehead but at this halfway point it has a good surface running beside the beach by fields.
There are resting points and cycle racks along the route which is part of the England Coast Path.
The path joins the start of the South West Coast Path at Minehead and continues as the SWCP all the way to Bournemouth 632 miles away.
Whatever is this Bucket doing on its hook?
Clue. It isnt suitable for carrying sea water because as Lizza knows, there's a hole in that bucket. Dear L, Dear L.
The Steam Coast Trail.
"If the sea has washed shingle onto the path, please pick it up with the shovel and place it in the bucket and put it back onto the shore!"
Sadly the shovel was missing - perhaps washed away so we passed by without guilty consciences...
Another fisherman.
Shouldn't he be facing the other way, or perhaps he is catching walkers like us!
This really is made for a funny line but I cannot think of one.
We have a Dog Poo Bin, a Coastguard emergency rescue ring and a seagull looking at a man jogging past.
And the man said to the seagull
==== I can't think of anything funny!
Please send in some ideas.
Sheila suggested "come-on Give us a Tern"
Here is the view side on.
Here it is looking to Minehead/Porlock
Here we look towards Blue Anchor with the level crossing gate closed.
I have a good quality lens on my camera but for some reason there appears to be a kink in the line near the gradient sign.
Warning to the canteens on the West Somerset Railway steam trains. Wobble at gradient sign west of Blue Anchor. Do not pour tea into cups at this point.
Now with the fog and mist gone there is a nice view down the cobbled steps at Blue Anchor where in the background you can see how there has been a landslip.
Looking closely you can see a tree growing on the cliff edge and another growing on the beach where it has just fallen.
My neighbour asked if we could bring home a stick of rock from Minehead.
We simply couldn't get them into Sheila's car. Ohh well.
