A holiday with son and daughter and their families, unfortunately too late in the year for school age children, so not the whole family, but cheaper! It took 6 hours to get from the Midlands to Buddleigh Salterton with a lot of service station breaks and a mega traffic jam round Bristol! Only just got there before our Sainsburys food delivery arrived. A large, spacious modern house, ten minutes walk from the town and sea , near a bus stop – so ideal. Kept up a busy pace all week. We used our bus passes to travel to Sidmouth and Exmouth, some journeys with Alex. Martin and Lindsey with Ellen in her sling, walked the coastal path from Budleigh Salterton to Sidmouth and we took the bus with Alex to meet them. Called in at the Mill cafe and craft centre, an excellent place to visit,at Otterton on way back for afternoon tea and browse round the craft shop. Most days we took sandwiches for a picnic rather than eating out, which was rather expensive. Did treat ourselves to a crab sandwich one day though, and several rounds of ice cream. Used local shops which were excellent, and did home cooking most of time. Martin even got Dad making scones! Bought a fish off the beach, which wasn’t very successful – didn’t like cutting it up. Trains were a holiday theme. Went to Picorama in Beer which had an excellent exhibition of model railway layouts as well as a model train to ride on, and interesting gardens. Walked down into Beer with Lindsey, Ellen and Alice and had ice cream on beach, while others went round some caves, except Martin and Alex who went a ride on the Seaton tramway. Bicton gardens was another train opportunity, a ride round the grounds. A proper train ride to Torquay along the river and coast was another excursion. A boat ride up the river from Exmouth to Topsham and back by train was yet another train experience. The beach was pebbles, but managed to find some small patches of gravelly sand for Alex – and me to paddle. There was a wide promenade which Alex enjoyed riding along with his scooter. Tried to mix and match, so everyone had a bit of free time. All managed to go out for a meal, and go several walks. The system broke down somewhat when I realised no one had given Alex his tea one day!. We made up for it by letting him have a late night snack in bed – and stay up for fish and chips the next night. Weather was good. Dry and warm with some sunshine. House vacant over weekend, so stayed an extra couple of days. Children went back late Sat evening to avoid traffic round Bristol, and we got up early today and had a trouble free run, back by late morning. An excellent holiday – enjoyed by all.
