We met in a cafe on the sea front near the pier in Clevedon for a leisurely coffee before we braved the elements. Clevedon is a small town on the Bristol Channel. It is hard to believe it was once a popular Victorian seaside holiday resort! The grade 1 listed Victorian pier has been restored in more recent years. It is a pleasant stroll to the end on a sunny day but wasn't on our agenda yesterday.
We went for a brisk walk along the front past the Marine Lake which consists of the boating pool and old tidal swimming pool. I recalled a Sunday School outing to Clevedon when we all swam in the rather ghastly green water in the pool. Several of us had either septic grazes or gastroenteritis as a result!
There was no swimming for us yesterday so we then climbed up the coastal path past the lookout which is reputed to be where an eye was kept for the sugar boats arriving.
The Bristol Channel is very tidal and at low tide vast areas of mud flats are exposed. They are a great location for waterfowl and despite the grotty weather the patterns of mud , seaweed and rock are fascinating to see.
It also reveals the sand (or mud!) banks that when covered can be such a danger to boats.
You can see what a dull grey day it was. I had to keep my camera inside my coat to protect it from the rain. It came out occasionally to capture my co walkers being as nutty as usual on the cliff top.
We have all known each other for many many years and worked together as paediatric nurses. I am sure you can see what a mad lot we were!
Our walk also took us along Poets Walk and past St Andrew's Church. The walk is so called because it is reputed to have inspired Coleridge, Tennyson and Thackeray.
Hopefully they all enjoyed better weather than we did. We returned the way we had come and retreated back to the cafe for lunch. Let's hope for better weather next month.
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