Newquay, Bedruthan Steps and Padstow.

I'm now up to Wednesday of our holiday with Maureen and Jerry in the West Country.

And on the Wednesday we journeyed over to Newquay in Cornwall.  This was a special day for my sister, it was a trip down Memory Lane for her.  Many moons ago, as a young girl, Maureen and a good friend had set off on an adventure, i.e. to work in the popular seaside resort of Newquay for the summer.  They ended up a little way up the coast from Newquay at Bedruthan Steps Hotel where Maureen worked as a receptionist.  That's Mo and me above paddling and trying not to get our pants wet on Towan Beach.

Seen on many postcards of Newquay, the suspension bridge above links the one house on that huge rock to the mainland.  I remember walking across that bridge as a teenager with my cousin, Sylvia, and it wasn't something I cared to repeat when I was there on this holiday thank you very much.

Leaving Newquay behind we took the coast road and drove past some beautiful bays.  This picture and the one below were both taken from the car as we drove along. 

Pretty as a picture and so very uncrowded.

Finally we reached Bedruthan Steps Hotel.  When it comes to property the experts say it's "location location location" that counts and this hotel above the beach at Mawgan Porth is in a location with a capital L!  Follow the link and you'll see what I mean.

The four of us boldly went into the hotel and had a good look around.  We traipsed through the public areas, around the gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts etc. and took in the beautiful sea views.  Maureen reminisced as we went along and told us tales of the antics she and her friends got up to all those summers ago.  The happy memories all came flooding back to her and it made me happy that William and I had been able to take her and Jerry on this special day out.

Maureen above is standing outside the room she lived in that summer.  The guests lived in the lap of luxury but not surprisingly the staff accommodation didn't come up to quite the same standard.  The window on the left was Maureen's room. 

Moving on we travelled further up the Cornish coast to Padstow.  I've mentioned Padstow more than once or twice on this blog, it's very close to where my cousin Sylvia and her husband have their cottage.

A gorgeous little place and like everywhere else in this sunny part of England is bedecked with beautiful blooms.

A last view of Padstow Harbour as we made our way back to the car for the journey home to Sidmouth.

This had been one of those extra special days and we all enjoyed it.  Toward the end of the day Jerry made the comment to me that he'd seen everywhere else that Maureen had ever been and now having seen Bedruthan Steps Hotel and Newquay he could picture her at every stage of her life and that made him happy.  And that made me happy.

Still more to come.

Kathleen.