Tag: Bantham

#1300 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn SerendipityLeave a comment
Bantham Boathouse

Bantham boathouse doesn’t really look like this but I wanted to create an image that depicted a really hot day and the hubbub or cacophony of sound that floated over the car parks as families spilled out of their cars for a day at the beach at the height of summer. The image is unreal in the way that it might be depicted in an animated film. All a bit too much going on. Bantham is a regular spot for us to visit out of season when the world is calm and the beaches are empty.

But this summer  we have defied our own rules and visited really iconic and beautiful places nearby in peak tourist season. When people have travelled thousands of miles to visit us it would be churlish of us not to go to the most beautiful but busy places. The same scenario last year, just slightly off peak season taught us a thing or two about not being so precious about places being crowded.

So once the last of our summer guests left we packed up the van and took off to Bantham . There is something magical about large numbers of people all being set to have a good time in the same place. The simple pleasure of a bucket and spade day on a beach in sunshine is timeless.

Our plan was a BYOB* and coast path walking trip. Audio or photos would have suggested some sort of coastal carnage. As people, looking like ants from a distance, criss-crossed the ancient sand dunes in a quest for a few square feet of space with a  nearly high tide taking most of the beach.

Absolutely not the calm and empty space we are used to but beautiful in a different way. Alive with the energy of humans having fun.

An alternative reality.

#1265 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn TurnerLeave a comment
Burgh Island ©theoldmortuary

In my quiet moments I am still researching JMW Turner and his travels while based in the Tamar Valley. For an upcoming exhibition. I am beginning to wonder if research is a form of procrastination. Since the one location that I don’t need to research has not yet been painted or photographed. Over the weekend I discovered that Turner had sketched  Burgh Island. One of our favourite destinations for beach adventures. I worked on this image over the weekend and was ultimately very happy with this muted version. Although a ‘hotter’ High Summer version also floats my boat.

But muted is the way of today, because one of life’s great coincidences popped into my emails. Jacksons Art sent me a teasing image of a palate of watercolours they are selling. Almost exactly matching my colour choices for my Soft Summer at Bantham looking at Burgh Island. Mist and a Splodge of red

I cannot express quite how tempted I am …

Could this be a reward if I sell a painting…

#1263 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

The Avon River but not as we know it. The Avon River at Bantham is a regular swimming spot for us on the coast. But by accident, yesterday evening we got much closer to its source near Ryders Hill on the high South Moor of Dartmoor. Hugely swelled by the last two days of torrential rain it was a noisy, splashy , vivid river. Quite unlike our usual, gentle ideas of the Avon.

Boathouse at the mouth of the River Avon

Burgh Island at the mouth of the River Avon

Normally when we have been paddling about in the River Avon  the dogs smell salty with the fragrances of seaweed and rock pools. Yesterday there was no paddling in the river and they smelled of bog.

Happy Easter.

Pandemic Pondering #522

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Van LifeLeave a comment

Vanlife Part 3 at Bantham. There were many reasons for visiting Bantham. The prime one was to visit the location of a future sea swim around Burgh Island. Two bobbers swimming, one bobber bobbing, Someone has to look after the dogs and take the photographs…

The practice swim over it was time to visit the village shop and cafe for breakfast. Beautiful Bantham made sure that we will visit again by turning on the photographic charm on our walk up the hill.

And just like that Summer is officially done. The last blog of August!

Pandemic Pondering #521

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Hugo and Lola, Van LifeLeave a comment

Vanlife day 2 at Bantham. Up bright and early for a dog walk.

We learnt so much last night, having lived so long in Cornwall we are well used to the marked nativism that is the signature disrespect held for all that were not born in the Duchy. Devon takes a gentler approach. Visitors are generally known as DFL ( Down from London) London being a general term for visitors from elsewhere.

For many years like so many Cornish, Devon and West Country people we became economic and professional migrants and lived and worked in London. On our regular returns to the West Country we were certainly described as DFL when in actual fact we were FH R ( From Here Really) Last night we mingled with many who were DFL and with whom we had much in common but when discussing that we were FHR needed more clarification. JUFP did the job! Just up from Plymouth.

So much easier to be a dog, they just needed to pee and sniff each others nether regions to realise that they and the DFL dogs had in fact met many times in the glorious parks of South London.

Not for them the curious Social dancing of humans just a simple. sniff and all the social niceties are observed in an instant. Not that that didnt exhaust them. Barely able to keep their eyes open last night. Today is very much a van day after the early morning walk and a breakfast until noon.

Taking it in turns to be alert.

More Bantham blogging tomorrow, you can never have too much of a good thing.

Pandemic Pondering#520

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Van Life2 Comments

Saturday finds us camping at Aunemouth Farm, Bantham and walking eight furry legs a very long way.

A walk alongside the estuary gave us our first glimpse of Burgh Island.

Loads of walking later found us nattering at the Bantham Village Store Cafe/bar listening to @djironingboard and watching the sun go down. All in all an excellent way to spend a Saturday.