I slept so well last night, the kind of deep sleep that comes after a day of travelling when you are weary right down to your bones. I woke at 6.30am when it was still dark and went downstairs in the oh-so-quiet house to make myself a big mug of tea to bring back to bed. I sat and sipped my tea and waited for the daylight to creep in - this bedroom is east facing and at the top of a hill so on clear mornings the sunrise over the surrounding landscape is wonderful. Today though, it was cloudy and grey and there was a deliciously damp, fresh smell in the air so I guessed it must have rained a little in the night.
I set off to walk the mile into town around 9.30, a route that is so very familiar to me I could probably do it with my eyes closed. I snapped the photo above to show you the roses here - right now they are laden with fat red hips but in the summer those hips were pink roses. They were scented too, and I cannot tell you how amazing the scent was on a warm summers evening, I shall never forget it.
Walking down through Bridport town and it all felt and looked reassuringly familiar. Some things inevitably change over time but much has stayed the same since I was a child. There is a great variety of independent shops and cafés and it's so nice to see these little businesses thriving.
This is the window of Leakers Bakery which has been here as long as I can remember - the bakery is over one hundred years old, isn't that amazing? I think before I leave I'm going to treat myself to something from those baskets, and I'll be sure to share it with you.
My Dad made me my breakfast, he has the exact same thing every single morning and seems to like feeding it to me too - a slice of seeded toast topped with scrambled egg and smoked salmon. It was really yummy, and surprisingly filling. I had an idea that while I'm here I'm going to take my Dad and Lady B out for coffee each morning, we're going to visit a different café each time. I know, I'm full of good ideas. My Dad doesn't especially like cafés (he's more of a pub man) but he shuffled along with me this morning and I think he enjoyed it, but he looked very uncomfortable perched on the trendy metal vintage bar stool. I'll hopefully find somewhere more comfy for him tomorrow. I had my usual cappuccino and it was extremely good I have to say - thank you Soulshine Café for the delicious caffeine fix.
I also want to give a little wave and a shout out to the lovely Carole who I bumped into this morning - a crocheter and knitter who reads my blog and recognised me as I was on way to Soulshine. Sometimes I do come across people who look at me as if they know me and as if they want to say something, but then they walk on by - it's an absolute delight when that look of recognition turns into a conversation. So if you do ever see me wandering about the place, do please stop me and say hello!!
After our coffee outing it was high time for me to get my sea fix, my goodness I was fairly desperate for it. We drove the short few miles down to West Bay which always delivers the biggest dose of nostalgia for me. I have so many fond memories of this place, from times when I was very young and on holiday here, through my teenage years living here, then all the many, many summers that I've visited as an adult, and as a Mummy with the Littln's. Quite simply it is home, and my heart and soul are always tripping over themselves with happiness when I'm here.
As you can see, I didn't get my wished for blue skies, it was grey and chilly with gulls screeching and the wind blowing and I absolutely loved it. We walked around the harbour....
.....then all the way along the promenade to the very end. It was really windy along here, the kind that whips your hair into a knot and steals your breathe away.
The tide was high and the sea was pretty rough as it crashed into the rocks...
...the sound and salty tang of it was absolutely fantastic.
I could have stood here watching the waves for ages, but somewhere along the way we'd lost my Dad and so we needed to retrace our steps and see where he had got to. I think he'd started to feel the cold and had retreated to a bench inside a little shelter to wait for us - we did eventually find him so all was well.
I didn't spend long on the beach because of the Dad-in-the-Shelter situation. He told me not to hurry but I felt bad with him sitting there with his woolly hat pulled right down and his hands rammed into his pockets all huddled into himself.
It was so so good to have my feet on the pebbles for a short while though, grounded to the place that's home to my soul. Breathing out, feeling the ease of it right down to my toes.
Back around the harbour again....
....loving the fishing boats bobbing about in the water, the bright colours and jolly jauntiness of them really appealing to me.
We'd conveniently parked the car right outside the pub.....
....so we decided to take the weight off our feet for a while and get rid of the chill in our bones with a quick afternoon tipple. I treated my Dad to his favourite whiskey which he likes to drink with a splash of hot water, and I enjoyed a cheeky little glass of chilled white wine. It was just a really lovely end to the afternoon I have to say. My Dad is now very, very slow on his feet and doesn't really like walking around all that much, so I was ever so glad that he agreed to come to the sea with us as often times he just refuses. Happy days.
When we got back to Lady B's, I helped her get started on a new crochet blanket. And when I say helped, I mean I made that long wiggly chain and worked a couple of ripply stripes to get the blanket off the starting blocks. She's using up a stash of yarn left over from making other blankets so it's going to be very colourfully eclectic shall we say! I taught Lady B to crochet many years ago so that she could have something to occupy her hands when she was giving up smoking. Now many blankets later she is still a very proud non smoker and a happy hooker.
Right my lovelies, it's time for me to settle down and get some shut eye now, I hope you've enjoyed my photos and blurb today and I'll be back tomorrow with more....see you then.
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Thank you so much Lucy! I’m just catching up on your blogtober blogs and they are such a welcome relief! I’m in Auckland, New Zealand and we are in our 10th week (I think, I’ve lost track) of lockdown which has been very stressful due to other things as well as the lockdown. This blog just transported me away from all that and to the Dorset seaside for a couple of minutes. Thank you xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela Glae | October 31, 2021 at 02:42 AM
My Mum and Dad lived in Beaminster many years ago when my girls were young, we used to love going to WestBay to walk as you’ve done and go crab fishing. So reading your blog today brought back many lovely memories xxx
Posted by: Sheelagh Franklin | October 29, 2021 at 08:21 AM
It's funny and lovely to hear what you were saying about being 'spotted'. Here in Melbourne where lots of TV shows are made, we might spot a 'known person' maybe 2 or 3 times a year. One time I arranged for a 'Man with a van' to come and move a wardrobe to a friends house and the so named 'Man with a van' was an actor who I recognised from the soapie 'Neighbours'. He was on the show in the early 2000s or earlier. I said, "Hey! You're that guy!" and he was like "yeah I sure was! But I'm doing this now!"
Posted by: Louise | October 29, 2021 at 12:56 AM
You brought back many memories of when I was a child when my mum and dad took us camping around Devon and Cornwall. After travelling through from London our first call was always to West Bay for breakfast. Thank you for sharing those photos and memories....its brought mine back for sure.
Posted by: Carole | October 27, 2021 at 10:58 PM
What a lovely day. Great pictures, can almost smell the sea air.
Posted by: Charlotte | October 27, 2021 at 09:31 PM
A lovely post and fabulous pics as always ,Lucy.
We are so blessed in Bridport to have such an amazing range of independent shops and cafés, plus the marvellous twice weekly market - it seems there’s always a friendly face and some cheerful chat wherever you go and for me,yesterday,the friendliest face I came across was yours !
It was lovely to meet you and I so enjoyed our chat.
Enjoy the rest of your stay and time spent with your Dad and Lady B.
Carole xx
Posted by: Carole C | October 27, 2021 at 04:52 PM
Oh, what a treasure has been passed on to me by a dear friend. I look forward to each and every entry.
Posted by: Mary Bernard Wiecezak | October 27, 2021 at 02:56 PM
You bring joy every where you go! Come on now, 'fess up. You're hiding wings underneath those sweaters, are't you?
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 27, 2021 at 02:30 PM
what a fabulous Blog Lucy. Thank you for sharing. I have wanted to see Bridport and Westbay ever since we watch the Broadchurch series a few years ago. The nearest I have been is Lyme Regis and Beer ( I know…it’s over the border in Devon but we loved visiting and staying at the caravan site there) maybe one day we will manage to visit although we find the journey from up North a bit more daunting these days!
So pleased to hear you are enjoying your stay and revisiting your favourite places .
I was lucky enough to bump into you in the woods at Skipton but became totally tongue tied when trying to tell you how much I enjoyed your blog and your crochet patterns . Unfortunately I have had a very long absence from crochet ( which I love very much) I am trying to get the MoJo back after a full years absence! Does anyone else have this problem?
Enjoy the rest of your well earned break lovely Lucy and thanks again for sharing! X
Posted by: Kathryn Grimshaw | October 27, 2021 at 02:12 PM
I loved every minute of your day and I have the same love for the ocean and coast so I could feel your happiness. You were so lucky to enjoy that with your Dad and then you got some crocheting in so that made it a perfect day to me. I can’t wait to see where you (we) go tomorrow 💙💙
Posted by: Cindy Conaty | October 27, 2021 at 01:54 PM
Oi vey, "happy hooker" is THE reason to be taken down lately. FB took crochet sites down because of that. Be careful dear Lucy. Working with thread and hook seems to be very naughty and seducing. (Rolls eyes) I am so happy your dad wanted to come. Perhaps not a coffee, but a whiskey can get him out more XD One needs to sniff the sea now and then, eh? Very happy-making.
Posted by: Tineke | October 27, 2021 at 12:49 PM
Wonderful share. I felt as if I was there! Beautiful:).
Posted by: Jeanine R Ahearn | October 27, 2021 at 11:45 AM
What a wonderful trip you've taken us into today! I love everything about it, from waking up in that beautiful place, the pebble beach, the independent shops and cafés... to the crochet blankets. I hope you enjoy your stay!
Posted by: Juliana | October 27, 2021 at 11:22 AM
There is something about a pub after a really chilly seaside walk. You really appreciate the warmth and feel you deserve the drink (& crisps! We always have a bag of something. S&V for me, pork scratchings for him!) xx
Posted by: Rachell | October 27, 2021 at 10:05 AM
What a very lovely day. I love all the independent shops and cafes as well, always such a pleasure to visit them. The Dorset coast is gorgeous isn't it. I've always loved going there a lot. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | October 27, 2021 at 09:50 AM
Seaside awwwss
Lovely photos and blog x
Posted by: Jacqui | October 27, 2021 at 09:38 AM
What a fabulous place to call home, gorgeous photos. Enjoy your time away and thanks for sharing it.
Posted by: Kate Buckley | October 27, 2021 at 09:06 AM
If you have time to pop to lyme regis, there's a lovely little yarn shop that has recently opened there. A touch of vintage on Broad Street - enjoy!
Posted by: Rebecca | October 27, 2021 at 08:33 AM
What a lovely day you've had with your Dad. Although I love Devon, where I live, Dorset is my second favourite area and I have to have a fix every summer. This summer we had three nights in Charmouth and had a lovely evening walking around Westbay and getting an ice cream. It was lovely seeing your photos of the seafront. x
Posted by: Emma | October 27, 2021 at 08:27 AM
Great pictures and lovely to hear you're enjoying Dorset
Posted by: Abby | October 27, 2021 at 07:43 AM
Great looking bakery. As another reader in NZ, one of the things I miss from the ““homeland” are teacakes. Definitely on the list for when able to visit again. Thank you for the blog, really enjoying it.
Posted by: Patricia | October 27, 2021 at 04:32 AM
Hi Lucy Sounds like a lovely day and love the photos as usual. I really enjoy walking the small town harbours and looking at the colorful boats and reading the names they've been given. We have seal and otters here that frequent the harbours. Sea Lions as well...they are a noisy bunch I tell you! Rudy (my lil dog) and I got thoroughly drenched on our late afternoon walk. Hubby had warm towels ready for Rudy...but alas, I had to fend for myself. LOL Take Care, Hugs, MO
Posted by: Marylin Ollivier | October 27, 2021 at 03:20 AM
West Bay was the very first place my husband took me on our first day out together, and we had lunch in the pub on the quay.
Posted by: Lynne Wilcox | October 27, 2021 at 12:59 AM
How lovely to just pootle about and reminisce, it looks wonderful Lucy, enjoy your time down in Dorset and I’m so glad you got to spend time out with your dad. Happy days. Love and hugs. Becki xxx 🥰☺️
Posted by: Becki | October 27, 2021 at 12:45 AM
I never tire of looking at your lovely photos! I've never been to Yorkshire, my visits to England have been to London and points south to visit friends who lived in Leamington Spa and now in Exeter, and I'm so longing to go back and see them again and do some traveling!
Posted by: witloof | October 27, 2021 at 12:31 AM