Veryan Day 1 - Delays on Druids day

Having said that our likely leaving time was 10:30 to 11:00, we were up early.  So Brody had a short walk, the car was packed, and we were on our way a minute or two after 10:00.  The sat-nav said the ETA was 16:10.  We expected to take breaks, so I was hoping to arrive by about quarter past five or there abouts.  We cannot get in until 4pm at the earliest, and we are not in a hurry.

First stop is Fleet Services on the M3.  The combined weight of traffic and roadworks meant that we were already 40 minutes later than expected.  After a quick walk on the grassy bank for Brody, we sat and ate our sandwiches and watched the mania that is a motorway service station.  Why are people SO impatient?  Back on the M3 the speed does not increase, eventually we get to the A303, at last the traffic improves, but we still have Stonehenge to get past - and it is the day of the Druids tomorrow, so no doubt they will be gathering.  Our next break is at Sparkford, where the 'Services' consist of a McDonald's and a petrol station.  The toilets are typical McDonald's - the .99p variety, small and not that clean.

Onwards.  We arrive about 18:10, to find that our host has only just arrived home herself, so the delays proved useful.  She welcomes us, and switches the heating on.  It is soon like a sauna, and we have the windows & doors open.  Then it's scrambled egg on toast before we take Brody to the beach.  Carne Beach is small when the tide is in - and we arrive just about high tide.  The sand is dusty and there are younger people playing Frisby on the beach, still we enjoyed a little walk and drove over to Pendowed beach, where the beach is stonier and there are people building a camp.  The fire is already roaring, but heir cooking hasn't started.  Here one of the themes of the holiday begins.  There is a footpath from the car park into the hills, it is perfectly accessible for humans, but completely fenced off for dogs.  No way for us in that direction.

Tired, we fell asleep quickly.