Overnight at Dawlish.

Saturday 7th January 2017.
It was a bit of a magical mystery tour for Jackie. She was told as we set off from 78. our destination was Lady's Mile Holiday Park at Dawlish. Now you know you're an old aged pensioner when you decided to go to Dawlish. Not only is it the home of the famous black swans, it’s the home of ancient hippies and Northerners. Heaven forbid I am choosing to visit Dawlish.

We arrive at Ladysmile Camping and Touring http://www.ladysmile.co.uk/ and duly park whilst we register.  A relatively painless affair. An overnight stay with electricity and free use of the heated indoor pool, pub and restaurant with free hot showers etc was £10 on a grass pitch. Result. Feeling especially pleased about the bargain price we decided on a pitch from the dozens of empty ones. Reversing back into it we lost traction. No matter what gear I selected or in which direction I tried to move or turned the wheel we were stuck. Within moments a friendly 4x4 driver appeared and offered his towrope. “Where’s your towing eye?” “My what?” Jackie explained we were newbies and asked what was a towing eye?   “I know what a towing eye is.” I said rather indignantly to her “It’s just that I don’t quite know where it’s kept.” “That’s because we’re newbies isn’t it?”

After much searching in the vehicle and through various lockers I found the Jack etc under the passenger seat with the toweye. We all know this is a small “Shackle eye” that screws somewhere in the front of your vehicle to enable a short tow. All this kit was encased in a natty little plastic box. I produced it and our friend immediately set about screwing this into our vehicle and hooking up his tow strap. God bless the camping fraternity and people who tow caravans with 4 wheel drives. It would be churlish of me to say to this knight in shining armour "Pity it wasn't a Land Rover." but at this stage I was too relieved to be towed off the soft ground. I didn't care. At that moment a JapCrap 4x4 was OK in my books. The good Samaritan undid his tow strap, with shackle either end and declined my offer of a beer in the bar later that evening and watched whilst I reversed into another spot. There was more of a slope on this one which I reasoned would not only aid water run off but assist me to roll off in the morning. Hopefully! With our thanks and a cheery wave he went back to his caravan, wife and dog.

He is booked in here for 42 nights. Passing the time fishing it seems. "What price a £25 hard standing for the night now?” asks Jackie. Before I can reply, she adds, "Still it’s all part of the learning curve!" I am uncertain how to take her last remark and decide to let it pass. The next panic is the fact we have no ice for the G+T.

Leaving the setting up of the truck, ie gas on, electricity connected etc we move across the road and head towards Sainsburys. Fresh ciabata rolls, salad, tiramisu, cheese and a bag of ice. We need a shopping trolley to carry the bag of ice back to the camper park it’s too large and heavy to carry on my shoulder. Who would have thought you could buy this much ice for a £1? Once outside the shop I ditch most of the ice, Criminal I know but no civilized person drinks G+T without ice and a slice! Again my fault I forgot to put the ice in the freezer compartment.

Back at the truck I set about connecting the power cable, brewing up, making a salad sarnie for our lunch and generally running around making myself useful.

Late lunch over we sit and read our books and chat about what else I might have forgotten to pack. There was a moment of sheer terror when we thought the gin was left at home. "Don't panic Mr Manwaring!"

Whilst we wait for the stew that Jackie has prepared yesterday to warm we have another G+T with some Doritos and salsa. Dessert is individual tiramisu.

Turned in by 2130hrs. A mild night no wind or rain.

Sunday 8^th January 2017

0820 hrs. A good night’s kip was had and we were now awake. Mike soon has the kettle on and some of Momma’s Hot Porridge Oats cooking. By mid-morning we had planned our walk down to the beach along the sea wall and through the Nature Reserve.

The walk up the hill and out of the top gate of the campsite gave an insight into the size of this place. It was huge. Great on a winters weekend when it was all but empty but it would be horrendous in the summer months.

Before dropping down the road to the sea wall and the railway line we stop to check out the lunch menu at The Mount Pleasant. “We’ll have lunch there on the way back.” says Jackie. Sounded pretty definite thought I.

http://www.mountpleasantinn.com/

It was quite a pleasant walk down to “The Warren” and along the sea wall towards the River Exe. Soon we were on the beach strolling along with the world and his dog. We decided to cut back through the Nature Reserve, mainly marsh land but along well prepared tracks to our start point, The old foot bridge over the main line caught our attention and we walked on towards that so that we might use it to cross the rail rather than take the small tunnel as we had on the way out.  No station was provided between Starcross and Dawlish until the summer of 1905 when Warren Halt was opened by the Great Western Railway. This was where we were presently stood on the sea wall by the footbridge which had been built across the line in 1873.

From 1 July 1907 the station was provided with offices and staff and was therefore renamed Warren Platform. It received its final name of "Dawlish Warren" on 1 October 1911.

A goods yard was opened on 10 June 1912 on the landward side of the line, and the new station, now 440 yards (400 m) nearer to Starcross, was opened to passengers on 23 September 1912. The platforms were now 600 feet (180 m) long. The building on the 'Down' platform (nearest the beach) was destroyed by fire on 9 January 1924.

The Footbridge Dawlish Warren

Crossing the old footbridge, it was only a short but steep walk uphill and we were miraculously back at The Mount Pleasant and yes you’ve guessed it, we went in for two Sunday roasts washed down with two mugs of hot mulled wine.

Despite my fears and what I have said about Dawlish I suspect we will return in a few week’s time. Well, at £10 a night you can’t go wrong!

 



Groines at Dawlish Warren.

Last sunlight at Dawlish Warren.