Plymouth's Weather Extremes

We had some friends to stay for a couple of days last week and were treated to two extremes of August weather.

The first afternoon we decided to meander up to the Hoe, and then carry on down to the Barbican for a coffee and some hot fresh doughnuts.  It began to drizzle just as we were parking the car and by the time we had made it down all the stairs to the ground floor of the car park, it had developed into proper rain.

In true British style, we scoffed at the prospect of rain sending us home, purchased some enormous brollies and set off towards the sea front.

As we struggled doggedly up the hill, the rain got heavier and heavier, finally reaching a state of full downpour just as we reached the brow of the hill.

Stepping onto the Hoe, we met the wind coming in off the sea, which uninhibited by buildings and trees, was busy whipping the rain in all directions and sending it scudding across the tarmac in great sparkling sheets.  The brollies were becoming less and less effective and so, having taken a quick look at the sea through the fog, we admitted defeat and sploshed back to the car, thoroughly soaked and decidedly chilly.

Despite it being August, the decision on our return home was unanimous, we needed a fire.

Several cups of tea, an entire packet of chocolate digestives and a Jamaica ginger cake later, everything was looking much rosier and we settled down to a delicious evening toasting ourselves by the fire.

The next morning was still slightly damp but had an optimistically brighter and more promising air about it, and by lunchtime had perked up enough for us to decide it was safe to venture out.  By the time we hit Wembury (having gathered quantities of fish and chips on the way) it was absolutely glorious; warm, sunny and just perfect for a walk on the beach.

When we got down to the beach the tide was out so we hopped and wobbled our way along the rocks stopping occasionally to peer in the rockpools, poke anemones and pick up treasures.

Having dawdled over the rockpools, clambered rocks and leapt crevasses, we agreed we might be in need of a small pick-me-up before we headed back.  Luckily there is a little shop dealing in delicious local ice creams, which we made short work of before ambling back along the coast path.

We got home with windswept faces, tanned noses and that lovely fuzzy feeling you have after a breezy day at the beach.