Lyme Regis - Day 1

We went away for the weekend to Lyme Regis, famous for French Lieutenant's Woman (location of), fossils (mostly from the Jurassic period - no, not the movie one, the real one), and being cute. Lyme Regis is on the south coast of England in Dorset, just outside Devon and is, therefore, in one of the most picturesque parts of the country.

On the way out of Waterloo Station we went past the Battersea Power Station. Art deco, and all that, it's featured on the cover of Pink Floyd's album 'Animals'.
Hired this baby in Yeovil for the trip.
Dropped in to the tiny village of Bradpole on the way to visit the church. Why, dear reader, would I visit a church, after all that trouble last time with the shattered windows and the desecration? To see the rellies, that's why.
Here's grandma and grandad. The inscription reads 'In loving memory of John Francis Nolan died 23rd Dec 1974 aged 65 years devoted husband of Mary Mildred Nolan (Mills) 27th October 1907 - 14th November 1984'.
And look who's next door.
So, this is the story... When John (known as Jack), my grandfather, died the grave was dug deeper than your usual 6 feet so that there would be room for Mary (known as Molly), my grandmother, on top when it was her turn. A couple of years later, Roy's wife, Dorothy breathed her last and they did the same and their plot was next door because, although there was a couple of years between the funerals, Bradpole is a small place and nobody (so as to speak) managed to slip in between them. Time passed and Roy and Molly took a shine to each other, as oldies do. While I'm not about to speculate on geriatric shenanigans, their marriage would certainly have helped out financially and for companionship. One day, while watching her favorite soap, Molly just stopped and, as planned, took her place on top of Jack. When Roy did some 5 years later - yeah, he saw the lot of them off - he took his place with Dorothy.

And there they all are together. I just hope they all get on.

We're in deep West Country. Hereabouts is the land of cider and cream teas but the really, really best thing about this place is that they all talk like pirates. Yes, pirates!

And so, dear reader, shall we. Arrrr.

The tiny port of West Bay. Many's the time I've weighed me anchor in these parts for some grog and to mix it with the laaaarnd lubbers.
Here's a lubber, now. She'll be whinging about the beach, then. Arrrr.
This ere vessel may not look loike much but, she, or one loike her, used to take me doiving fraaaam this very port.
15 men on a dead-man's chest yohoho and a nice guest house.
Oi caaaarn't go too far from moi mistress, the sea.
Avast ye scurvies - and relax in our comfortable guest house lounge.

Right, enough of the pirate talk...

Lyme town centre. This is a pretty old place so it's got the higgledy-piggledy little street look about it.
And pubs. So many pubs.
Typical sea-front strip for the area. Developed over time, the age and styles are all different, shades are pastel, and balconies are rounded.
Shot of the sea-front with harbour defences. Lyme is not a natural harbour so everything you see was put here by people over the centuries.
Ah, beach huts. A good old English seaside tradition. You rent these by the day / week and the whole family troops down every day to sit outside it. You can keep your clothes, towels and chairs inside along with, most importantly, the kettle. Granny makes the tea, the kids swim and make sandcastles, and the parents, if they have any sense, are checking out the local hostelries.
We were lucky enough to arrive for RNLI Week (a charity close to the heart of anone who gets out on or under the water) so there was lots going on. By far the best event is the bathtub race across the harbour - and, I should think, better if you're in it.
There can be a lot of effort that goes into the bathtubs.
Probably more for the sheer fun of it all rather than to see the Town Crier (every town's got one) ....
... and claim your prize.
Meanwhile, the RNLI kept a watchful presence.
A bit of a crowd-pleaser.
Likewise.
After the efforts of the day, it's time to sit down for some well-earned grub.
So, where's MY dinner, then?
Found this during an after-dinner aperitif. I reckon the brewery had a beer ready to go and marketing had two liveries - this one and one for if we had won.