Martin's Mag.

Back in September we first saw Weston Super Mare’s See Monster. As conversion problems have now been resolved it is open to visitors. It seems popular, but will close in the next week or so. The first picture was taken by friends in a local running group.

Hawkridge reservoir in the Quantock Hills:

Kilve Bay near East Quantock on the west Somerset coast:

…and the last few tomatoes. And a couple of aubergines. The greenhouse has done well this year.

Our annual visit to the Royal West of England Academy Autumn exhibition.

The first picture was my favourite – just a pencil on paper, but so three-dimensional.

Neath, north of Swansea and Port Talbot, is steeped in industrial history. And where there was industry, there were usually canals. We like a canal, and my knowledge of them has grown considerable since I met Sal. Even better, Neath has two canals! The Neath and the Tennant. We walked up one and down the other. Later, we looked around Neath, and drove up to Melincourt waterfalls.

A few days in Cornwall at an interesting B&B, Venton Vean in Penzance. We thought we knew Penzance fairly well, but it has many undiscovered gems. Although not camping, we had the campervan, which meant we could eat fish and chips and pizza (not at the same time) with a good view.

On our way home we picked up two huge crabs from Newlyn, had a walk around Porthleven, a small coastal village to the east of Penzance, and, back home, Miles and Flora helped us out with the crabs. Maybe next time, Esme.

We took the bikes to the Fourteen Locks centre at Rogerstone, on the Crumlin arm of the Monmouthshire Canal north of Newport. Easy cycling as, even when not on the canal, the cycle path goes through the Sirhowy Country Park following the route of a disused railway. Good old Dr Beeching (younger readers, ask your grandparents).

Resuming a pre-covid tradition: crab sandwiches, chips and a cuppa on Beer beach, South Devon. While there is still a bit of Summer left.