Week 7 - two in one

Hey there! so, I skipped a week, but I’m determined to get back on track with this blog.

After a few more days in Guernsey, I said goodbye to my parents and headed back to the mainland. Guess what? Just a couple of days earlier, I found out that my house-sit in Bodmin had been cancelled because of illness on their end. But I wasn’t one to let that get me down! Within two hours of the cancellation, I had found another sit, and it was even closer to my original plan—Plymouth!

Now, I had planned to camp for a night, but my new hosts were so generous that they offered me an extra night to stay before they left. Talk about kindness!

Plymouth was a vibrant city, bathed in glorious sunshine. I spent my days exploring the Barbican marina and taking a stroll along the coastline. I read all the information boards along the path and even stopped at a cliff-top café for a refreshing drink. I couldn’t help but admire the impressive Tinside Lido and wish I had brought my swimmers.

The next morning, I had a long walk with Rupert, my new doggy friend. He was so excited to play fetch with me all day! Not bad for a 14-year-old boy, huh?

After a lovely afternoon lounging in the sun in the park and taking some cute pictures of passersby, I was once again dragged into playing fetch with Rupert. He’s such a needy boy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Seeing a dog and its owner reunite is always a beautiful sight, whether it’s been a day or a week. But with their return, it was time for me to bid farewell to Plymouth and move on.

I spent the following few nights camping in Somerset, taking time to visit Stonehenge and Bath. Stonehenge blew my mind, learning about the surrounding area and how it was made. Having the chance to actually visit it felt truly special. The Roman baths were equally fascinating, with so much history and lore surrounding the hot spring at its centre, just a shame people cannot swim in it anymore after someone died from an infection back in the late 70s. Similarly to my time in Plymouth, I took my camera for a stroll in one of the parks and again quickly found a beautiful moment to capture. And much like the first time, this couple adored the photo, saying how they were on holiday and though they had a lot of pictures together, this was the first candid one they had. Though I did not get to spend as much time as I would have liked to there, the city was vibrant and I would very much like to visit again.

While staying at this campsite, my mum reminded me that I actually have (distant) relatives not far from where I was camped and suggested that I reach out to them for a visit. And I am so glad that I did. It had been close to 15 years since I had last seen Philip. Whilst there, I also got the chance to meet his daughter Harriet. We talked and laughed through the afternoon, evening, and well into the night; sharing stories and anecdotes. They even put me up for the night which was a real treat.

It was not long though before I had to leave again, crossing the River Severn into Wales and worming my way up towards Aberystwyth for my current house-sit. After a busy and non-stop week, it has been nice to slow down again, and with two fantastic dogs to keep me company, Bella and Dustin. Though remote and off-grid, this home is a real spectacle, and surrounded by miles and miles of open fields to walk through (or bound as the dogs are want to).

Looking back now over these last two weeks, I cannot help but marvel at how truly lucky I am to be in this position. Having both the chance and time to explore, read, meet new (and familiar) people, and get smothered with dog hair.

My one nagging thought though, is that while I set out to see new places, I’m not really taking the time to get to know them. This will change as I move into this next week, with 15 days in Edinburgh.

Until next time, stay safe!

Clockwise from top left: Bella, Dustin, Rupert, a couple by the coast, me at Stonehenge, a couple balancing, a couple reading together