Douglas "Germinal CCXXIV" Brain: Day 33 (22nd July 2022)

So today I bid hwyl fawr to Cymru and arrived over the (free to leave) Prince of Wales bridge back into England for the South West leg of Germinal CCXXIV. The first part was difficult-to-avoid motorway driving. I intended to come off at Portishead just to see what it's like, but I missed my turning. No bother, as the next exit took me almost directly into the next town on my itinerary and it is there that I was easily able to locate stop #64

CLEVEDON PIER

What a charming piece of Victorian architecture despite the drizzle. Completed in 1869, it regularly wins the annual "Pier of the Year" (who knew such a competition even existed?) and although from a distance, it really doesn't look like much, it's only when I get onto it that I started to appreciate its finer qualities.

There are plaques all along the sides and the planks you walk on. I immediately thought of the re-release of "Remember Me" which has hand written names on the back of the 7" vinyl version. For years I was content with just the one copy (I had Peter Cushing) but when Harper Lee appeared on a certain 2nd hand online bidding site, well that started me collecting more and more.

I had a fantastic chat with volunteer Sue B who was working in the cafe at the end. She loved the idea of my road trip, spotted Clevedon Pier immediately on my T and filled me in about some of the finer points of the pier. Having spent some of my late teenage years in Eastbourne, and many hours feeding 2p pieces into the penny falls machine as I couldn't afford more than a couple of games of Frogger at a time, my idea of what piers were all about were very different from the feeling you get wandering up Clevedon Pier. It is the only Grade 1 listed Pier in the UK. Take that, Southend and Blackpool.

Next stop was a place I've driven past a few times on our way to Porlock & Minehead (ATP I miss you). Cleve Abbey is an absolute delight - although there is nothing left of the actual abbey church, what remains is one of the most complete set of monastic buildings in the whole of the UK, and it really is fascinating. Helped by the most enthusiastic volunteer who reminded me a lot of Mary Beard, I spent a lot longer than I intended there. The dormitory block and the refectory retained their roof after the dissolution and they are absolutely stunning.

There is also one of the most complete gatehouse as well as some incredible tiled floors. I can't recommend a visit highly enough, if Cistercian Monasteries are your thing.

I only just made it in time to catch the oyster seller at Porlock Wier for lunch.

My final stop was another Germinal CCXXIV place, and it was just past my campsite for the evening, but the weather was gorgeous, as was stop #65

MORTE POINT

What a stunning headland. It was a real dilemma trying to work out the best angle for my pic, as every compass point gives a view to make you gasp. Once again a selfie really doesn't do justice to the vista.