A LONG TIME AGO.

On a cold, misty, drizzly September day back in 1972 Sue the kids and myself were driving around the North Devon coast, trying to find something to do. We were travelling up out of Woolacombe toward Morthoe when we heard this strange noise, we looked at one another trying to decide what it could be. At the first opportunity I pulled the car over to the side of the road stopped and listened. We sat quite a number of seconds still listening, nothing, we couldn't believe it, were we all hearing things ?, surely not. By now the mist had descended even further and visibility was probably 50 yards or so. I had just started off again when it went again, a deep booming reasonant, eerie noise that seemed to come out of the mist all around you. Again we stopped to listen, by now we all new we weren't hearing things but what on earth could it be?. Again it was having us at it, one, maybe two minutes went by, Hush nothing, not even birds singing, so again we started moving. By now we had climbed the steep hill up into Morthoe village, in the centre we met our first car of the journey, so I had to stop to allow the other car to squeeze past in the narrow street, looking up what did I see? the answer was there, right above me. Just as I was about to tell Sue to look up it went again, this time much closer, much noisier, almost recognisable, the kids in the back were by now possibly feeling a little nervous.The signpost just above our head pointing off to our left read "Bull Point Lighthouse"!!! a Foghorn !! of course, it was obvious once we new. Back in those days all Lighthouses were manned and every 2-3 or 4 minutes in foggy weather the horn sounded.We decided to investigate as none of us had ever seen a lighthouse for real.We parked the car and walked the half mile or so to the private road (for cars) that leads to the house itself. When we reached the narrow lane down, the noise by now was almost deafening, and very very eerie in such a heavy mist. (Have you ever noticed how quiet it goes in a heavy fog/mist), the walk down the gently sloping road was about half a mile but worth the effort.
A week or two later we returned on a warm and sunny day, it was completely unrecognisable from our first visit. The half mile or so walk down the tree lined lane (below) has some stunning coastal views. Around half way down the lane turns sharply left over a bridge, a footpath leads off right to Lee Bay and Bennetts Mouth, this walk is even more stunning but more than just a tad taxing, so avoid it unless your fairly fit. Carry on down the lane to the new lighthouse. This is not the original one that we first visited, that one was completely revamped in the late 70s due to subsidence, now it is fully automated and unmanned (before it had a permanent Keeper) on the day we revisited the keeper passed us in his car just as we arrived at the gate, he kindly offered to take us in and show us around.
Now I'm afraid the fog horn no longer sounds, due mainly to the noise and its political correctness I expect.
This is a view about half way down, looking toward Morte Point.Toward the left of this picture (click to enlarge) you can just make just out the footpath we took (nearly killed us) to come back.
Below Sue on the bridge I described earlier, looking down on Bennetts Mouth.If you are fit this walk past the Mouth to the little village of Lee is so scenic.
Below, This sign gives the address of the letting agent of the three ex lighthouse keepers cottages, these can all be rented. If you like to be away from it all, or enjoy nature watching or perhaps sea fishing these could be for you.
Below the entrance to the lighthouse properties, garages on the right,lighthouse just showing over the rooftops and the chimneys of the letting cottages are just about visible in the middle.
Below the New lighthouse.Letting cottages peeping out from below.
Below this picture shows the cottages closeness to the cliff edge, the whole garden and courtyard are fully enclosed for safety.
Below a rockfall this winter brought the cliff another 8 feet closer to the fence
As you probably guessed these photo's were taken on one of the few good days last week. We retraced our steps but this time from the lighthouse we cut across country and came out on North Morte camp site, this lovely site will be a future blog.

JOKE OF THE DAY.

A dog is truly a man's best friend. If you don't believe it, just try this experiment. Put your dog and your wife in the boot of the car for an hour. When you open the boot, who is really happy to see you!?