First things first. A first ever blog view from Burundi overnight. The world’s unhappiest country, apparently, but surely a visit to tick all Burundi’s bars would cheer them up ? This is Lacosta Beach Bar, an Amstel stronghold in Bujumbura; I see sand. Really, not much different from Slapton Sands in Devon. Except for the… Continue reading SHARING PRAWN COCKTAILS IN SLAPTON SANDS
THE DAY THAT CORNWALL FELL
I’m still in July, which means when I bring you an excitingly pointless September Stocktake on Friday night (after IndyMan !!!!), I’ll be two and a half months behind. Perhaps my new mission is just to get to Orkney on here, and bring the Blog Map up-to-date. The dash to the GBG finish line was… Continue reading THE DAY THAT CORNWALL FELL
HEY, BUDE
I needed three attacks on Cornwall to finish the GBG entries, due to one of them “not having a chef” and one of them being a micro and all. But at least that micro was in Bude, one of the few UK towns I’d never stopped in. No idea why, I must have whizzed by… Continue reading HEY, BUDE
A DOOM BAR CHECK-IN FROM INSTOW
No, NOT a check-in on Un****d ! What do you think I am, a beer blogger ? I’m not even a fan of Doom Bar, really, but it is a useful measure of beer quality between pubs. I’ve had really good DB, as well as a lot of under-conditioned sweet nothingness in Spoons. Whenever folk… Continue reading A DOOM BAR CHECK-IN FROM INSTOW
NO TRIP TO LYNTON IS EVER WASTED, EVEN WHEN THE PUB IS UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED
During July I spent over a week parked up in Devonian campsites (mainly council car parks near Crediton) completing the South-West, and realised how much beauty there is in North Devon. I mean, look at the mushrooms on toast and haricot beans at Eggesford Crossing Cafe, a gem. As is Lynton/Lynmouth, which provides one of… Continue reading NO TRIP TO LYNTON IS EVER WASTED, EVEN WHEN THE PUB IS UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED
ONLY OPEN WHEN THE CHEF IS IN
The Great Tick of Devon & Cornwall in July 2022 was a life highlight, the culmination of months of planning and psyching up for the trauma of posh copter rides, dining pubs and a (well-desered) hatred of tourists. As you’ll know by now, it all ended well, but not without the sort of irritations that… Continue reading ONLY OPEN WHEN THE CHEF IS IN
THE SCILLIES HAVE FALLEN. AND SO HAS BAA BAA TOURE.
Summer 2022 has seen trips to the Isles of Man, Wight, Orkney (Mainland), Rousay, Uist (North & South), Lewis, Harris, Skye and ALL of the Channel Islands in pursuit of The Goal. But the Isles of Scilly was possibly the most nerve-jangling trip of the lot, and not just because I’d be out of my… Continue reading THE SCILLIES HAVE FALLEN. AND SO HAS BAA BAA TOURE.
TENSION BUILDS AT PENZANCE HELIPORT
Wednesday 13 July. A critical day in the quest to complete the Good Beer Guide. Baa Baa Toure joined me for McDonalds finest breakfast (pancakes and sausage with hash brown and maple syrup), and wondered if he could dress like Paddington. I’d decided to take the copter, after horror stories about the Penzance ferry, not… Continue reading TENSION BUILDS AT PENZANCE HELIPORT
FIVE STARS IN ST. ERTH
The night before the defining moment of the Cornish Tick 2022, and I decided I’d better spend it in a hotel rather than the campervan, as I wouldn’t want my fellow travellers to the poshest place in the UK complaining about the smell. Cornwall in mid-July isn’t the best place to look for B &… Continue reading FIVE STARS IN ST. ERTH
DECISIONS PENDING IN PENDEEN
Cornwall’s fortunes haven’t always relied on the production of the nation’s most popular cask beer and shark tourism; well into the late 20th century the area was renowned for its mines. If Blackpool FC play AFC Penzance in the FA Cup I’m sure Jane will tell you all about Geevor Tin Mines, which would make… Continue reading DECISIONS PENDING IN PENDEEN
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