The English Countryside - Devon, UK

Our gorgeous friends R.C. and J.C. invited us to go to Devon with them a few weeks ago, OF COURSE we jumped at the chance to see the English countryside with real Brits (not with fake Brits like us). J.C.'s parents have a house in Devon and we were to all stay there together. Sounds magnificent, we'll escape the city and go to the coast.

Wait, where the hell is Devon? I thought it was a city, but it is actually a county in southwestern England. We were in the north part Devon, you could see Wales to the north across the Bristol Channel - and not whales mind you......but Wales.

So we took off from London on Friday for the 4-hour drive to Devon in "Stella", R.C. and J.C.'s, adorable hatchback. After filling Stella's tank with gas (at roughly $9.00 a gallon, none of you wussy Americans are EVER allowed to complain about gas prices to me again), we set off - not really knowing where we were headed or what it would be like. The fact that it was supposed to rain all weekend didn't scare us, we are Londoners now.


OK first of all, the house is amazing. It is every English-manor cliche you can imagine. The house is technically located in the town of Lynton, immediately adjacent to the Exmoor National Park. The big thing there in Devon/Lynton/whatever (besides ridiculously good food) is walking, and by walking I really mean hiking - but the Brits just call it "walking". There are miles and miles of public walking trails through the hills and coastline here, mostly as part of the 630 mile South West Coast Path. Awesome!

We stayed at the highest house in the middle of the photo there, yep amazing.

Part of the South West Coast Path we took, J.C. are we lost?

OK so it did rain the first day......and it was windy.......and it was cold. But never mind that. There was hiking to do. So we braved the elements and hiked, er walked.

Soaked to the bone, but happy nonetheless.

At Watersmeet Bridge.

When we returned, soaked and muddy (and slightly drunk after beer and some of the best freaking oysters I have ever eaten at the Rising Sun pub), and J.C.'s mom had made us butternut squash soup and quiche. I felt so pampered, and also really touched by their generosity.

The Gun Show.

Lunch evolved into napping, and then into dinner. Luckily, Dave and I brought plenty of champagne and wine (from our recent trip to Bordeaux). We are good guests after all, well - when Dave contains his colorful comments, we are good guests.

Smiles all around, and not just because of the wine.

Group shot, no flash dammit. The ocean is right out that window, and 500 feet down.

The next days were partly sunny, which was fine with me. I'll take what I can get lately! So we did some more walking, I mean hiking.

Nice.

Looks a bit like the Napali Coast, only freezing.

The remainder of the time was spent practicing our Welsh accents, drinking, relaxing, talking, and eating. You get some really great meats, veggies, and cheese in this part of England. A real food Renaissance has taken place in the last few years and we are the lucky benefactors here in Devon (and London too).

Many, many thanks J.C. and R.C. and parents. We had a great time!

You know how I feel about eggs. This is how they should look, and TASTY too.