Clevedon - May Day Bank Holiday

Our Bank Holiday Monday was yet another grey day, but we decided to make a trip to the seaside nonetheless, to the local gentility of Clevedon. It was busy but the cafes and pubs seemed to be doing better business than the beach or pier.

The greyness of the light created some interesting effects on the wet sand and rock revealed by low tide and encouraged some more abstract compositions.

These sleeping rocks must have seen brutal geological forces to lay their strata at this angle, like a miniature alpine range.

Reflections on wet sand - of the pier ironwork, made mysterious in their isolation.

Rock, sand and seaweed - stormy weather has thrown plenty of the latter onto shore.

The pier is a Victorian treasure which has been subject to extensive recent restoration. It served an important function in the past, allowing steam ships which plied the Severn Estuary to board pleasure-cruising passengers despite the shallow-shelving of the sea bottom.

These regimented municipal gardens and ornate drinking fountain are very much in keeping with the Victorian style of the resort. What a lovely place to catch the sun, alternating between the newspaper and the ever-changing view across to Wales.

We decided to take a turn on the pier. No fishermen today, the tide was low. The restoration has been partly funded by subscription and donors can sponsor planks of wood or pay for plaques to be placed on the bench backs. Some commemorate proposals, births, marriages, or, like this one, bereavements.

The watery sands look deserted and folorn.

 

As we made our way along the pier, the sun tried to break through the clouds.

 

The weathered planks underfoot displayed beautiful grain patterns.

 

The sun tried valiantly but could not win against the clouds.

 

Look down again, look up, look all around: so much to see.

 

This lovely floral ironwork is around the Pagoda at the end of the pier, now open to serve refreshments. I enjoyed my Hot Chocolate very much.

 

Returning towards shore, I was fascinated by the muddy colour of the sea and the patterns the shallow waves made as they ran out onto the sand and stones.

 

 

 

 

Eastwards a yellow-flowering plant lit up the dull, dark rocks.

 

Almost at the shore end of the pier, this is the view westwards. The slight distant mistiness had cleared somewhat to give better visibility.

 

Back on dry land, looking back at the pier.

Someone had been having fun:-

 

I liked this ephemeral sculpture of found objects I spotted on this big boulder, which had also been the site of a bonfire recently.