Looking good and ready to fly
Posted on by Debbie

What a week it’s been – Week 2 Odyssey highlights

The Odyssey continues – highlights from Week 2

It’s been another huge week with many OMG moments – read on…..

What a week it’s been! I’ve finally found some time to sit and collect my thoughts 🙂  We’re fur-baby sitting today so apart from walks and feeding, we’ll be doing household tasks and catching up on things!

Zip wire adventure when you’re scared of heights
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We have wheels

We hired a car for the week, a cute little Fiat 500. Just in case you didn’t know the Mathematician stands at 193cm (6’+ in the old scale), but surprisingly the little Fiat accommodated him very well, despite our earlier concerns! It was a zippy little thing except for going up hills.  We managed to do 610 miles in the week, so we certainly gave it a good nudge!

  • Looking good with the Fiat 500
  • Beautiful weather
  • Along the sea front

Bath, Glastonbury and the sea front

As with every trip over here we always visit Bath, as it’s where the Mathematician worked when we exchanged jobs, house and car with our English counterpart many years ago.  Unfortunately it always seems to rain when we visit and this day just happened to one of the coldest days we’ve had so far. Regardless of the weather we enjoyed our day immensely.

  • Bath
  • Pulteney Bridge in Bath
  • With the Royals in Bath
  • Bath
  • Pulteney Bridge in Bath
  • High notes in Bath

Glastonbury is also a favourite place and with the improvement in the weather we took the opportunity to walk up to the top of the Tor to St Michael’s Tower.  The views were awesome with green patterned fields everywhere below us and the Tor tantalising us as we followed the path. The town of Glastonbury is an eclectic mix of shops and people, to say the least, but it’s always fun to visit!

The sea front is a bit of a misnomer but the locals were out in their droves, sunning themselves and eating ice cream while promenading. I must say it’s not my idea of a beach but then we’re very spoilt for choice living in Australia!  We found a delightful church, St Andrews in Burnham-on-Sea, which had  definite lean, please don’t adjust your screen 🙂

  • St Michael’s Tower on top of Glastonbury Tor
  • Glastonbury Tor
  • Glastonbury Tor
  • Lighthouse at Burnham-On-Sea
  • This church is leaning to the left

To London for the Annual Bloggers Bash Awards

I have finally written a wrap up post about attending the 4th Annual Bloggers Bash Awards (click on the link).  All I can say is that I was humbled, and thrilled, to receive 3rd place in the Hidden Gem category.  This was my first nomination in the awards and to place as a runner up was amazing – I may have let out a little squeal when I heard my name but I was too busy rushing to the stage to collect my certificate before they changed their minds!

Here’s a sneak peek of my happy face:

  • Happy smiles as I show off my blogging award
  • Annual Bloggers Bash Awards
  • Happy smiles as I receive my award

Melanie and I met up in London on Friday afternoon, I’d booked an Airbnb in Chiswick months ago and we were thrilled with our home for the night. I was told more than once that it was pronounced Chis-ick not Chis-wick 🙂

The Eden Project 

I have been to the Eden Project before, coincidentally 5 years ago to the day with Melanie, and this time it was the Mathematician’s turn to see it.  We had a lovely 3 hour drive down through Devon and into Cornwall, in the glorious sunshine with more green fields and superb views along the way. Grant was as surprised and interested in the Eden Project as I was hoping he’d be, sometimes I can talk things up too much and he can be disappointed, but not this time!  We spent ages wandering around the biomes reading the information boards, taking photos, soaking in the atmosphere and exclaiming at the huge project it was to turn a once ugly claypit into such a place of beauty and life.

From the guide book – The Eden Project, is an educational charity and social enterprise, creates gardens, exhibitions, events, experiences and projects that explore how people can work together and with nature to change things for the better.  It is a 35 acre living laboratory, has 2 huge Biomes housing wild landscapes, crops and stories from the Rainforest and Mediterranean regions.

The Rainforest biome was very humid and the temperature was up to 41 degrees C which meant they closed the walkway up to the top!  We were hoping to do this but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.  I remember doing it with Melanie and being scared as it sits way up in the air, sort of floating in space.  We enjoyed the Mediterranean biome with it’s more temperate climate and some delightful colourful displays from Western Australia!

My huge OMG moment

But best of all I crossed something off my bucket list.  Last time I was there, I commented about the zip wire you could do across the top of the biomes and how it was something I just wouldn’t even consider doing. I’m scared of heights and being out of my comfort zone so I just couldn’t imagine putting myself in that situation.

Well this time I did it!  I was determined to give it a try and face my fears. I decided to put my trust in the staff who were very accomplished and confident, and in their equipment.  I listened to the instructions and did what I was told.  I also hired a case for my phone which was mounted onto my helmet so I could video my ride!  What a great way to capture my amazing feat and I have included it here for your viewing pleasure.  Make sure the sound is on!

This was a real OMG moment for me and nearly rivalled winning my award at the recent Bloggers Bash!!  I certainly have had the adrenaline pumping around my little body lately!

  • My face says it all as I prepare for the zip wire
  • Looking good and ready to fly
  • Starting tower for the zip wire
  • I'm flying
  • Flying
  • Taking in the view on the zip wire
  • Coming into land
  • Graceful dismount

Beautiful Cornwall

After I had calmed down from all that excitement we drove onto Newquay for the night and we were amazed to see beautiful proper beaches with real sand, real surf and people out swimming and surfing!  It was a gorgeous place.  We took a huge long walk out to the Fistral Beach, along the harbour and enjoyed the warm late afternoon sunshine. The next day we drove to Padstow, a quaint little village with heaps of character, stopping in at Bedruthan Steps, a National Trust site with spectacular views over the dramatic Cornish coastline on the way.  The stacks of rocks were very impressive and the sheer drop and cliff edges had my heart pounding!

Our next stop was Port Isaac of Doc Martin fame and it didn’t disappoint either.  I like the placement of the car parks out of town with a good walk into the villages, although paying for parking isn’t something we’re used to! We wandered around, with the help of a map showing the significant buildings in the show. There were crowds doing much the same as us, but it was all fun.

We moved onto Tintagel next and then through Boscastle – these were places we’d enjoyed visiting many years ago and it was great to see them again.

The weather was absolutely perfect for our few days away which make our photos look like postcards!

  • Padstow in Cornwall
  • Port Isaac
  • Doc Martin's house
  • Cornish Coastline
  • Bedruthan Steps in Cornwall
  • Port Isaac

What’s our ‘Odyssey’ all about?

Odyssey – a long wandering and eventful journey. An exciting adventure.

I’ve decided that this three month trip will be known as our Odyssey, as it will be a long wandering and eventful journey. My posts in this series, so far are here:

The Odyssey begins – departure, arrival and home

Highlights from Week 1

I’ll be trying to update Our Odyssey series once a week, mainly so that I don’t lose track of what we’ve been doing. The hardest part of that is that it’s been hard to find the time! I’ll aim to post an update on a Thursday or Friday but don’t hold me to that schedule 🙂

So that’s a quick run down on our activities for the week, I hope you’ve enjoyed travelling with us and will join us again!

Feel free to ask any questions or leave a comment below. I always love hearing from you and try to answer all your comments 🙂

Deb xx

Linking up with Denyse’s #Lifethisweek

You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.

92 Replies to “What a week it’s been – Week 2 Odyssey highlights”

  1. Hi, Debbie – What an awesome post and great video! A deep congratulations on your not one, but two, OMG moments. Incredible!

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    1. It was brilliant fun Ritu, although I was really nervous at the start. The hardest bit was at the end when the brake stopped me, it really pulled me up quickly. You should try it 😊

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  4. Oh Deb I am so enjoying your posts and look forward to your weekly update. Well done you and congratulations aplenty this week – firstly, for your Blog Award which is greatly deserved and secondly that zip lining. I have an intense fear of heights although I don’t mind flying which is strange. I loved the video and I probably would have been screaming the whole way. Such gorgeous photography of some of my favourite places in England. I need to plan a driving holiday there. Keep enjoying! xx

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    1. Thanks so much Sue, it’s been such a great adventure so far. I’m glad you’re enjoying my posts, I really do them for myself otherwise I’d lose track of what we’ve done, but I love that others enjoy them too. Thankfully we’ve had a few days of cooler, wet weather so have managed to take a breath and recharge the batteries. I couldn’t keep that pace up for the whole time!!
      I’m like you I hate heights but can fly without any problem but I was determined to do this. My dad did something similar a few years ago in Tasmania and I was too scared then to join him but this time I just said to myself, if Dad could do it then so can you. Thanks again for the congrats it’s been a huge week for sure. Hope all is going well with you.

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      1. It is a great way to keep a diary of your trip Debbie and we also get to enjoy your travels. I’m waiting to see what you are up to this week! Well done for overcoming your fears. It is a great feeling once it is over, isn’t it? Keep enjoying and by Tuesday I will probably be a Nan again xx

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      2. What great memories Deb but hasn’t the time flown! It is so good to look back at our adventures and travels because many times I know I come home after taking lots of photos and then don’t revisit them. I’m off to pull out some from our trip to Japan last year. Have a great week. #lifethisweek.

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        1. Thanks Sue, it sure has gone quickly but a lot has happened in that year as well. I love being reminded of past travels and hope you enjoy looking back at your Japan shots 🙂

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    1. Thanks Miriam, it was so much fun, I faced my fears and did it. I’m so pleased with myself 😊 we’re having an amazing time and making the most of every opportunity. Hope you’re going well 😊

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  13. I’m still impressed with your Zip wire event. Doing it at all is scary, doing it Super(wo)man style even more so. I do have to ask though, was that you screaming in the video or yelling “Whoooooo” as in this is fun?

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  16. Wow! I’m exhausted just reading about your Odyssey! We used to call Burnham, Burnham-on-Mud rather than sea! We are certainly spoilt when it comes to beaches in Australia, that’s for sure! Thanks for sharing 🙂

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    1. Yes I know what you mean. We call Weston-Super-Mare – Weston on mud. I’d not been to Burnham before so it was an experience 😂 Reading it all back exhausts me too!! This week has been much quieter thankfully but still getting out seeing things. Thanks for reading and leaving me a comment, I appreciate it so much.

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    1. I can’t believe how calm I was doing it Lorelle! But it was a great feeling and our trip is certainly becoming a personal journey of new things to try. I’m determined to make the most of it all 😊

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  23. Debs, I think you have covered some of my favourite places all in one blog post! my brother went to uni in Bath, then lived down there so we spent a lot of time there. i don’t even remember the zip wire from our visit to the Eden Project – but am blown away that you went down it! I feel a visit coming on to Cornwall – your pics of Port Isaac are just stunning x

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    1. That’s great to hear Claire, it’s such a beautiful country especially when the sun shines 🌞 I’ve had the most wonderful time so far and am incredibly lucky to be able to do it all!! The zip wire was way out of my comfort zone though.

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  25. Wow the zipwire looks amazing. Love the Eden Project and every place you visited in Cornwall brings back such memories. Great photos and looks like the Odyssey is turning into an epic adventure.

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  26. I only spent a few hours in Bath on our first trip to the UK, and yes it was raining. I loved it though despite the rain. Do they still have the yellow door in the Royal Circle? Good on you for doing that zip wire. We did one on the Great ocean road, and all I can say is, “never again”. Paul still suffers from an ankle injury sustained….

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    1. Thanks for visiting Hugh! Yes I left you some ice cream in Padstow and would highly recommend the views at the Bedruthan steps between Newquay and Padstow. I had to be careful as I thought the wind would sweep me off the cliffs at the time and you know I hate heights. I’m still chuffed that I managed to do the zip wire, and my daughters were very impressed that I actually did it!! Enjoy your week down there, it should be lovely!!

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  29. Hi Deb! Loved re-reading your post and adventures and great to have you take time to link up with us at #MLSTL. It is such a wonderful group that we have developed and I appreciate you taking the time to take part even during your Odyssey! Keep having fun!

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  30. I was smiling at the sound effects that came with the ziplining video Deb – you were very controlled for someone so out of their comfort zone. Also congrats on your Bloggers Bash win and your outfit was perfect. You’re having such a fantastic time over there and it’s been nice to enjoy it along with you via FB and your blog posts.

    Thanks for linking up with us at #MLSTL and I’ve shared this on my SM xx
    Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au

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    1. Thanks so much Leanne! I think I was so controlled because I was so nervous. It’s funny my daughters could tell how scared I was by my voice 😬 I’m enjoying sharing our odyssey with everyone this way and I love having you all along for the ride. Thanks for sharing too #mlstl

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    1. Thanks Cherie, I don’t want to bore you all but I need to have something to look back on in years to come when I’ve forgotten it all 😂 appreciate you reading and commenting. It’s great having you along for the ride 😊

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    1. Thanks very much Donna, it was an amazing experience. I agree with you that it’s a control thing, once I let go and relaxed into it, giving up control, I was fine (well sort of!) Glad to hear you’re enjoying my travels

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  34. Three whole months of adventuring? How awesome is that, Deb! I’m glad you’re keeping track and keeping us in the loop via your online journal. Congratulations on the OMG moments. If you have even one of those every week, it will be quite the trip! #MLSTL

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  36. Pingback: You Never Forget Your First Time: My First Time on a Zip Wire | Must Hike Must Eat

  37. I’ve only ever zipped once – in Queenstown, of course… I was petrified and taking that first step into the unknown was so hard to do! #trustissues

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  38. Debbie
    So many adventures in the one post. Thank you for sharing Bath and Cornwell. There is so much of the UK I would like to visit. I’ve only been to London. Good on you for zip lining! I loved the video/

    SSG xxx

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    1. Many thanks SSG! It was the trip of a lifetime and I’m enjoying reliving it by reading and sharing my posts from that time. Hard to believe it’s a year ago though! I love the video too, makes me smile 🙂

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  39. What an exciting week you’ve had. Congrats on your award and for braving the zipline, you’re a braver woman than I! I felt anxious just watching it! Despite living in the UK all my life until my late 30’s I’m ashamed to say I’ve never been to any of the places on your Odyssey except Bath! These days when I go back to the motherland, I spend my time with mother! Enjoy the rest of your trip, I can’t wait to see what you get up to next!

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    1. Thanks Sammie, this was last year when we were on our 3 month trip, our odyssey, and I’m reliving it all over again by sharing posts. Sorry if I confused you! As our daughter lives in UK, it’s great to visit her and have some adventures at the same time. I really was brave doing this zipwire, but it was so exhilarating too.

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  40. That sure was one heck of a time last year. I like how you share your adventures. Well-done. My grandmother talked on Bath as she came from Warminster. She never got to go back ‘home’ as she called England after coming here as a war bride in 1919. Thanks for linking up for #lifethisweek Next week’s optional prompt is “Self-Care share your story”. Denyse

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