"Put your coat on luv, I'm going to the pub. 
Oh Honey, are you taking me with you?
No, luv, I'm turnin the 'eat off!!'

 This little joke took on new meaning as we sat around the fire in a pub called the Blue Anchor Inn.... the day after our windy night in the little village by the sea.
Shivering away next to leaky windows in a B&B on High Street, Clovelly, we are told….”Not to worry luv, the heater comes on at midnight”!
So what’s with that? Sure this is a quaint little village , no cars, steep cobble stone walkways topped with amazing history but…. No heat till midnight? Seems it costs less to use power in the middle of the night and the man who owns the village is quite thrifty (?)! The red wine warmed my heart but my hands were still freezing when I looked at the clock and realized that 7PM really was too early to crawl under the covers with a good book. What is advanced age for, really, if not to indulge yourself?So, after a full day, here we are in bed before 9 with a hot water bottle that Shane and I are jockeying back and forth under the covers, listening to the howling wind whistle down the chimney as the rain slams against the single pane windows.Paints a lovely picture doesn’t it? It had been a lovely day, really. Left St. Ives on a sunny morning heading along the coast to Tintagel, the legendary castle of King Arthur. Below the castle ruins is the cave that Merlin apparently hung out in. These romantic ruins rival those of Corfe Castle. We managed to walk the narrow steps and pathways without rain ruining the experience. Wind howled from the north adding to the feeling of isolation this place has. Well, isolated until you climb back up to the car park and are confronted with every sort of establishment using the legend of King Arthur to sell their goods.From Tintagel we stayed along the coast taking our time before arriving in Clovelly in the middle of what turned out to be a gale. Shane booked a B&B from the tourist office next to the parking. He had read somewhere that this cute little town is a must see. It really is a cute town but the hike down on cobblestones in gale force winds and pounding rain took some of the romance out of it.The next morning, after a restless night and a delicious breakfast, we headed back up through the storm to the car. This was a day to remember, but not just because of the wind and rain.Just south of the village of Barnstaple is a place called Acland-Barton. This farm house was the home of Shane’s Acland ancestors from at least the time of the Doomsday Book in the early 11th century. In season it is a B&B but right now the family is too busy with the farm. The gentleman who owns the place did take time to speak with us and let us take pictures. He casually mentioned the family’s involvement in the parish church of St. Paul, Landkey… another lead to discover more about the family. We found the church just as the service was ending. A gentleman greeted us at the door and proceeded to fill us in on the history of the church. The first church was built on the spot in the 5th century. The Acland family turned a chapel on the south aisle in to a private chapel complete with a squint (or private peep hole) allowing the Aclands to view the alter without being seen by the 'ordinary' people.  
It's been a bit like the quest for the holy grail... trying to find information about the family... and a lot more fun.
The rain continued but nothing really mattered because we had found what we wanted. Tried to visit Knightshale Castle but it was closed due to extreme weather. Ate a wonderful Sunday lunch at the crossroads before heading along the River Exe (in extreme flood) towards Dunster Castle. Dunster Castle was open however there were areas where we couldn't go because rocks were falling off.... extreme weather yet again.
At the end of the day we found a room at the Blue Anchor Inn where we sipped a drink while talking with the locals. It is strange to be the only woman in the group. Seems here the men come to the pub to get away from their women..... hence the joke at the beginning of this account.  
Tomorrow we visit more family before heading north through Wales.