h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, after a lot of prevarication and a week of really iffy weather, the sun came out for a bit today and I finally went and did it. Threw myself into the sea, so keeping a promise I made to myself while on an incredibly sweaty tube train in central London at the height of last month's heatwave.

And here's the evidence:

http://ttragula.googlepages.com/beach

Top one is the beach in question. Note the complete absence of other bathers. There were some three hundred or so holidaymakers stretched out along the shore and I was, at the point of immersion, the only one in the water. So showing how determined I was and exactly how cold it was too

Second one is the particular bit of the same beach. The advantage to this beach - which I know pretty well - is the sudden drop-off just beyond the crashing wave: it suddenly plummets from knee height to too deep to stand, so leaving you virtually no time to think about the coldness of the water as it hits each thitherto warm bit of you.

Third one - my feet, with pebbles. Note how the pebbles stick to the feet. Dampness! This is after the plunge (I went in twice in fact, because the first time I didn't get my head under and I didn't want to be accused of cheating).

That looks gorgeous and warm. The weather, not the sea, that is.

Did the other holidayers point and gawp at the crazy person in the chilly sea?

Where are you anyway?

Third piccie - what a contender for Footwatch.

Well done!

Well, that there is Slapton Sands, on the South Hams bit of Devon. It's where the US Army practised for the Normandy landings - it's very long and pebbly.

Yeah, the sun was good, but it was still pretty windy. I'm exaggerating about the water: it wasn't the Med, but it wasn't Aberdeen either.

People did gawp! I couldn't believe I was the only one swimming - there is a very fierce current there, but it's a sweepalong current, rather than a sweepy-out one.

Devon! Have you been to see the flants in the model village yet? I went when I was tiny and they'd made a lovely little home out of it.

Aaaaaah - the model village

We used to come down here pretty regularly when I was small. And we'd get a choice of two 'days out': model village, or Kents Cavern (stalactites, stalagmites, guide turning the lights out halfway through - the bit in LoG? Just like that! ). And my sister and I would look at each other and go "Oh purleeease, not the blummin' model village *or* Kents Cavern again"

Nice piccies

You should see it today - I never knew Devon had a monsoon season

It looks as if you could stitch pics two and three together for a nice verticle.

Ah, looks like someone's a wax virgin!

Soon sort that out!

I thought about a big beach panorama thing, but they never work when I try to do them - they always end up looking like bits of completely different landscapes

Ok then, out come the tweezers.

I'm not exceeding the quota. Look, I have a note!

You have a nonplucky note?



You've forged your ma's signature!

Pluck him, boys!

Noooooooooooooo! I'll be chilly.

And if I have a 'wich, the crumbs will roll straight off my legs and fall on the floor

Pffft! You've got plenty of trousers.

Straight onto the floor where I'll be waiting, yes. Mwha ha ha!

It's a 'wichplot I knew it!

Indeed! Whatever was said before.

Pluck him! S'best, yeah, s'best.

Go on, shave the word "flants" on your leg, dares you.

Oooh yeah, double dares.

And Boofs rool, on the other leg.