Pendine Sands, South Wales (Nov 03)

David's friend Aidan has been led over to the Dark Side, and bought a kite buggy. After a fun evening eating, drinking, and test driving the newly-built buggy along Jen's central-London street at 10.30pm (much to the amusement of the neighbours), David, Jen and Aidan headed west for 240 miles, and arrived in Pendine, South Wales. Well, after a brief stop at Chipping Sodbury to watch the All Blacks lose the rugby semi-final (much to David and Aidan's dismay). Pendine was deserted, with a few people on the 8-mile stretch of flat sand (used in the 1920's for the Land Speed record, and now an MOD missile testing range!). The light was fantastic, with hazy sunshine but little wind to launch the kites. We had a short go, but admitted defeat and headed north to the Pembertons Chocolate Farm. The farm was closed, but luckily the chocolate shop was very open and very good indeed! (especially the liqueurs!). We spent a fun evening playing table-space-invaders in the local pub. Sunday was bright and sunny, and after a slap-up breakfast, we went for a short walk along the cliffs, waiting for the tide to go out. We then spent hours playing with the new buggy, taking it in turns to whizz down (and, if we were lucky, sometimes up) the beach. Aidan had the first OBE (Out of Buggy Experience), but luckily showed us how to turn at the shoreline before we got in the buggy! A fantastic sunset took the last of the light, and we headed home, bruised but full of fresh air and sand between the toes.

Aidan works out how to put
his new toy together
Aidan works out how to put
his new toy together

Success! A new buggy is born!
Success! A new buggy is born!

Pendine Sands
Pendine Sands

Shells & Sand
Shells & Sand

Low Tide, Pendine Sands
Low Tide, Pendine Sands

Jen is in charge of the camera!
Jen is in charge of the camera!

Missile Testing Range, 
Pendine Sands
Missile Testing Range,
Pendine Sands

Aidan doesn't read the sign...
Aidan doesn't read the sign...

Jen and David
Jen and David

First go with the new buggy!
First go with the new buggy!

David has a go with the new toy
David has a go with the new toy

David poses on the new buggy
David poses on the new buggy

Aidan finds that the kite won't 
pull him along unless it's airborne!
Aidan finds that the kite won't
pull him along unless it's airborne!

Buggy-eye view of 
Pendine Sands
Buggy-eye view of
Pendine Sands

Jen forgets that you don't go
very far without a kite!
Jen forgets that you don't go
very far without a kite!

Davids car doesn't sink in the sand
Davids car doesn't sink in the sand

Jen flying her Little Devil
on Pendine Sands
Jen flying her Little Devil
on Pendine Sands

Cliffs, Pendine
Cliffs, Pendine

Caves, Pendine
Caves, Pendine

Pendine is the site of the 
Land Speed Record set by
Malcolm Campbell in the '20s.
Pendine is the site of the
Land Speed Record set by
Malcolm Campbell in the '20s.

Harbour Wall, Pendine
Harbour Wall, Pendine

Pendine Sands
Pendine Sands

David's ready for boarding
David's ready for boarding

David's car (again!)
David's car (again!)

Aidan buggying in his new toy
Aidan buggying in his new toy

Sunset, Pendine Sands
Sunset, Pendine Sands

Sunset, Pendine Sands
Sunset, Pendine Sands

Click on the thumbnail for a larger version!