Meanwhile in Exeter...

Veronica had opted not to attend the graduation ceremony for her master’s degree in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Exeter since there were only six students on her course and she spent nearly half her school year with us in Holland. However, she had signed up for the free rental of the cap and gown to get some photos around Exeter, including this one in front of the cathedral... 

…and many on campus. 

Here she is with Dreda, her best friend from her course and also hiking buddy from Expedition Society. They had spent the previous three nights on Dreda’s family farm near Wales and had some excitement when her van broke down en route to Exeter. 

After getting a tow, Robin, Dreda’s boyfriend, swooped in to get them to campus to pick up their gowns. Dreda and Robin had met in undergrad at Exeter’s Penryn campus, where Veronica would be headed in September. The four of them had a celebratory lunch at the Mill on the Ex and then drinks at the Cosy Club (the same chain where we had taken her for cocktails after her graduation at UEA in Norwich). 

Veronica and Brett later went out for dinner on their own to finish off their day of celebrating. Ironically, because Brett skipped doing his master’s before starting his PhD, for a short time in their lives, Veronica would have a higher degree than him. 

 

Meanwhile in Exeter...

Veronica was thrilled to be reunited with Brett over Easter. 

She was also thrilled to be back on the silks...  

…and the South West Coast Path.

They camped for a night with Paul, a fellow Exeter physics PhD student, who would be accompanying them on their big Interrail trip planned for May.

Of course, they couldn’t resist getting in the chilly water.
 

Back to the UK...

Veronica was thrilled to head back to Exeter in mid-October to spend two weeks with Brett. They enjoyed a day trip to Bath, where they enjoyed lunch at Sally Lunn’s Bunn House...

…and a visit to the Roman Bath, both of which Sally and I enjoyed back in 2018.

Veronica was especially thrilled to go for a hike on the South West Coast Path and do some more wild swimming.

 

A Coastal Adventure...

Veronica had hoped to take Brett coasteering for his birthday in April 2020, but COVID had other plans so they celebrated his birthday with us in Holland instead. Over a year later, four of their friends joined them for their big adventure on the south Devon coast.

Donning just a bathing suit, they put on all of the gear provided, including life vests and gardening gloves.

As you can see, coasteering involves swimming, rock scrambling and jumping into the sea. That’s Brett on the left and Veronica next to him. Apparently all of her friends laughed at her because she screamed every time she jumped. The water was cold, but the wetsuit helped keep them warm for the first half and hot chocolate with whisky helped warm them up later. 

There were two instructors for the ten participants, the youngest of which was nine. The tide was low enough that they could swim through the natural arch visible in the back.

After so many hikes on the South West Coast Path, Veronica and Brett appreciated seeing the Devon Coast from a very different angle.

The jumps got progressively higher. Despite apprehension at the beginning, they were surprised how high they were willing to jump from. Veronica, on the left, managed to climb this bit, but fell in when attempting to boulder on another rock. 

Everyone loved it! They’d hoped to have a beach BBQ afterwards, but the rains sent them scrambling back to Exeter. 

Two days later, they locked up their love nest for the last time before heading to Heathrow Airport for their big trip to the US. They had moved their belongings earlier in the week to Brett’s new house, where he’d store some of Veronica’s stuff for the foreseeable future. 

 

Meanwhile in Exeter...

This photo from July 2010 was the oldest one that I could find of Veronica on her bike, which we had bought used.

Nearly 11 years later, she cried while donating her beloved bike to Ride On, a charity and social enterprise that refurbishes donated bikes in an effort to get locals more active. 

Clearly Veronica and Brett don’t need any organizations to encourage them to be active as they’re very active all on their own. On June 13, they headed to Dartmoor for an overnight camping trip. It was the perfect opportunity for them to soak in some waterfalls and have Brett capture some great photos.

This one is especially fantastic!

As the cows circled their campsite... 

…they stayed on this rock after dinner to keep their distance. 

They went to bed soon after sunset and didn’t dare to get up in the middle of the night to take star photos at the risk of upsetting the cows. 
 

First Camping Trip of 2021...

Veronica and Brett’s first camping trip in 2021 began with a stop at Tunnel Beaches in Ilfracombe for some swimming in a natural tidal pool that has been a tourist attraction since the tunnels were carved into the cliffs in the 1820s.

I can’t stand cold water, but what an amazing location to go swimming. 

After swimming, they set off along on the South West Coast Path on a North Devon leg to find somewhere to camp. 

As much as Veronica loves cows, that night the cows truly scared her. These ones obviously came in peace, but later that night a group of around 40 cows stampeded. You can read more about the terrifying experience on their blog: Coves to Cliffs.

Sunset, before the cow incident... 

…and sunrise with the cows.

Veronica couldn’t resist swimming again the next day. 

Meanwhile in Devon...

Veronica and Brett were happy to finally get to go on their first long hike in 2021 on the South West Coast Path. It clearly was a beautiful day!

This was Veronica’s first wild swim in the beautiful blue waters of Devon after preparing herself for the cold water by swimming 19 times at Vlietland in Voorschoten.