No, not that rather gripping Nevil Shute novel, but a bright sunny day amidst the many wet ones, and an outing to Doniford beach.
Not a lovely beach, really, with Triassic-Jurassic mudstone, rocks and some modern builders rubble. It can be squelchy underfoot, and people have been known to get stuck in the mud on this stretch of coast and have to be rescued. There were a couple of alarming episodes where I felt my feet sinking unexpectedly. Surprising how quickly one becomes squeaky-voiced with panic as gloopy mud sucks one's shoes downwards!
(Not helped by being teased by The Gardener, who reassured me (not at all) by telling me that he would stay devotedly beside me as I sank until I disappeared; as I was only 5'1', it might be quick.....)
I was glad to scramble back onto the smooth rocks.
But there was lots to see.
Textures.
One of the sillier-looking kind of labradoodle, jolly and undeterred, trying hard to befriend Flossie.
Fossils. Many small ammonites, mostly the size of 50p coins.
The steam train that runs between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard.
And then the river, where Flossie swam and cleaned up; my camera battery had run down by then, or I could have showed you the state of my shoes as we returned to the car.
The seaside in autumn and winter; just wonderful, so long as you don't sink.
The Gardener took these pictures, as we sat damply yesterday in the tea room of the Owl and Hawk Centre at pretty little Allerford, on a very rainy morning. The view was wonderful.
Beforehand, we walked Flossie on North Hill, throwing her ball through fog so dense that we feared hitting one of the many lovely Exmoor ponies that clustered about us. They observed us with interest, and, as I am rather frightened of horses, I watched them with caution.
They seemed completely unbothered by us or our galumphing weatherproof dog, but scattered in alarm as a ranger's vehicle drove cautiously past.
I love autumn, and - perhaps just as well - I love fog.
Remember this post? The view (with a large hedge obstructing it and a dumped fridge not obstructing it)?
Local papers make me smile, sometimes with unholy glee.
This very special offer tickles me greatly. A medium-sized sausage roll, and a rather meagre-looking affair at that.
Don't all apply at once, now, will you.
Autumn time.
This weekend has seen an end-of-season steam train extravaganza for the West Somerset Railway.
Needing to practise my photography, I agreed to go out with The Gardener, who isn't a train spotter really, but loves an opportunity to take photos of big boys toys all things mechanical. It would make a change from country churches, and as the railway line runs along the coastline, Flossie could come too and lark about on the beaches.
Except that she seemed to be a magnet for these 9-month-old pug pups.
"Go away!"
"Go away!"
"Go AWAY!"
But the puppies wouldn't go away; they had fallen in love with this big dog, and clung to her like glue.
Eventually, their breathless owner managed to catch them, scoop them up, and roll his eyes at us falling over with laughter; Flossie could then get on with her larking about.
And the trains came in.
And went out.
Flossie waited. Patient girl....
And we managed to see a country church as well.
Normal service has resumed.
