A couple of broken benches in the Sid and the ford rendered impassable served as reminders that we're about to catch the tail end of Sri Lanka's monsoon season.
The sea was churning and wild, hurling pebbles up onto the road and sending me running to dodge the waves breaking over the sea wall. Wonderful!
Sidmouth makes me smile.
I bought kippers from the shed on The Ham, passed a chalked up 'local brussel tops' sign in the Market Square, walked a little way with Sandra from the fish and chip shop, stocked up on peanut butter for Vikki from Verity in Ganesha, gave Ollie Salter a wave and a "morning!" on my way back up the road and met lots of people along the way to exchange a smile and a few words with.
I'm looking forward to our holiday, but to be honest I feel a little apprehensive around the edges. Once we're on the plane I expect I'll start feeling more excited but at this moment, on a National Express coach heading for Heathrow, stuck in traffic and running 50 minutes late, it doesn't feel quite real yet.
I'm ready for the adventure though, and looking forward to spending two weeks with my lovely Mick exploring some of the places he visited on his last trip to Sri Lanka in 1982 - just before we met.
I've got my brolly. Bring it on!
