Wednesday 1 June 2016

First of June - Last of Jersey

This will be my last post about Jersey. It was, after all, only one week, but it was a very good holiday and both O.K. and I agree that we wouldn't mind going back there, maybe not for our next holiday together, but some other time.


The little detour we took on the way back from Sorel Point was to a waterfall. The path split away from the main path along a deep cut in the rocks, with a gurgling, fast-flowing beck by its side.



It does not look as beautiful and impressive here as it was in reality - the movement and sound of the water, the sun glistening, the complete absence of other people...
 


The path ended there, but the sun-lit rocks looked so inviting, we climbed a bit further on. And there, we found one of those enchanted places where you feel time stands still, and you're in a perfect moment, not wanting to be anywhere, anytime, or with anyone else than this, here and now. I hope you know what I mean - it does not happen every day (not even every week or every month) to encounter such a moment of utter bliss, and I was (and still am) very glad that O.K. suggested the little detour.


From there, we walked back to the pub at the top of Devil's Hole. We knew there to be a bus stop, and all during our week here, we had been carrying the very useful bus map and time table around. If you should ever visit Jersey and want to walk a lot, don't hire a car - buy a bus ticket valid for 7 days ("AvanchiCard") that allows you to hop on and off buses where and when you want - well, where there are bus stops, of course, and when the bus is running. There are some places that have no bus service on Sundays, and for many routes, you have to enter St. Helier first and switch to another line, which can make a journey more time-consuming than it looks from the distance on the map.


Anyway, we arrived at the Priory Inn and had a drink outside while waiting for the bus. We decided to get off at the next stop, in the village of St. John. Finding out we had just missed the bus of the other line that would have taken us back to Bouley Bay, we consulted our map again and saw that it was probably not all that difficult to walk home. And walk we did!

It was a beautiful walk, although we were on a rather busy road for the first bit. Whenever possible, we took the "Green Lanes" (a network of narrow lanes where cyclists, walkers and horse riders have precedence over cars, which are allowed a max speed of 15 mph), and enjoyed this very much. The lanes took us through small picturesque hamlets with quirky names such as Egypt, and past very nice houses and beautiful mansions.
We ended up coming into Bouley Bay from a different side. It was a very nice walk, the mellow evening light making it all the more romantic.


The next day, we travelled home to Germany. Here are some last pictures, all taken by O.K., from the bus ride to the airport, of Jersey from the plane, and arriving over the coast of France minutes later:




That's it - you've seen the last of Jersey on my blog now, at least for a while :-)

16 comments:

  1. Such a wonderful vacation! How perfect that you had one of those moments of bliss of being "in the moment". Only one of the photos you posted from this time made me think there could be something like an actual small city on the island. It feels like a rural paradise island. And to be there with a dear friend is beyond wonderful.

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    1. The weather could have been a little better, but I should not be (and am not) complaining - altogether, it was a wonderful holiday indeed, and made especially special by it being our first one together.

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  2. I love the enchanted place, where time stood still for you. It is one of those moments, I think the Celts called it "thin places" where heaven and earth comes closer.

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    1. It certainly felt like that, Kay, and I shall store this precious memory along with the others of a similar quality.

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    2. Isn't that a beautiful term - thin places. I love it.

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  3. you told story of your exciting journey so beautifully ,lots of useful details ,waterfall is surely mesmerizing ,i can feel that precious moment touched you while being their ,in such moment we explore our true selves and reach to the depth of our soul,thank you so much for mentioning it so amazingly ,
    hiring car during such visits are very costly ,i wish we can find such bus service here as mostly they are not comfortable and speedy ,missing your bus made you walk i love walks on such lovely paths with peace of mind ,

    i am really sorry for the people whom got hurt with thunder storm ,hope and heartiest pray that may all goes well now a days there amen

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    1. Thank you, Baili, for your kind words!

      Yes, it is good being able to walk when missing a bus, but it is not always possible. I am glad you found my information useful, and can relate to how I described the precious moment.

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  4. What a lovely holiday you had! I understand what you are saying about that perfect moment, in the right place with the right person. Such moments come, in my experience, when one is open to straying off the beaten track or doing something on impulse. You were certainly in a beautiful part of the world - thanks for taking us along!

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    1. You are welcome!
      Yes, off the beaten track and unplanned certainly contributes to such perfect moments. Looking back at the other such moments I've experienced, this was always the case.

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  5. Well, I have just spent a most enjoyable two hours catching up on all your postings in May. I feel like I've had a little holiday myself! Thank you for taking the time to share your trip with your readers.

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    1. You've been busy, Nan, and I thank YOU very much for taking the time to catch up!

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    2. I enjoyed every minute! Such fun.

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    3. Glad you did, Nan! We did, too :-)

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  6. What a fabulous holiday you had, it was so interesting to see and read all about it. Thanks for sharing.
    One of the reasons I enjoy walking is that you can totally immerse yourself in the surroundings and forget about real life and all its problems. :)

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    1. That's so true, Karen. I find walking so very useful for that purpose, and when I was going to a particularly troubled time in my life, I don't know what I would have done without my long (lone) walks.

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