Bimbling around Brixham

Hello. Another day out. As I have made the long journey south, I don't like to waste time sitting around. I want to get my money's worth by visiting as many different places as I can. I like a leisurely breakfast, but then it's lets get packed up for the day and go. Sandwiches made, drinks bottles filled, appropriate clothing and footwear worn and carried, and map with directions noted. The plan today is another trip to the English Riviera, this time Brixham. Again the Park and Ride was used, this one wasn't so busy. I noted that they didn't have designated buses just for this service, all regular buses passing this point pulled into the the parking area. They run pretty frequently so it was only a ten minute wait. The bus stand is in the centre of the town so it's easy to find the bus back. This is the view when you arrive. More painted houses on the hillside.  

This is an eye catching shop and beckons holiday makers to come and peep inside. Wooden carvings of every description. The proprietor is pretty unique as well, looking the part in his hillbilly outfit and weather beaten appearance.

All aboard The Golden Hind me hearties. This is a full size replica of the ship in which Drake circumnavigated the globe. Visitors can go on board. This is the second Brixham replica, the first one was destroyed in a storm.

I do believe this is Sir Francis himself, welcoming everyone on board.

Sea food anyone? I tried mussels once, many yeas ago, yuk, horrible ;o(

Another pretty harbour to bimble around. I love watching people enjoy their holiday.

Love the bright colours of this boat. With a bit of noseying on the www, the company of Stuart Line Cruises are a family business and run three boats from Exmouth. More info here. 

Tis a good day for bimbling, the weather was perfect and stayed dry.

I went in search of some green so Rocky could bimble on grass, so I walked past the Marina and up Berry Head Road.

The Lifeboat was parked alongside the sea wall.

There is a lot of green at Berry Head Nature Reserve, so off I went out of town. This open air swimming pool is called Shoalstone. Not really warm enough for swimming today. Looks like the builders are putting the finishing touches to it before it opens for the season. Pity I haven't got the car up here, there was a skip with some smashing pallets in it, and off cuts of plastic panels, ha ha. I have to look in skips, it's a compulsion.

I sat on a bench while Rocky had a bimble. Screams and laughter drew my attention to the pool. A group of children were jumping in fully clothed. Must be some kind of survival exercise I thought. They swam to the other end and got out. More info about Shoalstone Pool here.

There is a walk through the woods to get to the very tip of Berry Head Nature Reserve, sadly I couldn't take that and had to continue along the road. It was still a nice walk, albeit up a steep hill. Never mind the exercise will do me good.

I was anticipating nice views out to sea, from the top. Apparently it is possible to see Portland Bill 35 miles away, on a clear day. Oooerrr, it's a bit misty. The lighthouse looks rather grey and uninspiring. It is claimed to be the smallest and highest in the British Isles. More info here.

I walked to the edge and peered out to sea. What did I see? Bugger all, ha ha. The fog was a thick pea souper. I took a pic leaning over the edge, it was a wild guess because I couldn't see anything through the mist. Aha, we have some rocks at the bottom.

Looks like Rocky has dozed off, ha ha.

It was easier to walk downhill back to the town. A ten minute wait for the bus took us back to the car. I had brought a packet of noodles to make up for dinner, but couldn't be bothered, so I popped in Asda on the way back and got a reduced pot of mixed bean salad and a cheese and onion quiche. That will do for two days. We arrived back at camp at 6.30pm just as Lovely Grey was going out to meet her friend for a drink. She wasn't away very long, so we sat with a glass of wine and resumed our natter that we started when I arrived. Last night at the camp site, heading off home tomorrow.

Thanks for popping in. I've been catching up on tidying the garden and house since I've been back. Also doing a bit of sewing. Will get up to date after the next and last holiday post tomorrow.
Toodle pip

Dilly dallying in Dartmouth

Hello. Phew, a lot of photo's to upload. I've had to whittle the 200 I took, down to a more manageable number, this post has quite a lot for you to trawl through. The plan for today was to visit the English Riviera, I chose Dartmouth because I wanted to avoid the bigger touristy areas like Torquay and Paignton. I followed the signs through country lanes to Newton Abbot and Totnes. The Park and Ride facility was on the outskirts of the town, it was £5 a day, have to pay for the car. As I only wanted half a day I went further on into the town to look for a cheaper option. This involved going down a steep hill, there was no way I could park at the top and walk, ok going down but I couldn't have pushed the buggy back up again. The town was choc a block with cars, so I drove back to the Park and Ride and coughed up the dosh. It turned out a good move because the parking was on grass so we could have a leisurely picnic before driving back to the camp site. 

I don't think Rocky was too impressed with the bus ride. We had to squash into the buggy and wheelchair section, so he was surrounded by lots of people and all he could see was legs. The bus was very full, standing room only. 

Dartmouth is lovely, lots of boats filling the estuary. Yachts, ferry boats, small rowing boats, and pleasure crafts taking visitors up and down the river. The weather was a tad overcast, but it was warm enough not to wear a jacket. The town and waters edge was a hive of activity, but not too crowded, there was enough room to get around. 

Queuing up to get on a river cruise. No cruise for us today, I hate queuing and being squashed up with a lot of people. 

I love the coloured houses on the hillside over on the opposite side of the River dart.

The town has lots of gift shops and eateries. It all seems a bit posh here, I like to check out prices in different parts of the country, I window shop but don't buy. It looks a bit pricey, here are some examples. Would you pay £7.20 for a few bits of wood?

£9.50 for two beach huts!

One small beach hut for £4.50, five for £22.50. Crikey!

What about this driftwood bird, fancy that? It will set you back an eyewatering £185. Chuffin heck. I'll not bother. Note to self, must pick up some old tree scraps as I walk through the woods.

The church was open, there was a craft exhibition on. Lovely quilts on show. 

And some pieces of machine embroidery. Wish I could get the hang of this.

My little model was happy to pose for the photo's. He has his waterproof coat on, made out of an old umbrella. We had a heavy shower for 20 minutes, so we sheltered under a shop canopy and I chatted to a couple who also had a dog in a buggy. 

Here is the Dartmouth Higher Ferry just coming in. It docks at the Dart Marina Hotel,. A single journey in a car is £5.20, foot passengers pay 60p. 

 I stood and watched as it loaded up for the return crossing. The boat is guided across with steel ropes, it only takes about five minutes. Drive on and off boat.

Here is a map of the different boat trips available. Plenty to chose from. 

We sat and watched people, it was a lovely place to be. The kids were enjoying themselves catching crabs. They buy a plastic bucket, a length of twine, and some bait, dangle it in the water and a crab attaches itself to the bait. Put them in your bucket and count them, then throw them back. The sun came out to finish the day off nicely.

We were back at the camp site for just after 6pm and the Lovely Grey had dinner on the go, so no cooking for me again. Not that I cook much while camping anyway, why change the habit of a lifetime, ha ha.

More tomorrow. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip

Didn't find any sheep, but a nice time in Weston Super Mare

Hello. The plan when I left Slimbridge was to pop into Bristol for a couple of hours and look for sheep. Lovely Grey said there are 70 to find, that can't be too difficult I thought, given the size of them and the fact that they are painted in bright colours. I checked the map and decided to head for Brandon Hill Park, dump the car, and have a walkabout. Easier said than done. Roadworks, slow moving and stationary traffic, lots of car park signs which made it so confusing, Trapped, couldn't change lanes to get in any of them, being carried along with the flow, hadn't a clue where I was. Enough is enough, stuff it, I can't be bothered, get me out of here. 

Saw a sign for Weston Super Mare, that will do, lets go to the seaside instead. At Weston I followed signs for South Beach car park, oh dear, it's closed due to a previous event, contractors clearing away equipment. I found a wide street with no restrictions, luckily it was right next to Clarence Park, so we enjoyed a stroll among the flowers and the friendly squirrels. It was a nice place to sit for lunch.  

A nice variation on a flower bed, plant vegetables instead.

In the middle of the vegetables put a hanging flower display.

The squirrels were very tame they took food from your hand. This one was so chuffed when I gave him a grape, he soon scoffed it. 

When he had finished he hung around for more. No grapes left so I gave him a cherry.

The Promenade in Weston is lovely and clean, It's very wide and a lot of new building work has gone on to make it a really pleasant place to walk. On the beach is a Sand Sculpture Festival, this year is their tenth anniversary. I have picked out a few photo's from the twenty or so I took. Rocky was allowed to go in, the entrance fee for an oap is £3. Reasonable I thought. 

This Festival is on until the 27th of September. Check out the web site for more information. There are lots of videos on there, how the sculptures are made, and meet the artists. I have just watched at least ten short videos on the home page, so don't click off after the first one. 

I've found this vid on yooootooob, which shows how the sculptures are made.

We didn't have a ride on the big wheel, I don't think Rocky would have liked it. 

The pier is looking splendid. On the 28th of July 2008 a massive fire destroyed the pavilion. The new modern pavilion opened on October 23rd, 2010. Looks fab.

Can we have a ride on the train please. Oh go one, I like trains. Sorry Rocks, no time today.

Time to leave Weston Super Mare and head south to Devon.

We arrived at Lemonford Caravan Park Near Newton Abbot a few minutes after Lovely grey landed back from work. The kettle went on and we sat down for a natter and a cuppa. It was great to meet her at last after reading her blog for so long. I put the tent up while she made our dinner. Can't remember what it was called but it was nice, vegetables with eggs, washed down with a glass or two of vino. The chat continued quite late into the night, ok for me, I don't have to get up for work in the morning. My head felt a bit fuzzy when I crawled into bed.

More tomorrow. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip