A quick visit to Cornwall

Whilst in China this year we spent a lot of time with Ray and Carolyn from Cornwall who invited us to come down and spend a few days.  We promised to do so once Keith had completed his DVD video of our time in China which featured Ray and Carolyn on many occasions.

So, Wednesday 15th October we set off to make our way to Torpoint, Plymouth, via Swindon where we would spend the night in an Arkell Brewery' pub at Stratton St. Margaret having stayed there before when we were in the area.  We didn't want to go by motorways and chose to instruct 'Stella', our satelitte navigating system, to take a scenic route.  We passed through such lovely old villages, many with thatched roofs once we cleared a band of rain between Beverley, the Humber Bridge and the A15 towards Lincoln.  The trees were adorned with leaves of bright reds and golds and fields newly ploughed of different shades of brown in a patchwork design broken up by hedgerows of red berried hawthorn.   

In the Oxfordshire area we went walk about in the village of Farndon to stretch our  legs, and again in Lechdale where in one of the antique shops I wanted to buy a corner cabinet inlaid with a design of a large chrysanthemum flower in autumnal coloured woods almost filling the door panel at £39!  Unfortunately Keith wasn't so enthusiastic.  Looking round the small emporium we were amazed how cheap some of the objects were. We took a walk along the Thames  riverbank where several boats were moored by a small boatyard and the 'Riverside Inn' recently acquired by Arkells Brewery, and currently undergoing a lot of building work.  As with the many Arkells pubs we had passed it looked very attractive with local stone walls and wonderful flowering hanging baskets.  A young boy was fishing by 'Halpenny Bridge'  (named after the amount that was charged to cross the bridge in days gone by) and we stopped to ask if he had caught anything.  We had just missed him reeling in a small perch only to have a pike come up and take it off the hook before he could land it.  It was not to be his day as on the way back we heard a loud splash and learnt from him that another large fish had broken his line.  As he had no more hooks he was packing up and heading for home where he was hoping to get his parents to buy him more fishing hooks. The other side of the bridge a large flock of swans were in the riverside field and on seeing us assumed we were going to feed them as they took  off and flew into the river, landing several feet away from us.  If only I had had my camera ready.  Back in the car we continued on to Swindon to spend the night at 'The Crown'. 

The Pub was busy but Ian, the landlord, had time to chat to us.  His 8 year old son, Arron, was sitting at one of the tables eating what I thought was a bowl of beige coloured rice pudding.  I was informed it was two weetabix!  Arron was a very polite chatty little boy who said his Mum came from up North - Scunthorpe.  I didn't like to tell him we came from further up North.  He disappeared to write an essay about keeping a kitten.  As the Pub was busy Ian didn't have time to read it so I asked if I may have a look.  Despite no punctuation and a few spelling mistakes I found his work very informative and got the impression he would love to have a cat. 8pm Ian and Arron disappeared and a young lady took over the bar having to cope with 8 Welsh lads staying in the Pub.  At breakfast next morning the lady waiting on the tables was relieved to see us arrive before the 8 lads came in from work. She was not impressed with them!  They would come for breakfast during their tea break which they duly did - all in their demolition working gear.  Breakfast was served from 7.30 to 9am and they began work at 7am.

We continued our journey by the quieter roads but on a couple of occasions found the road closed and so had to do a detour.  The first occasion we were following a couple of small cars and reaching the bottom of a narrow hill we turned left and went back up a single track road passing several houses before reaching the main road thankful that we had met nothing coming down the track. The road we needed to Sidbury was also was closed and we ended up in Sidmouth. Finding  a small car park we set off down the road in search of a loo!  Passing the 'Volunteer Inn' a small pub, which looked as though it had just been redecorated, we made a loo stop once we had ordered a drink and sandwich.  The barman, a self employed long distance lorry driver who knew Bridlington and the area well had recently moved to Sidmouth to be near his girlfriend, and was very friendly.  He kept apologising for not knowing where everything was as this was only his fourth shift having seen the advert in the window when passing by.  We noticed the advert was still in the window when we left.  

We had telephoned Carolyn when we left Swindon to say we were about four and a half hours away from them.  Now she was ringing us to ask where we were.  We would ring again when we were at the ferry terminal.  Arriving by the A38 express road to Plymouth, as we were well behind schedule, we found 'Stella' was taking us via Mutley to reach the small but well organised ferry terminal in Plymouth.  Two boats were running, 3 during peak hours, so we didn't having long to wait to board.  The boat is pulled across the river by chains and as vehicles were disembarking  others were loading.  We had no idea of the toll fee, but then no one came to collect any money.  Surely this service cannot be free?  Up the ramp and first exit on our left we were on Marine Drive where Ray and Carolyn were enjoying a cuppa in their front garden.  They had asked their elderly next door neighbour if we could park in front of his house for the duration of our stay - no problem. 

"Hellos" said and a quick cuppa and then we were off to explore the immediate area around Torpoint.  The view from their house is just wonderful and I was reluctant to leave.  To the left we can see naval vessels and sailing boats come and go across Plymouth Sound. To the right and immediately in front is an area belonging to Edgcumbe Park and House and this is where Ray suggested we take a walk, once we had driven through a couple of smuggling villages.

  

We made a stop to get a panoramic view of the river, village and in the distance the Tamar Bridge and Plymouth.  An elderly man and his son had also stopped and the man spoke to us informing us that he had lived in the area all his life and was quite emotional in telling us that this was the first time he had been here. The House is now closed for the winter but the gardens and parkland, covering 7 acres, are still open to the public.  As we entered  through the gatehouse arch we found ourselves in the Italian Gardens with topiary trees, a fountain and 3 marble statues of naked people.  Through

 the gardens we arrived at a viewing area with several cannons facing out to sea and overlooking Plymouth Sound where we were in time to see a German warship coming into harbour whilst other larger boats were at anchor.  Carolyn and I had spoken to an elderly man who must have thought we were all strangers as he told us about the Naval buildings in the area built to protect England from the French.  His parting comment was "they should have shot them all!"  The weather was lovely but as Carolyn had put a roast in the oven before we left we have to make our way back home.

Once we had finished our leg of lamb meal and sampled a few glasses of wine Ray called his neighbours in.  Barry, another Engineer, and Olive had also been out in China for the Spring session.  It had been hard work for him as not only did he help the Engineers to improve their English he also took over Walter's class of Deck Officers, Walter's mother having died so he had returned to the UK. We spent an enjoyable evening hearing about their outings  and time in Dalian and it was midnight before we got to bed. 

Breakfast next morning sitting in the dining room

watching the low mist clear to reveal the moored sailing boats.  It had been suggested that we take a quick tour of Plymouth, have a bar lunch on Dartmoor and then go for a stroll.  Great as the weather was lovely and so I was able to get some

lovely reflections of the boats in the fishing port. We wandered the narrow streets visiting the small steep 'Elizabethan Gardens' hidden behind terraced buildings.  We had to go on Plymouth Hoe but didn't have time to do any bowling.

From this point we could see 'Drake's Island' some of the city's hotels and the Roscoff Ferry Terminal. We didn't have time to go to the Mayflower Steps where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for America but we did spend a few minutes looking at the Merchant Navy Wall where people had had memorial plaques placed, some very amusing. One paid tribute to their parentsamazed that both died aged 90 - the final comment being 'It must have been the fish'. 

Into Devonshire countryside and a stop at a remote Pub for lunch then on to 'Burrator Dam' where quite a few cars were parked and  several people were out jogging.  We took a quick look at the reservoir surrounded by a small forest before continuing up to a 'Cross' by a small stream to park the car.  

Donning our walking boots and looking at the approaching black sky we took a chance and followed the water channel containing a lot of small brown trout.  We also enjoyed the company of the Darmoor ponies wandering the moorland with sheep and cattle.  By the aquaduct we climbed up the hill beside a waterfall to head for 'Crazy Well Pool', a water filled deep mine shaft whose depth us unknown.  Down the hillside to pick up a wide track before returning to the car.

Carolyn and I were trailing somewhat so Ray suggested he

 went for the car whilst we stood at the bus stop.  5.20 just in time for the bus, but we would have a long wait as it only ran on Sundays.  On our journey home we returned to a small village by the side of what had once been an airfield to collect a Chinese takeaway for our evening meal.  Crossing the airfield we were treated to a spectacular sunset.

Saturday morning we drove West through a black Liskard where Carolyn said there is always a black cloud hanging over the town and back into lovely sunshine in the coastal resort of Fowey with Polruan across the river.  We had bought Cornish Pasties from the pie shop in Torpoint and Carolyn had warmed up her microwaveable 'stone' before placing it in an insulated bag so they were still lovely and warm as we sat overlooking the ferry across to the home of Daphne Du Maurier whilst eating them and drinking coffee.

We apologised to other people also sitting in the same area.

Satisfield with our lunch we went walk about in Fowey admiring the buildings and shops with unusual seaside gifts and several art galleries where the prices I thought were very reasonable.

Early afternoon we returned to Torpoint as we were to return home via the Oxfordshire village of Eynsham to stay in another Arkells Pub for the evening. In view of the time Keith had programmed 'Stella' to take us the quickest route which was main roads.  Convenient I know but I did miss the lovely villages we had passed through on our way down.  Still we arrived at the Talbot Inn by the A40 and the River Thames to be shown into a lovely room that put many hotel rooms to shame as far as we are concerned. The brochure did say 8 new rooms had been opened this summer but for £65 B & B we had not expected so much.

The Pub, originally called 'The Horse and Jockey' in 1788.  By 1836 it was called 'The Talbot' and in 1997 Arkells Brewery bought it. A quaint building long and narrow with the room split in two, the bar and the dining area. The beer was on tap, the barrels being lined up at the back of the bar with each one wrapped in a jacket.  Keith sampled them all deciding that the '3B' was the best in view of the driving he still had to do.  Our meal was excellent but I had to smile at my 'posh coffee' which was brought to the table in a green beaker with a Rombouts coffee filter on top and a small jug of milk alongside.  Once the filter had drained and I lifted the beaker to my mouth I had the wonderful smell of Tia Maria and tasting quite good too!  Breakfast again was good and filled us up so we didn't have to make a lunch stop on the way home.

We had hoped to call and see our 'Kettering Wrinklies' Keith's aged Aunt and Uncle but they were out having missed them by minutes.  We should have telephoned last night but hadn't realised we were so close until reprogramming 'Stella'.  Another time as I am sure we will be paying more visits to the Arkell Pubs.

We made a stop at Stamford in Lincolnshire parking by the river.  Keith had problems trying to feed the parking machine and going to investigate I saw Sundays and Bank Holidays were free. The couple in a new Jag were not happy as they put on their walking boots saying they had just put £3 in the machine!  Why can't Councils be united in their parking policies?

A really lovely trip but we saw an awful lot of dead badgers on the country roads as well as a pony.