Saturday 10 May 2014

Torquay - Padstow

I have been sleeping quite well in our King sized bed. It is very comfortable, and the radiator keeps the room beautifully warm. We also had a smaller portable heater in the room, which we probably didn't need. The lounge/kitchen has its own radiator, so the place is warm when we come home in the evenings. The weather has been variable, with showers and wind gusts cooling us down, with the sun making us hot 10 minutes later. Slowly, we are acclimatising to the English Spring. Let's hope the warmer, sunny weather comes soon.

This is the view from our flat just before we left

This shows how high the flat was above the water. In fact, it is on top of a small cliff, perhaps 30 metres up. The whole area is a hill, and it was hard walking back from the pub yesterdaya after two pints of Dartmoor Jail Ale. Next time I'll have a third pint and take a taxi home. Still, the "flat" English Real Ales are quite good one you get used to them.

Today was a moving day; our next stop is Padstow. You know, little sailing boats, Rick Stein's fish and chips on the beach, people in shorts and T-shirts. I was quite looking forward to it.

Carol and Glen were up before Robyn and I, and had started the process of packing before I got out of bed. After a coffee and breakfast, we made a start too. After about an hour of packing checking, unpacking, finding, cleaning and collecting, we were ready !. I hauled the two 23 Kg bags up the steps to the road, and along where the car was parked. Many of the places here don't have off-street parking spaces, so the parking spaces on the street are often full. I had parked only about 50 metres up the road - which wasn't too bad.

Using my mobile phone to navigate, we made our way out of Torquay to the A380; a major roadway heading north. We skirted around the top of Dartmoor, and over to Launceston. Although this is a charming little town, we couldn't find a place to park, and the roads are seriously narrow. I never even stopped the car, except for waiting to exit a side lane. someone kindly let us into the line on the larger road - very polite as usual. We headed for Bodmin.

I parked the car in a Bodmin Park and Ride station, which cost me two Pounds for 2 hours (dear). We went around the corner to a little museum and had a look, while rain fell outside. As usual for a small museum, it had sections about the war, local farms, and the local railway. It was run by three little old ladies; how very quaint.

 

Robyn is eating her first Cornish pasty in Cornwall. Behind her is the Friary building, which houses the local museum.

In Bodmin, they make Cornish pasties. In fact cornish pasties seem to be made by every shop in every town in Cornwall. In one of the two bakeries, Robyn bought two meringues for desert this evening.

It is a typical town of the area, having a cobbled main street, which cars can still drive through, very slowly. The shops are often op-shops (cheap second hand

stuff), with the others being banks, clothing shops and food shops. The offices seem to be hidden away.

We travelled on to Padstow, and found the Old Police House without difficulty. No the authorities have not taken us in for questioning. That is simply the name of the flat we will be staying in for the week. It was actually the policeman's house many years ago. The street (Church Lane) is one of those just wide enough to let two cars pass - with cars parked in the street. More reversing and dodging if I meet anyone coming the other way !. At least everybody keeps their good humour.

We got into the carpark after entering the code on the lock (it has thumbwheels, just like those locks you might use on your bags when you travel). Then Robyn let down the chain, and I drove in - to the wrong parking space... Several apartments from at least four different buildings share about 10 carpark spaces. A man told me that I was in his spot, so I had to move. All very polite you understand.

The flat is actually quite roomy; it has high ceilings, plenty of windows, and is painted white. It is quite comfortable. Glen and Carol came along, and even with them in here there is room to fit.

We took a stroll down to the small harbour - on the Camel River. It does not face the sea, and just as well. The wind nearly blew us over. It was cold too, and the temperature was about 10 degrees. I watched the other tourists walking around the harbour and nearby town area.

Lex is trying to pull glen's seat out from under him. Lex is being very silly ! (and loving it). That's the harbour in the background.

The tourists must all eat at restaurants in the harbour area, because these are endemic. Rick Stein of course, has his fish and chip shop here. What I didn't know is that he has a deli beside it, and another café in town, just around the corner from where we are staying, and a patisserie at the end of our block, and he has his name on a clothing shop. There is also an upmarket restaurant near the harbour, but I don't know whether he or his son Jack Stein runs it. All in all, the family is doing pretty well. Robyn bought a pasty from the deli, and it was very good and fairly cheap. Rick stocks a lot of local, and Cornwall produce. All of it looks to be high quality, and it's all very popular. There are people everywhere buying his stuff, or eating his food.

Rick's Patisserie - nothing fancy to look at but I bought 2 bottles of beer there; a "Chalkies Bark", and a "Chalkies Bite". You can get grog anywhere in England.

We actually ate dinner at The Shipwright's Inn, which is right on the harbour. They are typical of pubs we have seen so far - good food at a reasonable price, and good beer. Glen drinks alcoholic ginger beer, and thay had that too; cider is also widley available. All in all, you can get a drink here no matter what your taste.

After a long day, we all came back to our temporary home, and settled down for the night. Tomorrow promises more sightseeing - we just don't know where yet.

Till then....

Lex and Robyn