Part 2 – Plymouth Plus

24th June – Brixham to Plymouth

We made a smooth early start at 07.30 to round Berry Head.  We then rocked for 2 hours before and after Start Point.  We then rocked even more across Big Bury Bay and the day became very hot.  The bonus was the large number of dolphins out to play.

Start Point lighthouse.

The 41 miles took 9 hours to complete.  Going for a walk ashore was a must, to level our heads at the end of the day.

Our Barbican side temporary mooring was a little too ‘Ibiza’ like, and we asked to move the boat the day after.

We had been on a waiting list for Sutton Harbour Marina in Plymouth for a year.  Good moorings are worth waiting for.  We both like Sutton Harbour.  Friendly and professional staff and a great coffee area to meet new friends.  With easy access to town and off street parking.

27th June – Tuesday

Friends Martin, Ruth, Graham and Tilly the dog from the Isle of White of ‘Tearaway Too’ arrived for a few days.  We had a couple of boozy pre dinner meet ups and a meal at Himalayan Spice, where Mark and Carol (Yacht Gem) joined us.

29th June – Thursday

Another excellent town museum ‘The Box’ kept us entertained for a few hours. 

The foyer is heaving with Figure Heads from ships (this is just a sample).  They are arranged in the ceiling above the café and make a great display.

 

Currently there is an exhibition of the work of Joshua Reynolds, who was born locally 300 years ago.

Another artist who lived locally is Beryl Cook.  Famous for her pictures of comic groups.

3rd July – Monday

My birthday meal at The Dome, which has the best view of Plymouth Sound.

5th July – Wednesday

Homeward bound for a few weeks.  The train journey was 11 hours with 3 changes.

We are home for Ella and Adrian’s wedding in Scotland, which was a very jolly outdoor camping event, if a little soggy.  Sometimes it pays to have a campervan.

Love this picture.

We are also home for Evie’s 4th birthday and to meet our new Grandson Ezra.

He likes a cuddle.  As does Pop Pop.

We had some lovely bonus meals out with friends as we were back for a few weeks.  It really broke the year up nicely.

27th July – Thursday – Back to the Boat.

320 miles in the van to Plymouth.

Then the rain came.  It had been pretty wet at home and was equally so in Plymouth.

30th July – Sunday

Dolly arrived.

Over a few days we had a good walk to the Royal William Yard and then back on the ferry and some good walks and meals out.  Including our new favourite Supha’s.  Asian street food.  It is located far too handily across the harbour.

4th August – Friday

Day trip to Looe.  Neither of us had been before.  It is like a small version of Whitby, with a massive visitors car park.

Lots of small shops on small lanes, leading to the seaside.

The river dries at low water.

Mick taking the sea air.

8th August – Tuesday

We made a start on a sail to Falmouth.  Outside the marina, the fog had descended, so for the first time ever we turned round and headed back into the marina.  Better safe….

Over the next few days ….

We went to Capt Jaspers for our first, and not last big breakfast bap.  It is a legendary café on the harbourside in the Barbican which is open all hours.  A must for anyone and much beloved of the local Motorbiking fraternity.

Supha’s again for our wedding anniversary.

Saltram House.  Grand Day out on the bus. 

Beautiful Georgian House and gardens.  Ring to make sure the upstairs is open if you are going to visit.  Lack of volunteers some days mean not all the house is open.

We got up early to wave off the Oosterschelde, she was embarking on a journey to retrace the steps of Charles Darwin 200 years ago.

The ship had been a great attraction in the Barbican for a few days.  It is impressive to see such a large vessel handled in a small space.

Another Grand Day Out to Totnes.  What a pretty hippy town.  The main street, Fore Street is lined with bespoke and quirky shops and cafes.

Beautiful and unusual shop window in Totnes.

Fore Street.  Market days are regular.

There is also a lovely riverside walk from the largest car park.

Totnes is located on the River Dart and made it’s name trading in wool and tin.  The merchants houses are still part of the town’s charm.

16th and 17th of August were the British Firework Championships.  What a spectacular.  We had a ringside seat from the back of the boat on the first night.  Then we walked out onto Plymouth Hoe for the second night.

During our caravanning period in Plymouth, due to very poor weather, Mick decided to paint the window surrounds.  They fade in the sun over the years and from inside the fade is more noticeable.

He skilfully masked off the window surrounds and windows to make sure the boat didn’t get an accidental respray.

20th August – Sunday – To Fowey – Sailing…… hurray

We set off at 07.30 to make the 23 mile trip to Fowey, arriving at noon.  We managed to get a river pontoon, then hopped on the water taxi to the Gallant Sailing Club for a Tapas lunch.  Not the full roast we were expecting but still delicious, with a view over the river.

View from the harbourside.

Arty-farty version

£25 per night on the river pontoon.  £6 return on the water taxi.

21st August – To Falmouth

We did not have to set off too early, as the journey is only 22 miles.  Leaving at 09.00 we arrived at 14.15.  The day was cloudy with a chill wind.

Falmouth Town Quay.  We were moored on the outer pontoon, behind the Pilot boat.

22nd August – Tuesday

The town museum (upstairs in the Library) is always worth a look.  The current exhibition, The Legend of King Arthur.  A pre-Raphaelite Love Story. 

Stunning tapestries.

Beautiful paintings.  Like The Lady of Shallot by John William Waterhouse.

As a big William Morris fan, this was incredible and so unexpected.

We always enjoy our visits to Falmouth.  We will be back soon.

24th August – Thursday – Return trip to Plymouth from Falmouth

We set sail as the weather forecast for the next few days was not great and we didn’t want to get stuck.

We left the pontoon at 07.30 to make the 42 mile trip.  Which turned out to be quite eventful.

About 2 hours into the journey I had turned off the autopilot and had just taken the helm.  The wheel span in my hand and it was obvious something was wrong.  We put the engine into neutral and looked over the back of the boat.  We could see we were towing something…… A Lobster Pot.  There are so many lobster pots in these parts it is amazing we have never caught one before.  Mick lowered the sails and we came to a stop.

 

The rope needed to be cut free.  Mick deployed ‘James’s knife’.  A gift from our thoughtful friend James, at work, when we retired.  He used the longest boat hook to bring the rope above the water.  I then held the pole high as Mick ventured out onto the bathing platform to reach down and cut the rope.  A few seconds later a dismally small faded buoy popped out from under the hull.  We were free.  We have a rope cutter on the propeller, but it was the rudder, which had snagged the pot.  It must be frightening if this happens at night.

A couple of hours later we also caught some strong weed on the rudders.  Usually we would leave it until we got to port but it was a big piece.  Above is just a portion of it.

And last but not least we dropped the pole overboard, so practiced our man overboard drill to retrieve it.  It is great that they float but they are not easy to see.  In a man overboard drill, one crew member constantly points at the item/casualty as turning the boat is disorientating and it is very easy to loose sight of the item.  Good to practise but not on such an eventful day.

We got to Plymouth in hot sunshine.  What a day.

30th August – Wednesday

Our last sail of the year was a trip around Plymouth sound from Jennycliff to Cawsands.  Very uneventful, but pretty.

1st Sept – Friday

Cawsands by road.  Along the A38, over the Tamar Toll Bridge then small roads to the car park above the village.

Mick at Cawsands.  It is a pretty place.  It has a few shops and pubs.

We came back on the car ferry from Torpoint.

Daisy the van on the ferry.  Cawsands is a much shorter trip by ferry and costs the same as the bridge, currently £2.60.

4th Sept – Monday

Trip out in the van to Wembury, (via Jennycliff), an English Heritage run car park at a beach, accessed by some of the narrowest roads we have encountered, care of the sat nav.  The road out was better but still narrow.  The roads round here can be nerve shredding.

5th Sept – Tuesday

A much more sedate trip to Dawlish, Teignmouth (pronounced Tinmuth) and Trago Leisure Park.

We like to explore the coast around a new marina.  It is very difficult around here.  The rivers mean there are very few coast roads and everywhere is a bit of a slog to get to.  We are used to easy access to everywhere in the North.

The train above is on the new track which was built after the great storm of 2014 when the line went into the sea.

The waves here are battering the same spot, on a very benign day.  It is obvious what the constant pounding has done to undermine the old line.

Dawlish has a purpose built, pretty canal running down the main street.  With lots of little shops and cafes.

Teignmouth is only 3 miles away so we visited both.

Teignmouth has a nice promenade and beach, which lead round to a smaller beach, where the ferry leaves from.  From the beach we followed our noses to a series of lanes with more shops and cafes.  We thought Dawlish was pretty and a bit upmarket, but there is more to do in Teignmouth.

On the way home we visited our third Trago Mills site of the season, near Newton Abbot.  The flagship Leisure Park.  I have honestly never seen a bigger retail space under one roof.  Then it goes on and on.  Quite clever as you need a sit down and an ice cream just walking through the site.

Over the next few days we carried out all the end of season jobs.  With a few visits to our new favourite Portuguese café called ‘Lisbon’.  Luxurious delicate pastries aplenty.  Not to be missed.  Google if you are n town, it is worth the walk.

And so the season ends.  It has been an odd one.  All the North Easterly winds in Part 1 repositioning the boat to her new home for the winter covering almost 600 miles.  A three week trip home.  During which time the rained poured.  Returning for Part 2 to more rain and more caravanning by boat.  Thank goodness we had the van to enable us to explore a little of Devon and Cornwall.

It has been lovely meeting up with friends old and new.  The good ship Tearaway Too.  Mark and Carol on Gem and his lovely mum and auntie, and of course Andy (aka Dolly).

We also met Christine and Adam on their boat Asteria, who are ultimately going to cross the Atlantic.  Mick helped them with some practicalities and we wish them the very best for their adventure.

Sutton Harbour is a good new home from home and we look forward to a full season across the channel next year.

Once again thanks for reading.  Your kind comments help a lot but please leave your name.

Cheers ‘n’ Beers