Even Moor

Calling at Buckfast Abbey and Monastery, we had a morning of quiet contemplation before heading upwards to the wild moors again. We enjoyed the upper Dart at Riversmeet and then the river at Bellever. A very pleasant week. 

Devon Riviera

Well they used to call it that...We started our day at Brixham, home of one of England's last proper fishing fleets. Picking our way through a shoal of motability scooters and wheeled shopping baskets, we finally got to the seafront to admire a full size replica of The Golden Hind (first vessel to circumnavigate the globe leading to riches, empire and curries). Moving North to Paignton, we lunched by the harbour and hurried on to Torquay and more old folks. Resisting the opportunity to survey Torbay from the 'Torquay Eye', we surveyed it from terra firma. Inevitably, the sultry weather finally produced some Devon rain so everyone went inside. Seafood supper at the Two Mile Inn was excellent.

Devon Remembered

Totnes guildhall provided proof of respectability in the hereditary line. With over 600 year's of named Mayors, Frederick Wentworth FT was up there for 1965. Venerable and distinguished, I was sure he wouldn't have liked what they've done with the Quaker House Cafe. We moved on to Dartmouth and its bunting, paddleboats, stream railway and biddies.

For our evening promenade we took the air at Teignmouth, a busy little place. Admiring the Devonian 290 million year old coastline, we watched boats returning on the rising tide to safety behind the beach hut dotted sand bar.

Devon FTs

Having woken up cold, the fan heater was pressed into all night action, revealing our lack of hard core credentials. Anyway, Tuesday dawned bright and beautiful and we spent it on the beach at Bigbury, reached via a narrow lanes challenge course. 

In the evening we met up with Gideon, Judy and Abi FT at their nearby home in Denbury.

Devon Skies

The great wild expanses of Dartmoor always invoke memories of adventures past. With views stretching to the coast, we traversed the heather between granite cliffs and tinkling streams as the wind blew the clouds away, revealing a patchwork quilt landscape dotted with hardy livestock and wild fauna. Back at base, after camping supper, we prepared for our first night under canvas for a decade or so.

Purple Phase

Clematis the size of saucers and bumble bees busy in the Chives and Azalea.

FoD Bike Trails

Tim and I set off to 'do' the forest trails we have never quite got around to. We liked the 'blue' route best, with it's switch-backs, rolling bumps and bends. After lunch we tried the "difficult" red route, which was uneventful except for our customary puncture stop. Nice ice cream too - thanks Tim!

Food Fest

We tasted our way around the Food and Drink Festival, mostly overdosing on cheese, accompanied by preserves and fine wines. We bumped into lots of like-minded friends before stretching out to listen to the band. 

Eastern Cotswolds

Starting at Eastleach Martin, we meandered East on our bikes to Filkins and then on to Kencott. As we  neared Brize Norton, large transporter planes came in over our heads. We lunched at the end of the runway (and saw nothing else). North to the beautiful village of Shilton, complete with pretty ford, we arrived on 'open gardens' day. Back up the hill, we carried on Westwards now, stopping to watch hay cutting in a field where most of the local birds of prey had arrived to enjoy the final starburst of small furry creatures marooned in the remaining long grass. 

We returned via Lechlade where the food festival gave up "extra virgin cold pressed smoked rape seed oil" (yummy), cinnamon jam and blackberry and port jelly.  

Herefordshire Heaven

With river flow at a pleasant trot, blue skies and a cool breeze pushing us along, it was the perfect day to introduce Jon to the pleasures of paddling standing up. We stopped for first lunch early before hunting out our favourite standing waves and getting a few capsizes under our belts. Hannah performed 'safety boat' duties for the fleet. 

The scenery was beautiful, with fields of buttercups running down to the river, new leaves on the trees and swirls of aquatic plants and fishes passing below. Film. Even the drive home was pleasant. 

Italian with Jamie

Going Walkabout

After dinner at the Tavern and a good sleep, we headed to Stroud farmer's market to stock up on provisions with provenance. Phil and Eleanor got stuck into trying everything before you buy and chatting to locals on a range of agricultural and world issues. We had a tasty cheese and fresh bread lunch on Rodborough Common, overlooking the Severn Vale. In the afternoon we met up with Claire (everyone else was at Sophie's wedding) for high tea at Montpellier Chapter.

Next day, with the late Spring, the bluebell woods at Soudley had saved their best for our antipodean visitors. After a banquet in a clearing, we managed a stroll under the Beech canopy admiring one of nature's awesome displays: a blue carpet resplendent in dappled June sunshine.