To a Long Steep Hill

  Looking back, I see that I don’t usually write about the journey home.   But this one starts with a ferry, and so is worth recording, I think. So, we pack up The Secret Garden, which has really suited us.   Rather than risk getting stuck in the narrow street while we load up. We take our stuff down to the Mayor’s Avenue car park.   We have checked that no one is scheduled to come into the flat today, so we do not rush.   We do remember to return our parking voucher before setting off to the Dartmouth lower ferry.   The cost is £6.00.   It isn’t a chain ferry.   A tugboat pushes it across.   From the ferry, a glimpse of Dartmouth's historic paddle steamer - The Kingswear Castle The route takes us on the ring road around Torbay.   We are soon on the M5 at Exeter.   We stop at Exeter Services to eat sandwiches in the picnic area.   We are home in good time.

  Last walking day. We get the 93 bus from the harbour at 10.30, having bought smoked salmon bagels at the deli.   We get off at Torcross and we set off along the flat stretch parallel to the Slapton Sands beaches.   There is a monument erected by the Americans to commemorate the civilian population who were all forced to leave their homes so the entire area could be used for D Day training from the autumn of 1943 right up to June 44.    Then it’s up to Strete, lunch in a meadow and a sharp climb up to the main road before descending to Blackpool Sands.                                                                              I love this tree.   We have brought our swimming togs.   However, it clouds over and the ...

                                                   The beach at Torcross looking back where we just walked   We met our feisty taxi woman Suzie at Torcross.   She regaled us with how she built up her business from nothing.   While waiting for her to arrive I looked at the memorial and read about the disaster there during a D Day rehearsal when 946 US troops were killed. Suzie drove us to Start Point, where we walked back to Torcross.   It’s quite easy.   We stop at Beesands and have a very convivial drink sitting outside The Cricket.   We get talking to an Australian guy and his wife.   We ask if they are on holiday.   It turns out that they live in Beesands.   He is very interested in our SWCP adventure and wants to know all about it. There is a big hill to get over before we are back ...

  We had planned this as a rest day with Becky and John joining us for lunch.   We cancelled booking at Bayards Cove restaurant but rebooked for supper tomorrow. Our last day’s walk on Tuesday is a long one, so we decide to cut it back by a short day walking to Blackpool Sands.   This begins with the ferry to Dartmouth Castle and a quick tour.   The castle – more a fort really – still has its guns in place. We stopped for lunch in Stoke Fleming – I had an excellent pizza. Chris' sandwich turned out to be a burger which was not so great. We got to Blackpool Sands in time for tea.                                                                              Tea at Blackpool Sands It is a beautiful location, but the beach isn’t really sandy – m...

  We met the essential Duncan at Start Point. There was no one to collect cash at the car park, so we got a free day’s parking. Duncan took us by winding routes to East Portlemouth, opposite Salcombe.   Not long after setting out, the heavens opened with a sharp shower.   I had convinced myself it wasn’t going to rain.   I had no anorak ang got soaked to the skin.   There were a couple of heifers on the very narrow path happily munching the grass verges.   We had no choice but to wait in the freezing rain while they ambled along.   We finally got to a clearing wide enough for us to scramble past. The weather improved quite quickly and I was soon dry again, but the water may have got into one of my hearing aids.  Repair cost: £150.00.                                                      ...

  Friday 14 th June It’s another non-walking day.   We book on a trip up the river to Greenway, Agatha Christie’s house.   We have both been before, but this time we also explore the gardens which are very extensive.   I got a lot more out of the house this time, having recently read a Christie biog.   It’s a lovely day, although there are a few spots of rain in the afternoon and it rains in the evening.   We have baked potatoes outside the NT café and in the evening an excellent fish supper at the Bayards Cove Inn.                                                            Outside Agatha Christie's House, Greenway                                          ...

  We are out of the flat by 10.30.   Should be 10.00, but we check and there is no one coming in.   We linger in the car park whilst going to the Salcombe Coffee Co. for excellent coffee.   It is stormy, so it’s lucky that we are not walking.   Journey to Dartmouth should be easy but sat nav got us seriously lost. Eventually we get to The Secret Garden.   It is an excellent Airbnb with a second bedroom and not too far from the centre. We have lunch at Rockfish.   Delicious fish and chips.   We don’t feel like going out again, so I cook our emergency pasta in the flat.                                                                 The Kitchen at Secret Garden