Of Wings and Whispers

[drron]

Sunday and another sunny start though a fair bit of wind.Walked down to the ferry.This makes sense around these narrow streets-

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So our destination was Rock just across the river.the ferry approaches.

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[drron]

Quite a few people out for a Sunday stroll several with their dogs-

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So we go for a stroll through Rock-

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The road to the golf course-

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[drron]

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A funny looking craft I presume has something to do with the nearby oyster leases-

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The Rock yacht club then looking back to Padstow with the dredge now empty-

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[drron]

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So some people actually going in the water.then a view across to the alternate ferry landing on the Padstow side-if the tide is too low the ferry cant get to the in town landing.Now the next shot is deliberately out of focus.4 people sunbaking behind a wind break.Now it wasn't a warm day but 2 of them were topless.

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Older yachts were out racing.Going pretty fast.

 

[love_the_life]

Did you manage to visit Mousehole whilst in Cornwall? I was taken by it after reading The Mousehole Cat (a children's book) so on one visit to the area we thought we'd go. Unfortunately it was a weekend and a sunny one at that so wall to wall traffic and somehow we missed the carpark. As it wasn't really a big thing we decided to drive on and followed a car heading back to the main road, down narrower and narrower streets but we ploughed on, only for the car to turn into a driveway! We kept going (no chance of turning around) and luckily came back onto the road back to Penzance eventually.

 

[drron]

No we didn't even attempt the mousehole.Certainly a problem in the UK that some attractions are difficult to get to and if driving impossible to park nearby.
But back to Rock where we are now waiting for the ferry back to Padstow.As you will see the clowds had started to roll in-

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the newer boats didn't seem to handle the conditions as well-

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[drron]

So back to Padstow-

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Because of the clouds we headed back to the hotel though I tried the Stein version of a Cornish pastie.better than the "world's best" but nowhere near Aussie home cooking standard.
That evening it was off to the third of the Stein restaurants we tried-the Seafood Café.Fortunately by the time we walked there the clouds had disappeared.Close to the Café is one of Padstow's more famous buildings-the Almshouse built in 1870.

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I was expecting a bit more as the Seafood café is the only one of the Stein restaurants to make the Michelin guide.Mrsdrron had little choice as most of the dishes had a degree of spice.So she chose the Stingray wing whilst I after seeing the dishes coming out at the next table decided to have a steak-

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The stingray was very nice-tender,sweet and enjoyable.The problem was the sauce-an extremely salty vinegar.Basically made it inedible when the ray meat got down to the level of the sauce.My steak was good,cooked as ordered but I have had many better.But notice the salad with the steak is exactly the same as that at St.Petrocs and what I saw on dishes being served at the Seafood restaurant.

Desserts were good.As usual I had a tart and mrsdrron a crème brulee-

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So that ends our time in Padstow.Didn't live up to expectations.Not bad but definitely not exceptional.

 

[drron]

Monday and another cold wet windy day.A couple of people had parked in front of the garage and it took some time to get out.finally on our way to the village of Dolton where we were staying in a converted barn for 4 nights.On the way we detoured via St.Kew,Port Isaacs(Doc Martin) and Tintagel as well as a stop at the outlets at Bideford.First the tiny village of St.Kew a few houses a pub,manor house and large church-

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Often interesting to stop at the village church.mostly they are open and you can walk around.usually a sign on the door-come in but shut the door to keep the pigeons out.but also they often have free parking and you can then wander around the village.The manor house-

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Now on to Port Isaac where some of the filming for Doc Martin is done.Parking lot was at the top of the hill and full so we drove down to the sea and out the other side on an incredibly narrow road.Mrsdrron took some pics through the windscreen-

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[drron]

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Now to Tintagel where the legend of King Arthur is said to have begun.All ruins now.

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[drron]

According to legend King Arthur was conceived at Tintagel.There is evidence of early settlements.The castle though is from the 13th century.It is now owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.It was raining on and off,the site is very hilly so again discretion was in order.besides driving into the Camelot Hotel parking lot and with a high zoom camera you can see a lot.

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Next stop was Bideford and the Atlantic factory outlets.Not much except an M&S outlet.There was also an ASDA supermarket so we had a sanger for lunch and bought supplies for our stay in the barn.So now off to the barn-

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[drron]

Now the barn is just outside the tiny village of Dowland.My sister was staying near by so it was into the village that we had come to explore and see if I could dig a little deeper into the family history-

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About 12 months ago a couple took over one of the village pubs.So when we were researching the village we had no expectations of upmarket food.However they renovated the Inn and both are cooks.The restaurant has already made the Michelin guide.So the 3 of us went to dinner here-

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And the menu-

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Mrsdrron had the pressed duck as an entrée and had the pea risotto entrée for main course as she had already seen the dessert menu.I had the Devon crab as an entrée-

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[drron]

For mains my sister had the guinea fowl and I had the steak.Both were exceptional.My steak melted in the mouth,twice as good as anything in Padstow.My sister's guinea fowl was moist and full of flavour-

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Then desserts.My sister had their take on pannacotta,mrsdrron the Eton mess and I a pear and blackberry tart with apple granita,crumble and vanilla sauce.All were delicious-

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We enjoyed it so much we went back 2 days later for lunch.Mrsdrron had mussels,my sister and I had the chicken terrine for entrees and I had the confit duck as a main-

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They by this time they KWWW so a lovely homemade tomato chutney was brought out for our terrines.I passed on dessert.The Eton mess wasn't on the menu but mrsdrron asked if she could have it.The waitress checked with the chef who said as long as we gave him 15 minutes he would whip something up with what he had.The 2 women agreed to wait.What came out was not the same as at night but mrsdrron thought it even better.It was huge so I got a taste.Mmmmm.

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So if you are travelling west from Exeter on the A30 then A386 I thoroughly recommend a little detour to the Rams Head Inn for a bite to eat.

 

[love_the_life]

Looks wonderful food. Funny we stayed in a cottage at Northlew about 11 miles to the west of Dowland by the look of Google Maps. That's where a motor bike rider managed to write off our hire car

 

[drron]

Tuesday and once again a cold,wet day so we go for a drive.First stop okehampton-even closer to where you stayed LTL.

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Was amazed at the number of charity shops here.But now on to Launceston so back to Cornwall.

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[drron]

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I didn't know it then but the spot where mrsdrron is standing became quite significant a short time later.

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Different times.thrown into jail because you are a quaker.

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[drron]

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So mrsdrron had gone back to the car and that is my sister doing the same.As this was a driving day I didn't wear my normal walking shoes but a new pair of boat shoes.Walking down the hill through the gate the ground was wet.My right foot slipped and down I went with the ankle twisted inwards.It hurt.What disappointed me was the attitude of the locals.A younf fellow was 2 metres in front of me walking towards me when it happened.He kept on walking.A young woman with 5 pre-schoolers came around the corner and looked at me on the ground.She turned to the children and said-"Come on children,let's go."They walked straight past.I had the presence of mind to take a photo whilst down-

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It was a much better pic when I got up-

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I managed to get back to the car.Then drove around the corner to the centre of town and eventually found a park.Surprisingly I found I could still walk.

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[love_the_life]

Yes, Okehampton was where we did the groceries drron. Pity about the ankle; it only takes a second and bang! MtL_t_L did his in again in Sydney last weekend though mercifully only a minor strain.

 

[drron]

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Very near this church we had lunch at the Bray Farm Café.Only a few tables but it was good,tasty and reasonably cheap food.I had the pork salad,the others a pork roll.The crackling was delicious.After that we drove back via the Rosemoor Gardens.On the way good views of Dartmoor-

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[drron]

Looking at this tree the winds must blow here-

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The plan had been to walk around Rosemoor Gardens and the weather cooperated with the rain ceasing.my ankle though wasn't going to let me do that.instead we all enjoyed a Devon cream Tea.This is the road from the Gardens back to Dolton-

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When we got back to the barn I put on my MBT walking shoes which give good support-with them I could walk normally.By the end of the 3rd day I was virtually back to normal.
Wednesday and we spent most of the day in the village of Dolton.

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Parking wasn't too difficult.that is our chariot.We went to the church.There had been a meeting at the church and we were asked why we had come to Dolton.When told that was our name everyone had a chat and were very helpful.

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[drron]

St.Edmunds Church,Dolton.A church was first built on this site in 1279.Only a couple of additions but major renovations 1869-72.

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The oldest grave I found was 1540.The font is the second oldest font.It was found buried on the site during the 1800s renovations.It has been dated to the 9th century-when St. Edmund was alive.it is actually 2 parts of a cross.It is the second oldest font in England-

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The top is actually upside down.Then the large organ-

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