Trip with F's on a BP. Firsts, family, Food and Fun.

[drron]

Next was a folly. A grotto with shells and minerals. There were mines on the original property owned by the Duke of Bedford.
















And the stables.

 

[drron]

We then drove through the little village of Milton Abbott on to Tavistock where those working for the Duke of Bedford lived.












Then on to Dartmoor.

 

[drron]

More of the Dartmoor NP.













Dartmoor Prison.






Dartmoor ponies.








There were lots of quarries across Dartmoor. Still some evidence.

And if gulls by the seaside are called seagulls surely this fellow is a moor gull.


This is a rebuilt railway bridge for the line from the quarry where the stone for London Bridge was quarried. Used by walkers these days.

 

[drron]

Monday we set off to Totnes a market town on the river Dart. Quite touristy.one of the first buildings you see when you get to the main shopping street from the car park is this.


Yes it is Bogan House. Now a textile Museum but closed this day.



The town was jumping. We had started late so decided to have a tea and snack.I had a steak pasty not great but one of the better examples from the UK. The others had scones, jam and cream.




The church is under repair.

 

[drron]

Walking around the shops. didn't walk down to the river as I didn't want to walk back up the hill.























I spied somehing behind these houses so walked down a little lane to see the ruins of Totnes Castle.

 

[drron]

The last of Totnes.




And the newish City hall.Ugly.


Then a quick visit to Darlington College. With a magnificent cloud formation.








And passed by this old Inn.


Claims to be th oldest licenced Inn in England.

 

[drron]

It's Tuesday and time to leave Devon. Passed this sign and always wondered how the village got it's name.


Had planned a stop on our way to Southampton at this place. strange that the car Park was empty.


Unfortunately it was closed as they were updating their power and security systems.


From there it was a pleasant run to the Voco Southampton arriving about 1430 beating the crowd that poured in after 1500.


The room.








And the views. lots of car parks.

 

[RB001]

always wondered how the village got it's name.

From English Heritage:
Rattery, Devonshire – Nothing to do with vermin. Comes from the Old English ‘read’ for ‘red’ and ‘treow’, meaning ‘tree’.

 

[drron]

From English Heritage:
Rattery, Devonshire – Nothing to do with vermin. Comes from the Old English ‘read’ for ‘red’ and ‘treow’, meaning ‘tree’.

But the locals point out in the Doomsday book the village was called Ratreu. several other origins have been giveb since then

 

[drron]

I now set off on a walk around the area.


A boat show coming up.


Lots of old construction.






Seems a memorial for the Mayflower is missing.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

Decided to eat at the hotel as showers had started again. Menu didn't sound too bad.






Mrsdrron decided to have 2 small dishes so had the carpaccio and seared scallops and thought both were good.




I had the tempura veggies which definitely not traditional Japanese tempura but I found it better than the traditional dish.


I then had the fish pie. Far too much mashed potato on top with not much seafood.


Back to the room but first a pic from the window at the end of the corridor overlooking the upcoming boat show site.

 

[OZDUCK]

I love an old port city so I really enjoyed this last lot of photos even more than normal.

 

[drron]

When we woke the view from the room had changed with a couple of large visitors.


And the QM2.


This had caused a large decrease in numbers in the car parks.


Then it was down to breakfast. Quite a reasonable selection on the buffet.












And a great selection of chilli sauces.


My plate.


Back to our room and the rain had come but with a rainbow.

 

[VPS]

You might need your glasses @drron that isn't the icon of the Seas

 

[drron]

You might need your glasses @drron that isn't the icon of the Seas

Not just wrong ship, wrong port.

 

[drron]

About 1100 I dropped Mrsdrron at the dock And dropped the Avis car back at the Southampton Airport. I hadn't heard anything back from Avis so explained that I did not get a full tank when I picked the car up from Manchester and showed him my pictures of the fuel gauge. He agreed I should not be charged for fuel as dropping it back with more fuel than I had started with. A day later charged GBP 94.50 for fuel. Emailed both Manchester and Avis UK and heard nothing back. They have definitely lost a customer this time.
Then went to the terminal. They have a taxi dispatcher inside the terminal for radio taxis. Give him your name and destination and quite quickly a driver comes in calling your name and off you go. All up that took an hour which didn't please Mrsdrron. A short time later though we were checked in and on board with our champagne. we then went to the lunch buffet at La Terraza. My plate.


Then to our suite. A superior Verandah. Means a suite towards the bow on a higher deck.. A classic Verandah is the same but a lower deck. A deluxe verandah is midship.






The views.

 

[drron]

Unfortunately our cruise was off to a bad start. There was a storm in the English Channel and so our stop in St. Peter;s Port Guernsey was cancelled and we would remain in Southampton for the night. So I had my first G&T.


I then went up to the walking track. Two laps were a 1000 steps so i planned my exercise times. Of course it was all to no avail as the next day I discovered with my balance problems there was no way I was going to be able to use the walking track when the ship was moving. But at least some more shots of the views.



Lots of car parks.




And things that would become a blight on the environment.


Plus a couple of smaller boats.




Then as we sat down for diner we were dwarfed.

 

[tgh]

Commiserations about the walking track..always something….