Differing colours of the sea ....

The view out over Plymouth Sound is wonderful, and it can vary considerably from day to day, depending upon clouds/light on the sea etc - sometimes the colour can change very quickly. Here are some examples below:-

Afternoon light ... sparkling silver

A bit later, it is about to rain, and the colour changes to a dark grey ...

Now we see it on a beautiful sunny day, a wonderful (picture postcard!) blue colour ...

Finally, on a peaceful & calm evening, the colour is almost transluscent white ...

There are other times when it is exceptionally stormy, but usually you can't see a thing at that time!!

Wall of Death on the Hoe!!

A few weeks ago, there was a motorcycle rally on the Hoe, which also featured "The Wall of Death"! This can be described as a carnival sideshow, featuring a drum- or barrel-shaped wooden cylinder with high perpendicular walls, ranging in size from 20 to 36-feet in diameter, where stunt motorcyclists ride and carry out tricks. The audience views from the top of the drum, looking down. The bikes start in the middle, at the bottom of the drum, and drive up an initial ramped section until they gain enough velocity to drive horizontal to the floor, defying gravity. It was an incredible show, starting with a go-kart ...

followed by one of the motorcyclists - notice he is not using his hands AND has got his feet over the handlebars - let alone the fact he is also defying gravity!!

And as a finale ... all three together!!

The whole show was fascinating ... luckily, Bob has not been tempted to give it a try since then! Apparently they find it difficult to get insurance - I can't say I am surprised.

Plymouths Fireworks Festival!

Plymouth hosts one of the most spectacular pyrotechnic displays anywhere in the country as the British Fireworks Championships Finals are staged over two evenings in mid-August. It consists of four displays per evening, each one lasting 10 minutes - thus a total of eight leading fireworks companies battle it out for the honour of being crowned British Champions, after which they represent Britain in the International Competition. This year we were lucky with the weather, although on both days it was rather windy with showers, by the evening it had calmed down, and was warm enough for crowds of people to stand and watch the event - the finals are eagerly anticipated by many thousands of people each year. We were fortunate, of course, being in our flat on the Hoe, we had a birds-eye view! We had Bob's sister/brother-in-law staying with us at the time - the show was excellent, at one point they even had various shapes lighting up the sky, as shown in the video below - see how many you can spot (click on the forward arrow on/below the picture to play ... please excuse background "wow's" and squeals/comments etc - normal firework behaviour I guess!) :-

Apparently the show has never yet been cancelled, even if the weather is exceptionally bad which it has been occasionally.

Mount Edgecombe

We can see Mount Edgecombe, which is actually in Cornwall, from our flat window. It is a beautiful spot, and we have been there a couple of times already. The house was built in the 1500's and is set in Grade 1 Cornish gardens, within 865 acres on the Rame Penninsula. I took it from a boat on a slightly windy day, so apologies for it being crooked (my excuse - but not a glass of wine in sight, honest!).

The landscaped gardens themselves are fantastic ...

and there are many walks around the Edgecombe Country Park. With its lakes and woodlands ....

as well as cliffs and panoramic views around the Sound (you can see Elliot Terrace and the Hoe in the distance), it is easy to see why this is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Apparently, in the year 1588, the admiral of the Spanish Fleet saw Mount Edgecombe from the sea, and was so affected by the sight, that he resolved to have it for himself when they had "conquered" England- but of course, that did not happen ...

Ferry crossing at Dartmouth

We have visited Dartmouth several times, and from there have taken the ferry to/from Kingswear. The "lower ferry" at Dartmouth has been running since the 1700's, and is fascinating both to watch from the shore, and to cross over by. Basically, it consists of a floating platform which is pushed and pulled along by tugs. When leaving the slipway, the tug goes astern (good nautical phrase eh?!!) whilst pulling the ferry along ......

casts off, swings round .....

then ties up and starts pushing it (so for part of the crossing, the ferry is effectively drifting on it's own!).

In the middle of this, the tug driver leaves the tug moving on its own (i.e. nobody driving it!) and hops onto the ferry to collect money from the passengers, before returning to continue the journey ...

Meanwhile, the other ferry on the other side is doing the same, and they cross in the middle!!

Dartmouth is one of our favourite places, we have been there by bus - (double-decker, sitting on the top at the front of course, like children!!) The bus route goes via Slapton sands, and the views are absolutely wonderful ...

Strange happenings on the Hoe ...

One thing I have always enjoyed is people-watching, and where better than the Hoe? People taking their dogs for walks & throwing them sticks/balls, picnics & BBQ's going on, or simply out there enjoying the view. As they say, anything goes on the Hoe .... from hot-air balloons:

... or failing that, somebody pulling a bus along (well why not, with petrol prices being so high these days?!)














Sometimes the Army use the Hoe for training purposes, usually very early in the morning (so they can't be seen perhaps?!). Well, it was either training, or they were trying to build a giant bonfire ...

However, I was not prepared for the sight that met my eyes the other morning. Seeing hunky Army lads running up and down is one thing ... but giving each other firemens lifts??? They could have asked for willing female volunteers .... !!!

Another evening, I could hear a lot of grunting going on, so was naturally intrigued .... and guess what I saw?? Kickboxing! Needless to say, I doubt if there would have been very many female volunteers for that ....

Visit to the Citadel ...

While Mandy and Clive were here, we went on a guided tour of the Citadel .... the gateway is very imposing. Originally it was entered via a drawbridge, but this was removed in 1888. In the middle above the doorway is a niche which was intended to hold the statue of Charles II but holds three cannon balls instead.

We were met by a slim, gentle-looking elderly lady who was to be our guide. However, she was more like a combination of a P.E. teacher and an Army sergeant - "This way everyone - KEEP UP NOW - stand over here - NOT there sir - and NO photographs unless I say so"! Needless to say, she knew her stuff, and was particuarly interested in the guns ... !!
The Citadel was built in the late 1660's during the time of Charles II, designed by Sir Bernard de Gomme. It stands on the site of the original Plymouth Fort which had been in existence at the behest of Francis Drake after the Spanish Armada. During the English Civil War, the local Plymothians had pledged their allegiance to Parliament but when guns were placed in the Citadel, as well as the ones facing the Sound, some were also placed to face the town as a reminder to the turncoat population of their misplaced sympathies! There is even one which is aimed at Elliot Terrace (see below) ....

Within the Citadel is the Garrison Church of St Katherine-upon-the-Hoe - unfortunately we were only allowed 5 minutes in there before we were herded up again. On one of the walls is a beautiful mural of angels either side of the window - this was apparently done by a soldier/artist whilst he was stationed at the Citadel during the First World War, but nobody got his name before he was sent straight to the Somme and sadly killed there, so will be forever anonymous.

I was trying to imagine my father there in the late 1940's, and how it would have been at that time (it was closed in the 1980's for re-decoration/renovation). It is certainly an imposing building, and dominates the east part of the Hoe. There were a lot of areas where we were not allowed (I think our guide would have had us shot!), but the tour certainly gave us an idea of how it looks from "behind the walls"!

Tombstoning ...

Tombstoning - jumping off cliffs, piers, harbour walls or other high points into the sea - has claimed a number of lives across the UK in recent years. Since being in Plymouth, we have been struck by the number of "tombstoners" there are around this area.














If you walk round to the Barbican in the evening, you cannot miss seeing tombstone-jumpers in dripping wetsuits, with shivering but admiring little brothers in tow, and often surrounded by doting teenage girls!! That is youff for you ... the picture below gives a better idea of the height of the jump ... taken at maximum zoom too - gulp!!

Of course there are rocks below which have to be avoided (adds to the fun perhaps?) - one hopes that they only jump at times when the tide is at its highest!

Brittany's Tricky Turn ...

Usually the Brittany Ferry slips silently into port .... except the other day, when for some reason (probably due to the tide/wind), it decided to turn around first in a very narrow stretch. I have seen/done some close 3-point turns in my time (or even 5 point turns!), but this one beats them all. Watching the whole process was entertaining for us ... but I wonder how the people living in the homes by the water felt?

Getting closer .... a bit too close, I think ...

Success!!

I expect the passengers & Plymouth residents were on waving terms by the time it was finished (being done very slowly, the whole turn took about 20 minutes). Still, it would take a lot of skill to manover something of that size ... sometimes the ferry has had to steer around a warship (or more often wait for it to pass), and of course there are always lots of yachts/or a dinghy or two around.

Transat Race - 11th May!

The Transat race is held every 4 x years, and is made up of 30 or so yachts sailing solo across the Atlantic from Plymouth to Boston - so far the shortest time has been 12 days to complete the distance. It started in 1960, when the first inaugral race was won by Sir Frances Chichester in Gypsy Moth III in 40 days. It is often referred to as one of the toughest race due to the solo conditions and prevailing winds across the North Atlantic to the USA. During the week before the start of the race on 11th May, all the Transat yachts were arriving in Plymouth to prepare for the event ... they were looking very colourful in Sutton Harbour. The place was full of tanned, muscular Frenchmen sitting cross-legged on the quay, playing with ropes of various colours, or climbing up masts ... sacre bleu!! As you can imagine, several trips to the Harbour were made ...

At the time, we had Julia staying with us, as well as Clive and Mandy. On the actual day, we managed to get seats on a charter boat which was going out to view the start of the race from amongst the yachts. It was a very hot day, and we had not got time to go back home to collect suntan oil/hats, but there was plenty of bottled water for sale, and luckily we all had our cameras, so had a wonderful view of all the Transats as they prepared for the start of the race. We saw Gypsy Moth IV as well, which made it all the more interesting (see the nearest - and smallest! - yacht in the picture below).

The build up to the start was very exciting - all the Transats had to move themselves as near to the start line (marked by 2 x warships about 1/2 a mile apart) as possible, and the ones which were nearest when the start gun went off would be lucky. We were allowed to get fairly near them (us and several hundred other boats of various sizes!) up until the last 20 minutes, then had move back away from start line area so the Transats could start positioning themselves. There were boats of all kinds jostling for the best viewing position, including a pirate boat!!

The Transats started moving out to sea very quickly, closely followed by helicopters taking aeriel shots (must have been a fantastic view). They looked magnificent with their massive sails blowing in the wind, there was also a lot of turbulence caused by all the boats rushing to get a better view.

It did not take long before the boats gradually disappeared from view, and we had to turn back to Plymouth ... we did ask our captain to take us on to Boston, but strangely he seemed a bit reluctant! Still, it was a fascinating and unforgettable experience.

Boat trip from Mayfair steps ...

Whilst Tricia & Campbell were here, we went on a short boat trip, right from the Mayfair steps (see photograph above), following in the Pilgrim's footsteps (but we were coming back!). The trip lasted an hour, the commentary was excellent. It took us past Drakes Island, to the military docks, then part way up the River Tamar which divides Devon from Cornwall. If you have a few million to spare, Drakes Island is for sale, you will then need another couple of million to start any kind of development. We went quite close to the military docks, where there were several warships "parked up" (not the correct nautical terminology I know!), and a close view of a submarine, as well as the tugs which they use to escort the warships/subs. The dockyard has now been made earthquake proof, and we also saw the huge crane which is used to lift nuclear flasks from or into submarines (see picture below with old sub parked underneath!).

A crash barrier was built around the central area where the submarines were dismantled, which was apparently to stop "ships crashing into that building" and releasing radiation. Plymouth residents are also alarmed about plans to allow radioactive tritium to be discharged into the Tamar river, I would share their concern. Some of the warships viewed at close quarters are huge, particularly the one below with the helicopter pad!

Barbican (the Plymouth one!)

We are lucky enough to be very near the Barbican, which is the area they refer to as the "Jewel in Plymouth's Crown" ... actually, they could be right. Situated there are the Mayfair Steps, which is the location from where the Pilgrim Fathers left Britian on 6th September 1620 to settle in the New World - and they didn't need their passports then! The Barbican has a strong feeling of history, and indeed has not greatly changed since people like Sir Francis Drake, Oliver Cromwell and Captain Cook, to name a few were here themselves, although the cobblestones make navigation a little difficult. However, they did not have such an extensive choice of eating places as we do now ... the top picture is actually now full of outside seating areas (and people!!). There are a lot of shops and businesses around, including the Barbican Theatre which we will try one day ... there is also a gypsy fortune teller's shop!!

The Barbican is still a working harbour, and there is still a lot of activity around as small fishing boats and trawlers arrive to offload their catches (some of which go straight to the nearby seafood restaurants ... wonderful!) The rest go to the fish market which is now situated the other side of the harbour - it was originally on the site of the current Dartington Glassworks gift shop.

Most of Plymouth has been refurbished courtesy of Hitler's Luftwaffe, but the Barbican survived, thus the medieval narrow streets remain much the same as during Tudor times, as well as many of the buildings. This includes the site of the Plymouth Gin Distillery, which of course we will be visiting soon!

Our first visitors ...

We have had two lots of visitors already, the first ones being Clive and Mandy, who were en route to see some friends in Cornwall, and stopped by for a couple of nights. We took them for a walk along the Hoe and to the Barbican, as well as into Plymouth itself, and sampled another seafood restaurant on their first night, which was excellent. Mandy brought a secondhand guitar from one of the tiny shops in the Barbican for £18! We also had a drink at the Navy pub, and even managed a cream tea at the local dinghy club .. all very nautical!!

On the same day that Clive and Mandy left, Tricia & Campbell came to stay for the weekend. Unfortunately it was rather overcast and cold, although it did cheer up a bit (usually when we were indoors!), but this did not deter Tricia and her camera!! Whilst they were here, we walked around the Barbican, exploring some of the fascinating shops that are there, and took them for a drive up to Mount Wise , from where there was an excellent view of Plymouth and the marina (see second picture). On their last night, we tried another seafood restaurant in the Barbican which was good but VERY expensive, so I don't think that one will be added to our list - until we win the Lottery that is!!

Is that what I think it is .... ???

We saw our first submarine in the Sound on the day we arrived, but were exhausted from hauling boxes upstairs, and thought perhaps we were hallucinating. Bob told our friends in London that evening, but was met with reactions such as "hmm .. how much wine have you had/oh yeah, right!!", and as we were not quite sure what we had seen, the next time we saw one, I had the camera ready. We have now seen quite a few of varying sizes, some are actually nuclear ones, others are not. Often the larger ones are escorted by several tugs and a couple of RIBs, who escort the sub through the deeper channels (obviously!). Apparently there is another 30 feet underwater below what can actually be seen, so the channels would need to be deep.

Flat view (literally!)

The view from our South-facing flat is incredible, straight ahead we can see right out over Plymouth Sound, as well as an easterly view of Smeaton's Tower. So we can see people walking up and down, with or without dogs, bikes, rollerblades (not that they are meant to!), as well as skateboards and radio controlled cars with real little engines! On the horizon is a breakwater which protects the Sound from the most adverse effects of the weather, at the end of which is a lighthouse. The land to be seen to the right of Drakes Island is actually Cornwall, and there is a ferry service running across there from Plymouth. There are various buoys around the Hoe which mean more to Bob than to me ... red ones (port), green ones (starboard), as well as Cardinals (you see, religion gets in everywhere!!). Anyway, these mark out the deep water channels and hazards, as some parts of the Sound are deeper than others, so better for larger ships. We also get the Brittany Ferry coming in twice daily, it either goes to Roscoff (Brittany) or Santander (Spain). Very convenient!! The wind tends to make itself felt sometimes, especially when it is coming in right across the Sound. We can often see weather fronts moving across, sometimes very fast.

Getting to know the Hoe ...

We have been here a few days now, and are gradually getting familiar with Plymouth. We are on the Hoe, where Drake "purportedly" (not "supposedly or possibly" mark you!) played bowls in 1588, before sailing out to meet, greet and beat (!) the Spanish Armada. Out to sea there is Drakes Island, and far out on the horizon if the weather is clear it is possible to see Eddystone Lighthouse. The original model of this is actually on the Hoe (known as Smeaton's Tower), we can also see this from our side windows. This one originally stood on the Eddystone rocks, built in 1759 and was later dismantled in 1877 and moved stone by stone to the Hoe. The Tower overlooks Tinside Pool, which is a 1930's lido, sitting on the shoreline at the base of the cliff. Hmm, I wonder if people still use it nowadays??!

We can also see the Citadel from the flat, which was built in 1665 as a defense against Dutch invasion which never happened (until Simon came to help us move in!!). It is still used by the military (Royal Artillery), and indeed my father worked there whilst he was stationed in Plymouth when in the Army, and my sister Angela was also christened there.

Arriving in Devon ....

Got up at 5.00 and decided to start off as we were all awake .... Debbie came with me in Jazzy, whilst Simon and Bob travelled in the van. I took a few last photos of the empty flat, both Bob and I were feeling quite sad to say goodbye. We had decided to go via M4/M5 as it would be easiser with the van ... us girls beat the boys to the first stopping point (Membury), for a welcome breakfast and hot tea. Finally we arrived in Plymouth. It was quite exciting to see the signposts "Somerset" .... "Wiltshire" ... and finally Devon!

It was a beautiful sunny day, and the first sight of the flat was amazing. This is the building above, and we are on the 2nd floor (the floor below us is partly out of view) on the righthand corner (with parapet balcony), and the lounge windows extend around the side of the building to give us a double aspected view over Plymouth Sound and the Hoe. After unloading Jazzy, we went for some lunch, then started on the van ... Debbie and I worked out we had climbed a total of 2,400 steps EACH, and made 47 trips up (and down!) stairs. The boys did slightly less but carried heavier loads, so it was probably fairly even .. the flat is great, lots of storage space in the hall. We managed to do all the unloading by late afternoon, then Simon and I went for some supplies for breakfast the next day, after that we all walked to the nearby Barbican to find a restaurant. I say "find", there are a lot of eating places around, so we were spoilt for choice. We then crashed out as were all exhaused after a busy day .... the following day, Bob, Simon & Debbie returned to London with the van, whilst I sorted out the kitchen, unpacking 22 boxes (says she modestly!!). Bob came back the next day and we have now done most of the rest together.