Friday 28th October 2016

Today our friends Annette and Andy dropped in to see us on their way back from a longish trip through France and Spain. They came off the Santander to Plymouth ferry yesterday afternoon and had been in Plymouth overnight.

As you can see their van is identical to ours apart from being posh metallic grey. Unfortunately Ann missed seeing them as she was off doing her voluntary work for Dartmoor National Park. We had a good talk about old times, vanning and the awfulness of of the racism and xenophobia unleashed by the EU referendum "campaign". I don't recognise this as my country anymore - maybe I never did - I've become a citizen of the world.

This has been Andy and Annette's first big trip in their van. I'm glad that they seem to like it as I was perhaps guilty in part for getting them interested in buying a camper. 

Many thanks for dropping by - sorry you couldn't stay longer.

In case anyone is concerned about my health I'm glad to say that a possibly cancerous spot was removed by the hospital in Exeter this Tuesday. This was done under general anesthetic so I've not been allowed to drive a car this week as apparently some of the drugs I was given in hospital might have made me disorientated!

Friday 28th October 2016

Today our friends Annette and Andy dropped in to see us on their way back from a longish trip through France and Spain. They came off the Santander to Plymouth ferry yesterday afternoon and had been in Plymouth overnight.

As you can see their van is identical to ours apart from being posh metallic grey. Unfortunately Ann missed seeing them as she was off doing her voluntary work for Dartmoor National Park. We had a good talk about old times, vanning and the awfulness of of the racism and xenophobia unleashed by the EU referendum "campaign". I don't recognise this as my country anymore - maybe I never did - I've become a citizen of the world.

This has been Andy and Annette's first big trip in their van. I'm glad that they seem to like it as I was perhaps guilty in part for getting them interested in buying a camper. 

Many thanks for dropping by - sorry you couldn't stay longer.

In case anyone is concerned about my health I'm glad to say that a possibly cancerous spot on my backside was removed by the hospital in Exeter this Tuesday. This was done under general anesthetic so I've not been allowed to drive a car this week as apparently some of the drugs I was given in hospital might have made me disorientated!

Sunday 16th October 2016

We went for a walk on the moor today. Starting from Haytor we walked the short distance to Haytor Quarry. The granite quarried here was used to build, among other things, the British Museum and London Bridge.

The ponds in the quarry have water lilies growing in them.

The quarried stones were taken by granite tramway down off the moor and loaded onto barges to be taken down the Stover Canal and Teign Estuary to Teignmouth where they were loaded onto ships to be taken along the south coast and round into the Thames Estuary and into London. Quarrying here stopped in 1858.

From Haytor Quarry we moved on to Smallacombe Rocks where the remains of this prehistoric house is situated.

From Smallacombe Rocks there are great views west to Greator Rocks and Hound Tor.

Next we visited Holwell Quarry which is also on its own branch of granite tramway.

Finally we returned to Haytor.

Haytor is a real tourist trap - you wouldn't think it from this photo but there were lots of people around this afternoon.

We wanted to go abroad in our camper van at the end of September but this got put off when my GP referred me to the hospital in Exeter with a suspicious spot which he didn't like the look of! The dermatology department decided it was cancer but didn't think that they were competent to remove it so they have referred me to another department in the hospital who can hopefully operate successfully. Still hoping to be able to set off travelling soon..

Tuesday 4th October 2016

Today we visited Looe in Cornwall. Very windy indeed with sand from the beach blowing into the town. We had fish and chips and strawberry pavlova at Kelly's restaurant. I couldn't resist photographing the friendly welcome notice to campervanners in the car park on the quay. You can park here for up to 24 hours so long as you're not inside your vehicle!

Monday 3rd October 2016

We've been out on the moor today walking around the Dartmeet area. Dartmeet as its name suggests is where the East and West Darts meet. These stepping stones cross the East Dart .

There are a few smaller streams to cross.

The Rowan trees on the moor look fantastic at this time of year.

We stopped along the way. There are some great views around here once you get onto the high moor.

Here's another rowan with a hawthorn in front of it. After another river crossing by  stepping stones we returned to Dartmeet car park.