#fishing boat trips plymouth

[try-and-try-and-try-again]

17.07.24 - Young Darwin Scholarship Day 3

Today there was a heavy focus on marine life. The majority of the day was spent at Plymouth with the Ocean Conservation Trust.

1-2. Possibly my highlight of the visit to the National Marine Aquarium was meeting Rodger the Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris). I’ve written about the Common Octopus so much at school and university but this was my first time seeing one in the flesh and it was a special moment for me.

3-4. The other two most in-focus photos I took at the aquarium. A beautiful little jellyfish and a clown fish. I don’t know the specific species of either. I wish I’d thought to take photos of the signs - I did for other creatures so I don’t know why I didn’t for these two. Maybe it was because I was a bit overwhelmed in the aquarium and may not have been thinking clearly. It’s a brilliant independent aquarium that prioritises the welfare of the animals, conservation and research, it was exciting to see so many amazing creatures and I thoroughly recommend visiting it, but lots of spaces were crowded and noisy and had strange lighting which I personally found hard to deal with.

5. After a tour of the aquarium and a talk on conservation work, plankton and dichotomous keys we went on a boat trip round Plymouth Sound. We did some plankton trawling and looked at the findings under a microscope. There were a few zooplankton but also sadly, microplastics. Plankton levels are increasing around the UK, particularly phytoplankton, due to climate change which is drawing more whales to our coast lines to feed than before, hence why whale sightings are going up. Plankton is a significant indicator of environmental conditions and has an important role in food chains so recording their presence is important. The definition of plankton is anything that cannot swim freely against the current and can cover organisms of various sizes. Zooplankton are divided into Holoplankton which remain as plankton for their entire lives, and Meroplankton which live as plankton only at certain stages of their life cycle.

6-8. On the boat trip we also pulled up three Edible Crabs (Cancer pagurus) using smoky bacon as bait (apparently it specifically has to be smoky bacon). There was one male (picture 7) and two females (one of which is in picture 8). Their sexes are determined by the shape of the undersides of their exoskeletons. The prominence of the female’s features suggest she may be carrying eggs. We were hoping to see Cetaceans and Seals from the boat but alas no. Nature is unpredictable.

9. Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dolcamara) spotted on the way to the beach and bridge to look for otters again.

10. No otters were spotted but there was a parade of 22 Canada Geese! I also saw my first ever (live) Kingfisher!!!

Today was hard going again, I can’t lie. I came close to sitting things out but I really wanted to try and keep up. I am sick of the constant battle between pain, fatigue and sensory overload and the desire to see, learn and experience things. Thankfully the people I am with have been so accommodating and helpful and it was a good day over all. Another highlight was hearing lots of nice folk music on the way back from Plymouth that I am glad to have been made aware of (one of the scholars is Scottish and a cèilidh musician and had a playlist).

[sandwich-inn-and-suites]

best campgrounds near Plymouth ma

With a number of activities and camping, Plymouth is a great vacation spot for people with wanderlust. With tons of activities to enjoy such as hiking or riding a bike to explore local dining and shops. Find the best campgrounds in Plymouth, MA by reading reviews of campers whove already visited the spot.

Sometimes, all you need are s’mores, a campfire and a starry sky for a perfect getaway. Forget travelling for thousands of miles for an experience of lifetime, and find campgrounds near Plymouth, MA. Well-versed as the premium destination in Massachusetts, the land around Plymouth is dotted with campgrounds.

But you dont need to travel anywhere in order to find favourite camping spots in Plymouth from us:

Here are the 10 best campgrounds near Plymouth, MA:

Ellis Haven Family Campground

Myles Standish State Forest

Scusset Beach State Reservation

Wompatuck State Park

Pinewood Lodge Campground

Boston/Cape Cod KOA

Shady Acres Campground

Bourne Scenic Park

Peters Pond RV Resort

Boston/Cape Cod KOA Holiday

ELLIS HAVEN FAMILY CAMPGROUND

Ellis Haven Family Campground is a campground located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. It is a popular destination for families who are looking to enjoy the great outdoors and spend quality time together. The campground offers a range of accommodations, including tent sites, RV sites, and cabins.

There are many amenities available at Ellis Haven Family Campground, including a swimming pool, a playground, a basketball court, and a game room. The campground also offers activities such as hayrides, movie nights, and bingo games.

Located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the campground is close to many popular attractions such as the Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower II, and the Plimoth Plantation. The campground is also just a short drive from Cape Cod and Boston, making it an ideal location for day trips.

Overall, Ellis Haven Family Campground is a great option for families who are looking to experience the outdoors and spend quality time together in a beautiful and peaceful setting.

MYLES STANDISH STATE FOREST

Myles Standish State Forest is a state park located in Plymouth and Carver, Massachusetts, USA. It is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts who are looking to hike, bike, camp, and fish in a beautiful natural setting.

The forest covers over 12,000 acres and has 16 miles of bike trails and 13 miles of hiking trails, including the popular 5-mile long Cranberry Bog Trail. Visitors can also enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating in one of the forest's several ponds, such as Charge Pond and College Pond.

Myles Standish State Forest is also home to several campgrounds, including a group campground and several family campgrounds. The campgrounds offer both tent and RV sites and have amenities such as fire pits, picnic tables, and restrooms.

In addition to outdoor activities, the forest is also home to several historical sites, including the Myles Standish Monument and the Governor Bradford House Museum. Visitors can learn about the history of the forest and the early settlers of Plymouth while enjoying the natural beauty of the area.

Overall, Myles Standish State Forest is a wonderful destination for those looking to experience the outdoors and learn about the history of Massachusetts.

SCUSSET BEACH STATE RESERVATION

Scusset Beach State Reservation is a state park located in Sandwich, Massachusetts, USA. It is a popular destination for beach-goers, campers, fishermen, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.

The park features a mile-long sandy beach on Cape Cod Bay, which is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing. There are also several walking trails that offer stunning views of the ocean and the surrounding area.

Scusset Beach State Reservation is also a great spot for camping, with over 98 campsites available for tents, trailers, and RVs. The campground is equipped with showers, restrooms, and picnic tables, and there are also cabins available for rent.

Fishing is another popular activity at Scusset Beach State Reservation, with striped bass, bluefish, and flounder among the common species caught off the beach and the nearby canal. The park also offers a fish cleaning station for those who catch their dinner.

Other amenities at the park include a playground, a pavilion, and a snack bar. The park is also pet-friendly, so visitors can bring their furry friends along for the fun.

Overall, Scusset Beach State Reservation is a beautiful and relaxing destination for those looking to enjoy the beach, go camping, or simply spend time in nature.

WOMPATUCK STATE PARK

Wompatuck State Park is a state park located in Hingham, Massachusetts, USA. It is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts who are looking to hike, bike, camp, and fish in a beautiful natural setting.

The park covers over 3,500 acres and has more than 40 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The trails wind through woodlands, wetlands, and fields, offering a variety of terrain for visitors to explore. There are also several ponds and streams within the park, which are ideal for fishing.

Wompatuck State Park is also home to a campground with 262 campsites, including sites for tents and RVs. The campground is equipped with restrooms, showers, and fire pits, and there are also cabins available for rent.

Other amenities at the park include a visitor center, picnic areas, and a playground. The park is also pet-friendly, so visitors can bring their furry friends along for the fun.

Overall, Wompatuck State Park is a beautiful and relaxing destination for those looking to enjoy the outdoors, learn about history, or simply spend time in nature.

PINEWOOD LODGE CAMPGROUND

Pinewood Lodge Campground is a family-friendly campground located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. It is a popular destination for families who are looking to enjoy the great outdoors and spend quality time together.

The campground offers a range of accommodations, including tent sites, RV sites, and cabins. The sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire pits, and some also have electric and water hookups. The cabins are fully furnished and have all the comforts of home.

There are many amenities available at Pinewood Lodge Campground, including a swimming pool, a playground, a basketball court, and a game room. The campground also offers activities such as movie nights, arts and crafts, and scavenger hunts.

Overall, Pinewood Lodge Campground is a great option for families who are looking to experience the outdoors and spend quality time together in a beautiful and peaceful setting. With a range of accommodations and amenities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

BOSTON/CAPE COD KOA

The Boston/Cape Cod KOA is a family-friendly campground located in Middleboro, Massachusetts, USA. It is a popular destination for families who are looking to explore the historic city of Boston, the beaches of Cape Cod, and the natural beauty of Massachusetts.

The campground offers a range of accommodations, including tent sites, RV sites, and cabins. The sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire pits, and some also have water and electric hookups. The cabins are fully furnished and have all the comforts of home, including kitchens and bathrooms.

There are many amenities available at the Boston/Cape Cod KOA, including a swimming pool, a playground, a basketball court, and a game room. The campground also offers activities such as movie nights, hayrides, and ice cream socials.

Located in Middleboro, the campground is a short drive from Plymouth, where visitors can explore historic sites such as Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II. The campground is also a convenient location for day trips to Boston, which is only an hour away, and to the beaches and attractions of Cape Cod.

Overall, the Boston/Cape Cod KOA is a great option for families who are looking to explore the best of Massachusetts while enjoying the comforts of a well-equipped campground. With a range of accommodations and amenities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

These camping spots deliver a variety of things and activities that includes swimming, hiking, boating, and fishing. Whether youre looking for a children-friendly playgrounds or campgrounds with mini-golf and hiking trails for whole family, youre sure to find a campground near Plymouth that meets your requirement.

P: 508-888-0409  F: 508-848-0928

frontdesk@sandwichinnandsuites.com

Hotel Manager

owner@sandwichinnandsuites.com

[ukfisherman]

Best Sea Fishing Spots in Devon

Devon, located in the southwest of England, offers some excellent sea fishing opportunities along its extensive coastline. Whether you're an experienced angler or a beginner, there are plenty of spots to choose from. Here are some of the best sea fishing spots in Devon:

Brixham:

Brixham is a bustling fishing port and a great place for sea fishing. It's known for its variety of fish species, including mackerel, bass, and flatfish.

Try fishing from the breakwater or take a fishing trip from the harbour.

Plymouth:

Plymouth Sound is a popular location for sea fishing, with opportunities to catch species like cod, pollock, and wrasse.

Charter boats and fishing trips are readily available here.

Sidmouth:

Sidmouth offers scenic coastal fishing with access to the Jurassic Coast. You can catch bass, mullet, and various other species.

Try fishing from the beach or rocks at Sidmouth.

Lyme Regis:

Lyme Regis is another spot on the Jurassic Coast. It's known for its rich marine life, making it a great place for fishing.

Fish off the historic Cobb harbour wall or take a fishing charter.

Ilfracombe:

Located on the North Devon coast, Ilfracombe provides opportunities for both boat and shore fishing.

You can catch species like bass, cod, and rays here.

Salcombe:

Salcombe is famous for its estuary fishing. It's a top spot for bass fishing, especially during the summer months.

Fishing from a boat or the shore in the estuary can yield good results.

Teignmouth:

Teignmouth offers sea fishing from its pier and beaches. You can catch various species like mackerel, bass, and flatfish.

It's a great place for beginners to try their hand at fishing.

Appledore:

Appledore is situated on the North Devon coast and provides access to the Taw and Torridge estuary, known for its diverse fishing opportunities.

You can catch bass, flounder, and other species here.

Exmouth:

Exmouth is another popular spot for sea fishing in Devon, with access to the Exe Estuary and the open sea.

Look out for fishing charters that operate from Exmouth Marina.

Bigbury-on-Sea:

This location is known for its shore fishing, particularly for bass, flatfish, and mackerel.

Fish from the beach or explore the surrounding rocky areas.

Remember to check local fishing regulations, obtain any necessary permits or licenses, and be mindful of catch limits and conservation efforts to ensure sustainable fishing practices.

Additionally, it's a good idea to consult with local bait shops or fishing guides for up-to-date information on fishing conditions and the best spots for your specific interests.

[strongitsalifestyle]

Cape Cod Trip added bonus Maine and Rhode Island

4 Day & 6 Day Adventures

Trip 1 Cape Cod, Plymouth, P-town, Martha’s Vineyard

September Trip 2020 4 days

Stayed in an Air b&b at Yarmouth

Day 1 Plymouth Rock and Pilgrim Memorial State Park.

When the first settlers first stepped onto land here, they did so because of the protected bay. Early in the 18th century, nearly a century after the landing, one of their descendants identified a certain rock as the place of that first landing. The famed rock, which has been broken, moved, and put back together, now sits at the seashore protected under a classical columned canopy.

The Mayflower II the tall masts of Mayflower II rise above her decks, a reminder of how this all started. Built in England during the early 1950s, the ship arrived in Plymouth in 1957 and today serves as an important way to relate the tale of European settlement in America. As well as can be determined, the ship is a full-scale replica of the original.

Day 2 Martha’s Vineyard Daytrip

Steamship authority vineyard: ferries to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

We started at Oak Buffs were we rented an e-bike. The six-mile bike ride from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown is known for being a gorgeous and manageable ride, including riding over Jaws Bridge!

Oaks buff is known for its distinctive Victorian architecture with 300 colorful cottages designed to look like gingerbread houses.

We continued to Edgartown, with its quaint harbor complete with an 80-year-old lighthouse. A former hub for the whaling industry, admire the stately Greek revival mansions built by ship captains.

We Traveled along the idyllic countryside and small fishing villages. We then took a taxi the technicolor cliffs of Aquinnah.

The Aquinnah Cliffs – formerly known as Gay Head – is one of Martha's Vineyard's most-visited tourist spots, with bus and bike tours congesting the paved roads in the peak summer season. But the epic clay cliffs, which were carved by glaciers millions of years ago, are worth the trek. Visitors can explore the lower beach paths to see the cliffs up close and stretch along the sands at Moshup Beach. Or take the upper trails to the top of the cliffs to catch a glimpse of Gay Head Light and nearby Elizabeth Islands.

The Aquinnah Cliffs are part of the island's Wampanoag reservation and under special environmental protections to deter erosion.

Day 3 Cape cod waterways boat rental on swan river. Swan Pond River is Located right on the banks of the Swan River Cape Cod Waterways boat rentals offer four different boat models to choose from: Kayak, Stand Up Paddle Board, Canoe, and Pedal Boat rentals!

The Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, Massachusetts, was built between 1907 and 1910 to commemorate the first landfall of the Pilgrims in 1620 and the signing of the Mayflower Compact in Provincetown Harbor.

Provincetown

Provincetown is at the northern tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. P-town is known as a longtime haven for artists, LGBTQ. Numerous galleries plus restaurants, nightclubs, cabarets and specialty shops are clustered on and around lively Commercial Street.

Long Point Lighthouse 5mile Trail

Begin at Pilgrim first landing park, walk over a jetty for a mile towards long point. Follow the shoreline towards a lighthouse. The first light was built in 1827 and became automatic in 1952.

Day 4 Pilmouth Plantation

Plimoth Patuxet is a complex of living history museums in Plymouth, Massachusetts founded in 1947, formerly Plimoth Plantation

The largest of which is the 17th-century English Village. On ground carefully chosen to reflect the topography of the Pilgrims' original settlement, and following the same street layout, the village authentically recreates the reality of those hard first years in the Plymouth Colony.

The following year we did a 5 day trip in July 2021

Trip 2 Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Gloucester, Cadem Hills State Park, Arcadia, Rhode Island (Newport).

July trip 6 days 2021

Day 1 Yarmouth July 10

Plymouth Rock, Provincetown and Plymouth first landing

MacMillan Wharf, 450-foot-long MacMillan Wharf. Aside from setting off on ferries and sightseeing tours, it is a picturesque spot to amble along and gaze out over the bay, boats and coastline.

Day 2 Martha’s Vineyard July 11

Ferry/bus we took the bus to the bridge that was made famous by the movie Jaws. We rented kayaks and stopped at the bridge to view locals and tourists jumping of the bridge.

Day 3 July 12 Whale watching Trips to Stellwagon bank marine Sanctuary

It encompasses 842-square-miles of some of the most productive ocean waters anywhere in the northwest Atlantic.

While the frequent presence of Humpback whales, Finback whales, Right whales and sometimes other endangered whale species no doubt gives the sanctuary its public appeal and worldwide recognition, this marine sanctuary was created in order to protect all of the great diversity of marine creatures that depend on these waters for all or part of their life cycle.

The sanctuary was named after its principal geologic feature: a shallow, underwater sandbar known as “Stellwagen Bank.” There is more to the sanctuary than just Stellwagen Bank, however. The sanctuary encompasses many other equally important areas; most notably “Jeffrey’s Ledge” which is just to the north of Stellwagen Bank itself.

You can think of Stellwagen Bank as a huge, underwater sandbar that it is about 24 miles long, 3-5 miles wide at its northern end, and just under 14 miles wide at its southern end. It rises above the surrounding seafloor to a height the equivalent of an 11-story building, with waters on top of the Bank ranging between 65 and 120 feet in depth and surrounding waters being between 250 and 350 feet deep.

Geologically speaking “The Bank” is an underwater extension of Cape Cod and this can clearly be seen in maps of the seafloor. As you can see in the map below, Stellwagen Bank is situated directly between Cape Ann and Cape Cod, a location that led many fishermen to refer to the area as “Middle Bank.”

Cadem Hills State Park camp out

Located a few minutes north of Camden on U.S. Route 1, the park offers year-round trail activities and camping. Winter camping, in a rustic shelter, is also offered and available by reservation by calling the park. 1.1 out and back trail, renowned for the panoramic view of Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay from the top of Mt. Battie, which inspired Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Renascence," the park still inspires wonder in visitors today.

Mt Battie

Day 4 July 13 Hike & Acadia National park

After camping in Camden State park we stayed at an Air b&b right in town in southwest harbor, Me. It was 25 mins from Acadia National Park.

We did 2 trails, the first was a simply path along the coast call Ocean Path.

Ocean Path Distance 4 Miles out and back length of time 1.5-2.5 hours.

The second was Beehive loop Trail it is 1.4 miles , Strenuous hike, Length 1-2 hours. I do not recommend this for beginner hikers or young kids there are sections of narrow cliffs ledges and non technical climbs up metal rungs. My son was 5 at the time but we hike rock scrambles so he was trained well for this one. Def an amazing hike for advance hikers!

Day 5 July 14 Rhode Island

The next day we went back to Rode Island we stayed in an air b&b on a boathouse with such an amazing night view.

Day 6 July 15 Sunset mimosa Sail Newport

The next dat we drive 45 mins to Newport for a 75-minute sail highlighting 5 different lighthouses at the southern end of Narragansett Bay. few other points of interest around Newport Harbor and lower Narragansett Bay. We boarded the Schooner Adirondack II 80 foot turn of the century style pilot schooner.

For lunch we had reservations at the The morning Restaurant to enjoy New England Lobster. The Restaurant was located right in the wharf, with breath taking views of the harbor. I highlight recommend this restaurant!

Back home

[palaceunderthealps]

Isles of Scilly, Cornwall

Someone said that there was nothing wrong with Britain that couldn't be rectified by taking the whole country and towing it 500 miles south. Anyone looking at a map could be excused for wondering if the Scilly Isles hadn't taken him at his word. Strung out in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cornwall, they give every appearance of trying to slip off the mainland in search of balmier climes. Remarkably, they seem to have achieved it. Although a scan 26 miles from mainland Britain, the Scillies enjoy a climate that is, thanks to a freak trough of the Golf Stream, decidedly un-British, with average winter temperatures warmer than even those of the French Riviera. Daffodils bloom in December and the islanders enjoy several weeks of private spring while the rest of Europe huddles in overcoats.

More than 100 islands constitute the Scillies chain, but only five of them are inhabited, and most of those only just. St. Mary's is the largest, and its modest capital, Hugh Town, is the chain’s principal port and community with 1,700 of the island’s 2,000 inhabitants. The Scillies’ compactness (all together they take up less than 4,500 acres of space) and almost complete absence of traffic make them a walker’s paradise. In fact, apart from taking boat excursions to the “off islands,” as they are known locally, or going out for a bit of sea fishing (sharks of speciality), there’s little to do but ramble along through the hedgerows of the islands’ narrow lanes and footpaths or seek out a secluded beach – never a difficult task.

Nightlife is to be found mostly in pint glasses in islands’ many pubs or hotel bars – at Hugh Town’s Star Castle Hotel, a former Elizabethan fort, you can drink in what were once the dungeons – or by wandering down to watch the fiery sunset over Samson Island.

For those who seek a slower pace still – if that's possible – the neighboring, privately owned and slightly smaller island of Tresco offers it. With just one hotel and one guesthouse, accommodations can be difficult if you don't book a head, but there's a fascinating little museum called Valhalla where you can see more than 70 restored figureheads salvaged from shipwrecks off the islands, plus other maritime artifacts, and the unique Abbey Gardens, which contain an astonishing abundance of palm trees and other plants not normally grown outside the tropics – some 5,000 species from all over the world, many of them brought home by Scillonian seamen.

Spring and fall are the best times for a trip to the islands, yet even in the height of summer they rarely get really crowded, thanks to the limited accommodations. For the same reason, however, I wouldn’t suggest making the crossing in July or August without securing a reservation first. The Scillies are not for those who like to keep busy, but for anyone seeking a few days of peace and relaxation and that rarest of all things in Britain, decent weather, they can't be beat.

Details: there are three ways to the Scillies – by ferry (2½ hours) or helicopter (20 minutes) from Penzance or by airplane from Plymouth, Newquay, or Exeter on Brymon Airways. The islands’ tourist office (Town Hall, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall) can provide a list of guesthouses and hotels. Rates for bed and breakfast range from about £6 for a simple guesthouse in low season to about £25 in the top-class Bell Rock Hotel in high season.

William Bryson, The Palace Under the Alps, p101-102

https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/ https://star-castle.co.uk/ https://www.tresco.co.uk/enjoying/abbey-garden

[cuzcharters]

Best Fishing Charters Plymouth MA

Are you looking for the best fishing charters in plymouth ma? Then the best idea is to search for that term on the internet. The best option we are providing to you is, just follow the provided website link.

[hebrew-bakes]

In Plymouth, you can find several ancient monuments that give the local heritage landscape a side attraction. You can also locate the best fishing charters in Plymouth, MA, for a great fishing experience. Plymouth provides you and your love with these attractions so that you won't lack what to do.

Follow the link!

[strodefad]

Plymouth HE Research Trip

A terrific day exploring Plymouth. Visiting the arts programmes and listening to programme leaders in fine arts, illustration, graphics and more. Looking at the great facilities and courses at Plymouth College of Art and University of Plymouth. Also visited the Box museum and then chips on the Barbican with the seagulls and fishing boats. Thankyou to Next Steps Southwest for funding this HE creative research trip. An inspiring day. #plymouthcollegeofart #plymouthuniversity #plymouth #HE #creative #strodecollge #PCA #Universityofplymouth

[sussex-nature-lover]

August 2021

My Friend’s Vacation - a Holiday Shared

My friend across the Ocean, Elle, has had a few days away in Rockport.

I know Rockport’s a seaside destination of course, but mostly to me it means casual shoes, as both me and Crow have a pair. His shoes are classic leather deck shoes, not sure what mine are, some kind of suede and canvas confection in hot pink, white and orange with yellow and white striped laces and I tell you what, they’re light as air, super comfortable and washable. I’ve had them for years and love them to bits. They’d be perfect for a day out wandering at leisure with Elle.

Instead of a day out I’ve amused myself spotting English names on the map, so far, just on the bit above, I’ve got:

Dover, York, Epping, Portsmouth, Manchester, Peterborough, Northampton, Enfield, Leominster, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Marlborough, Gloucester and Plymouth 

Quite a few! I wonder how Americans pronounce Leominster/Shrewsbury etc.? especially given that British are conflicted over Shewsbury just the same as the dreaded scone/scon debate.

Elle has an eye for a story and we’ve been wondering if this pair know each other? If they do. it looks like words have been had between them. Or, perhaps they’re just two people taking time to be alone with their thoughts and a lovely view.

Nothing to wonder about here, just a very pleasant composition. Same as Elle, I really like this combination of the Box, the stone wall and the varied succulents below. When we see succulents here they’re usually just a small part of a rockery garden, or as house plants. I guess it’s a climate thing.

See the blue pin in the map for Good Harbor Beach. Thatcher Island is just below the sun

One of the holiday jaunts Elle and her sister have taken is a 20 minute boat trip over to Thatcher Island, home of iconic twin lighthouses - more of them below. Here’s Elle on Good Harbor Beach with Thatcher Island in the background, I’ve put some yellow lines to estimate the lighthouses’ location. If only she hadn’t posed behind this tree you’d have seen her too 😂

Landing at Thatcher Island

The ramble to the Lighthouses

Lighthouse Keeper’s House

Inside the parlour with a view of the twin Lighthouse through the window

Twin Lighthouses on Thatcher Island (link)

Now the story isn’t mine to tell, I wouldn’t even attempt to precis it here, so if you’re interested, follow that link up above, it’s a good read.

This track was used to transport goods

See aerial footage of Thatcher Island on You Tube at the bottom of this page.

To good not to include, here also is a tiny clip from the harbour, it’s so sweet and holidayesque, I almost feel I’m there.

*Note: 

English -v- American English 

holiday = vacation, not a fixed event on the calendar like Christmas

The last time I saw little boats being brought in was from the Boathouse Bistro at Bewl Water while we were having lunch. A storm began to brew and they had to be rescued. It’s a great venue for a meal with views, but sadly has closed during the pandemic. Fingers crossed it reopens because fish and chips there for Friday lunch were a great occasional treat.

Enjoy Thatcher Island from the air

Hope you enjoyed that little getaway from my foreign correspondent, it looks like she had a lovely time and there may yet be more to come.

♦ Important Notes 

None of the photos are mine, obviously, apart from the Bewl Water rowing boats, but they are shared with permission

Elle is a pseudonym to preserve anonymity 

Other nature photos and brief notes are on my Tumblr page HERE.

[7deadlycinderellas]

The Starks at War, ch3

Ao3 Link

1940 begins. At the end of January, Arya turns fifteen, and along with her birthday comes the start of food rationing.

Hot Pie is outraged. He says nothing of quality can be baked with the butter and sugar they are allotted. Bran misses bacon terribly. But the day before her birthday, the greengrocer in the village has apples in stock, and Hot Pie whips up a fairly decent apple pudding.

Even the things that aren’t on ration seem to be getting harder to get. Shopping involves waiting endlessly in long lines.

And with the end of winter, comes the first casualty of the war.

It doesn’t really seem right to call it a casualty, but that’s how it feels. After Old Nan doesn’t show up for a few days, Arya rides down to the church to check on her.

Her sister says it looked like an apoplexy, in the night.

It’s a blow to the whole family.

“Nan was our nurse when I was a child too,” Ned says when they leave the church after her memorial. “I knew she was old, but I didn’t ever really think this would happen.”

“What are we going to do about Rickon?” Cat wants to know.

Rickon, the youngest, who less than ten minutes after the memorial has already taken off to play football with the evacuee boys.

Cat gazes after him.

“Gilly seems to be good enough with him, but I don’t know if there’s really anything we could do about Rickon that would change him,” is Ned’s take on it.

“I know I used to worry about Arya,” Cat muses, “too much probably. But I never worried she might slip away, just one day sneak away through a spot in this world and slip free.”

Slip free, Ned thinks, does sound like something that might explain Rickon.

As soon as the ground starts to thaw in early spring, Catelyn throws shovels at all of them with packets of seed and pamphlets on digging for Victory.

Arya groans. Some of the Guides in her patrol had helped type and print those.

Bran rolls himself outside to watch them dig up the roses and rhododendrons to replace them with potatoes, and carrots and turnips.

He reads the back of the packet of carrot seeds and tosses it to Gilly to take a look.

“It doesn’t say that there are other colored carrots too. We mostly eat the orange kind in tribute to William of Orange.” he comments.

Gilly laughs at him,

“I don’t know how you remember all of this.”

“Well it’s more interesting than remembering who William of Orange was,” Bran insists. Bran has been spending more time with Gilly in the new year. The realization that the girl was borderline illiterate had been a shock to him he had desperately wanted to correct.

“I don’t understand, don’t they make you go to school in London?” he asks her.

“No one really pays attention,” Gilly says, wiping her brow with the back of her hand, “And it’s not like I can’t read anything, I can write my name and do all my letters. But I don’t understand how you can look at all those words on that pamphlet and make sense of it.”

And so Bran embarks on a quest.

Ned asks Arya every week what her and the guides are doing. She’s already finished her first aid badge, and her electrician badge, and next week their starting on the signalling badge. She’s been looking forward to that one, she’s still terribly jealous of Meera’s proximity to boats. She doesn’t tell her father that their even talking about doing riflery badges too.

In the springtime, Bran helps her get her telegraphist badge. The requirements are that she build her own receiver and be able to transmit in Morse code at at least 30 letters per minute. Jojen and Bran both manage it easily, and eventually, she can too.

They all listen to the wireless more.

The news of the invasion of Norway is hard to listen to, it’s far too close to Scotland.

“You don’t think Robb and Jon…” Cat starts off.

“I don’t think so, “ Bran comments, “Their more recent letters say their squadrons have only been over France.

Jon in particular, has waxed poetic about how France looks from above. His letters he’s sent to Sansa in Kent are mostly recounts of what he has seen of the country.

Sansa tries not to be jealous when she reads them at school.

“You’ve never been to France?” Margaery asks her one day when she’s recounting what he’s written. They’re stretched out side by side on her bedspread in the dormitory, most of the other girls outside in the warm spring day.

Sansa shakes her head.

“I’ve been to Scotland a few times, but never overseas. Have you?”

Margaery nods.

“My grandmother is French, she lived in Paris as a girl, she spoke French to all of us as children. We’ve gone back multiple times. We can’t anymore, obviously, especially with the way things are going, but..”

Sansa doesn’t really notice her pause. She’s done all the things they say she should to support the war effort, but sometimes it feels like she doesn’t grasp it.

“I’ve been to where my mother’s from, but Suffolk isn’t really anything like a different country.” And no one in the family was terribly close to Uncle Brynden, who was a career soldier, or Uncle Edmure, who didn’t really seem to know what he was.

“Maybe I’ll take you someday,” Margaery tells her quietly. When Sansa turns seventeen in early May, she gives her a pair of gramophone records of a singer her grandmother had spoken to her about being one of France’s greatest.

When France falls, school has already let out for summer, so Sansa doesn’t have to see her cry.

Olenna scolds her for it.

“Don’t get upset, get angry. You should be angry that your homeland has been taken over by those lousy krauts.”

She doesn’t correct her that she was born in Britain and that it is actually what she would call her homeland, but correcting her grandmother has never gotten Margaery anywhere in life so she just wipes her cheeks clean and goes on.

After France falls, Gendry’s letters to Arya transform from belligerent to sorrowful.

 There were so many fleeing, the Navy didn’t have enough ships to take them all. We had people piled up on top of each other across the channel. There were fishing boats and cruise ships trying to rescue people who were fleeing, and there still weren’t enough. I saw people trying to swim...I don’t even want to try and imagine if any of them made it. And then we had to go back, again, for eight days straight.

 I haven’t felt like this since hearing about Norway. Stories of pilots whose planes couldn’t even take off because everything was frozen. It was only weeks ago,

 Our ship was moored early because of a special assignment. We were escorting a small group of civilians, patients from Institut Pasteur. One of them was the ten year old daughter of some high up politician. The girl was there for experimental treatment of leprosy. Leprosy! As if her life wasn’t going poorly enough, there has to be a war on.

 Even though we brought the patients on board first, we packed the ship to the gills before leaving. Soldiers packed in like sardines, sweaty, bloodied, scared out of their minds. Don’t tell Robb and Jon, but I heard a lot of men cursing the RAF because the sky was too thick with gunfire to see if the planes were doing anything to help.

 The leper girl- her name’s Shireen something- somehow seemed perfectly happy through it all. She has big patches all over the side of her face, and some of the others onboard seem wary of being near her, but she didn’t pay them any mind. She was singing songs and reading from a book she had carried with her the whole trip. Oh to have her heart in the face of horror.

France falls and summer comes, and thank God Sansa’s returned home. Because over the summer comes the bombardment.

Robb not only doesn’t get leave for his birthday, he doesn’t even get to write letters home during it. The RAF is trying to fight off the attacks on the Channel Islands shipping lanes. They aren’t succeeding.

Meera had been stationed in Devonport, near Plymouth, which starting in July, begins to take a beating. She writes as frequently as she can. Her letters from earlier in the year had been mild by comparison. She had spoken of her training, and the other women on her ship. She’s always had a mild temperament, and took orders easily enough. The other women it seems, mostly think of her as distant and aloof, or the more charitable ones, like she has her head in the clouds. The ones who are intrigued by her title are put off when they realize she really isn’t that grand.

 I guess I should accept that I never have really felt like I fit in. I don’t pick fights though, so most of others just ignore me. I’ve never thought myself unfriendly, but apparently I keep to myself more than most. It was strange, before the war I didn’t really know who I was. I’m hardly some fine lady, born for a life of theater and socials, and many of the upper class would think me no better than a street urchin. But the working class girls spot my accent immediately, and I have far more schooling than them. Even here. But at least here we’re all Wrens, we know who we are here. My bunk mate, Dacey is nice though. She’s from up north, her father owns a mine. Sometimes when we have time off we ride bikes around the town. I miss swimming, I miss fishing too. It’s hard to remember families use to holiday in Devon. The beaches are blocked off now, with thick rings of barbed wire. We helped place mines there too. I hope we can clear them easily enough when their not needed.

Plymouth begins being struck from the air first. She can’t write as often then. When she does, Jojen begins bringing by pieces of paper marked with just Bran’s name. He doesn’t understand why, and Jojen doesn’t seem to either, fixing Bran with looks that are somehow both curious and suspicious.

Reading them it’s understandable.

 I marked these for you Bran because I didn’t really think I should tell some of this to Arya. The letters she writes me are hot blooded as it is. You can share with her if you want.

 Seeing the after effects of the bombs is harrowing, both the buildings and the people. I was upset that I didn’t get stationed in Portsmouth at first, but I don’t think I could watch this happen to something so close to home.

 I was partially right. We may not be at sea, but as soon as the bombs started to fall, those first ones in Cardiff, they asked for volunteers to learn to crew the anti-aircraft guns.

 The guns we have fire so fast you can barely keep track. It takes four of us to fire the damn thing, and if you’re not careful it can knock you on your arse. If we bring any of the Luftwaffe down, I like to imagine it was me.

After Plymouth, Portsmouth is next.

Winterfell’s not that close to Portsmouth, the Stark children had always though, not really anyway. Arya could have made the journey by bike, but her legs would ache and her chest burn with exertion by the time she reached the outskirts.

But now it is somehow both far away and right outside the window.

Every day it seems, the roads are packed with the injured, clutching bundles of possessions, fleeing their destroyed homes. If anyone’s outside when the sirens blare, they can see the sky filling with smoke and fire. Any time of day RAF pilots might pass over head. One morning, when the all-clear blows, Arya sees the red-orange glow of the city on fire over the far horizon, and thinks that it looks frighteningly beautiful.

It’s too far away for most of the volunteers from the village, yet Arya’s guide patrol still makes the journey by bus a few times. They try to clear some of the injured from the first aid stations. She’s growing surprisingly numb to the sight of blood and burns, the sounds of children and grown men screaming. The smell is another story.

Twice, the guides have to take shelter themselves in town, when the sirens announce daytime strikes.

Bran spends his own birthday in the cellar. It’s not like they’re going to be able to have a cake anyway.

They’ve dragged bedding and pillows down, they’re all in the cellar so much. Having been dragged down the steps by both of his parents, and one memorable occasion by Arya and Gilly, Bran’s beginning to think he ought to just find a way to set up a cot or something and sleep down here. Maybe do his schoolwork. Never leave the cellar.

That particular day, Ned is in the village, sheltering at the station where he had gone to refill the petrol with their remaining ration. Cat, Sansa and Gilly are knitting socks, and Arya is pacing.

There’s a loud whistle and a crash that feels far too close. There’s no explosion.

“That was an incendiary,” Arya mutters while pacing, “It won’t explode, it will burst into flames and shoot out bits of metal-”

Bran cuts her off. Sansa is crying and their mother’s face is tight.

“How do you tell the difference?”

“It’s the sound.”

Arya stops herself from telling them about the incendiary charges went off the last time her patrol had been in town. It had set the house next to their shelter on fire, and provided light for the next charge to be aimed at. It had flattened the block. Had they been in one of those pop up shelters instead of a proper underground one, they would have all died.

In the middle of August, Arya is shocked to discover Sansa’s planning to return to school the beginning of September.

“How can you leave? Bombs are falling from the sky!”

“Bombs are falling all over the country, Arya,” This isn’t entirely true, but it remains that the entire southern coast is taking a beating and dogfights are happening over Kent every day as well.

“But if you stay, you’ll be able to be with all of us.” Arya’s eyes are welling up. Her and Sansa were never close, but this whole war has made her heart feel tender in ways it never had. After losing Robb and Jon, and Gendry and Meera, Arya had no desire to let anyone else in her family get away from her.

“It’s my last year of school, I have to finish. If I don’t, it’s like we’re letting the Nazis beat us. It’s not like I can just stay home forever.”

Arya clenches her fists. Is that what this is about? Sansa’s always talked about leaving Winterfell, going to London or Paris or New York, and meeting glamorous people and having some grand romance. Did she still want that, even when she might lose everyone?

“You just want to get away from all of us. We’re not good enough for you anymore are we? You just want to fuck off and leave us all behind.”

Her language is harsh, and her sentiment more so. Sansa has tears running down face, and turns to run away.

Her mother scolds her that night, and when everyone has gone to bed (thankfully, free of air raids for the night), Arya sits up in the parlor by herself.

Ned joins her, offering her a cup of newly rationed tea.

“You were cruel to your sister.”

Arya hangs her head.

“You should apologize before she leaves, or you might regret it.”

“She wouldn’t even care.”

Ned sighs, and wraps an arm around his daughter.

“Sansa loves you, she loves all of us. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have cared what you said to her.”

“Then why does she want to leave again?”

Ned looks at her carefully,

“Arya, what do you want from life?”

Arya tilts her head,

“I don’t really know. I’d like to learn to drive a car. I’d like to swim in the ocean. I’d like to try riding my bike further north, maybe over several days.”

She pauses, for a long time.

“I’d like to get a job, see what it’s like to support myself. I want to go swimming with Meera and Jojen. I want to take rides with Robb, I want Jon to explain everything to me that’s happening in the newspaper. I want to fight with Gendry over Weird Tales, then bring it home and read it with Bran anyway.”

“You want to stay at Winterfell.”

You want things to stay the way they used to be, is what he means, but doesn’t say.

It all sounds strange on Arya’s tongue. She’s always wanted adventure, read stories of jungle expeditions and space flights. Listening to her father’s stories from his days in the Navy as a young child, she’d once asked if she would ever do something so great. Ned had laughed, and the next day brought home a copy of 20,000 League Under the Sea.

The Nazis had stolen that from Arya. Now she longed for the war to end, and for her family to return home. She longed to help bring them home.

Arya nods, eventually. That really is the rub.

“Your mother’s always wanted the same for both you and Sansa what she had. She wants you two to marry well. To marry men of means who love you. For you to be good ladies, who live lives of ease. That would always involve you leaving, and I think that’s one of the reasons you’ve always fought so hard against it.”

Ned suddenly looks very sad.

“I don’t think any of that will happen any time soon. Sansa’s always been more open to the life your mother’s wanted. She’s seen life outside and wants more of it. There’s a lot of wonderful things in the world, outside of Wintefell. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you, or her home.”

Ned leans over the squeeze Arya’s shoulders.

“I’m going on the train with Sansa tomorrow, to spend a few days in London.”

“What? Why.”

“Got a call from the foreman. Emergency he needs me to deal with.”

“Why doesn’t he ever call Robert with these?”

Ned laughs. Robert Baratheon, longtime friend, was part owner in the factory. Part owner, but Ned would be pressed to find if Robert gave it any thought whatsoever.

“Because Robert is all the way out in Cheshire, God’s knows how he spends his days.”

Arya still looks terribly downcast.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. I understand what you were trying to tell Sansa, but you should still apologize for making her cry. I want to be together with all of you just as much as you do.”

And with that, Ned sends his daughter off to bed.

Sansa and Ned leave the next day on the same train, an hour later disembarking and parting ways.

Arya had watched the two of them leave, and try as she might, couldn’t take her father’s advice. Sansa hadn’t even looked her in the eye over breakfast.

Bombs fall again that night, and in the cellar, Arya feels empty.

The next day, Bran is listening to the wireless and tells her,

“They’re bombing London now.”

Arya feels her insides seize.

A few days he’d said. For once, Catelyn looks as upset as Arya. Ned had telephoned the first day, and the second, but they hadn’t heard from him since.

“They’re aiming for the docks, and the East End,” Bran tells everyone on the third day. “

Gilly chokes a bit, but doesn’t cry.

“My sisters- I hope some of them at least fled.”

“What about your father?” Bran asks.

“He can burn for all I care”.

On the end of the fourth day, Catelyn finally dials the telephone of the factory office.

They haven’t seen Ned since the day before. She tries again the next day. And the next.

Finally, someone gives them the answer.

Arya has never seen her mother collapse before. She’s making noises, like she’s gasping for air. She drops the phone.

Arya picks it up, and demands to know what her mother has just been told.

Parts of her feared, perhaps parts already knew.

Eddark Stark, believed deceased on the 9th of September in structural collapse of the Hotel Guilford….

[memekinky-blog]

Mount Taranaki - Wikipedia

Whoever wants to climb Mount Taranaki, also called Mount Egmont, should carry accordingly good hiking equipment. Ice axes and crampons are not necessary in summer. It is best to start your hike from Mountain House at the eastern end, then cross the slope of the Manganui Ski Field.

Shuttle buses run from Stratford, Inglewood and New Plymouth to the National Park. On site information is provided by the North Egmont Visitor Centre (at the end of Egmont Rd) and the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre (at the end of Manaia Rd). Just off the coast, the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Reserve, with its underwater cliffs, caves and canyons, is a special habitat for marine life. For information on snorkelling and diving, boat exploration and fishing in the area, please consult the i-SITE, Sportfishing and Underwater Club and local diving schools. Entering the bird breeding islands is only allowed with special permission.

The big highlight in the Taranaki region is the sleeping volcano Mount Taranaki. A perfectly conical 2500m high and 120.000 years old volcano, surrounded by rainforest. We advise you to drive once around the entire coastal section, followed by a one or more day trip to the volcano. At the end of your trip, a drive on the Forgotten Highway to the independent Republic of Whangamomona awaits you. Finally, I am finally standing in front of a sign that shows the way in different directions.

The Perfect Mountain -Mount Taranaki for Beginners

Here I also meet the first hikers who are already coming back the way because there is nothing to see in the dense fog.

Cookies, which are used by other partners to help decide which products and advertising are shown to you on our and other websites.

I clearly knew that I would not make it to the top But a little bit should be enough.

>If you are into hiking, you should not miss Mount Taranaki.

Your valuable travel knowledge is now in demand.

> In fact, the Surf Highway, as the road from New Plymouth in the north to Hawera in the south is often called, is 105 kilometers long. Those who want to climb the volcano peak should arrive in the months of January to March, then the volcano is mostly free of snow and the ascent is accordingly easier. Read more about campervan hire New Zealand here. Yes, the Manganui ski field is even a very well known among Kiwis. Whether beginner or expert, ski or snowboard, from June to October winter sports enthusiasts can ski the slopes in Taranaki.

Summit hike: 1.600 meters of altitude difference lead to Mt Taranaki

They were about to embark on their honeymoon trip to New Zealand. Now the two report about their tour and their experiences.

[paul-s-walks-uk-blog]

Walk 8 :  Dartmouth to Totnes

 ‘A good local pub has much in common with a church, except that a pub is warmer, and there's more conversation.’

William Blake

One of the area's truly great walks, this daylong ramble follows the wooded banks of the broad and beautiful river Dart, on a route crammed with gems and jewels of human and natural history.

The South Devon AONB website synopsis of the walk

View over Dartmouth

Walk data

Distance: 12 Miles, 19.3 km

Grade: Moderate. Easy walking, but on average uphill 

Start Point : Bus stop at North Embankment, Dartmouth (sx878512)

End Point : Steam Packet Inn, Totnes (sx805600)

Facilities: Full range of facilities at Dartmouth: Shops, supermarkets, pubs, toilets, banks. Also at Totnes. On route the are several pubs, all of which serve food. There is a village shop and cafe in Dittisham.

Transport: There are buses between Dartmouth and Totnes, regular on weekdays, but only twice on Sundays. There is also a river ferry between them, it is a beautiful trip, but but it’s timing is dependant on tides, so the timetable  must be checked before hand ( It is operated by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company-check here for times). Totnes is easily accessible by bus or train from either Plymouth or Exeter. Dartmouth is directly accessible by bus from Exeter and Plymouth, but the busses also service the local villages on the way, so the journey time is in either case in excess of two hours (but you do get to see lots of scenery). Bus and train journeys can be planned here.

Maps  : Ordnance Survey Explorer OL20. Coordinates are from this map. A compass is not needed, but the map is strongly advised, even though the trail is well signed.

An album of Photos from this walk can be found on my Facebook Page

Walk overview

This is a fairly long but straightforward walk following a recognized and clearly signposted trail (The Dart Valley Trail) between two of Devon’s most historic and lively towns. It starts in Dartmouth, near where the river flows into the sea, and ends in Totnes which is the farthest point navigable by large boats.It consists mostly roads and country footpaths.  It is not a challenging walk, although a couple of small stretches are perennially muddy, so you will need good waterproof boots or shoes. There are a few long, steepish parts, and since the trail is following a river inland, the path is generally uphill. 

This is a great walk if you want to experience some good Devon pubs. Don’t try too many, or you may never get to the end!

Route Maps and elevation

Stage 1 : Route map and elevation

Stage 2: Route map and elevation

Stage 3 : Route map and elevation

Dartmouth

Dartmouth is on the western bank of the mouth of the Dart. It is a busy place, with seagulls crying and flapping around all day, and many boats bobbing up and down on the water.

Although Dartmouth has a natural deep-water harbour it was only an agricultural settlement at the time of the Norman Conquest (1066), but it soon began to grow and by the fourteenth Century it was well known enough for Chaucer to include one of its inhabitants among his pilgrims ‘A schipman was ther, wonyng fer by weste;For ought I wost, he was of Dertemouthe.’, who tells a somewhat morally dubious story about money lending.

By the Elizabethan times it was a thriving port. Castles were built on either side of the estuary with a chain between then, that could be pulled up to prevent  invasion from the Spanish fleets. The castle on the Dartmouth side is worth a visit. The Pilgrim fathers stopped at Dartmouth on the way to America (they hadn’t got very far at that stage).

The Navy has since had a keen interest in Dartmouth and the naval officer academy still sits in in an imposing Victorian building that dominates the a large hill on the edge of the town

The first bridge across the Dart is at Totnes, over 10 miles upstream. but in Dartmouth there are two vehicle ferries and one foot passenger ferry across to Kingswear on the eastern side.

There is plenty to explore. To find out what to see and do, and for any events happening, click here.  

 Dartmouth is one of those English towns which has grown up in a sort of hotchpotch fashion, so that it has many house from different periods. On the steep hills such as this the house frequently have a front door on the street, once inside you go down to the rest of the house instead of up. Some have little bridge connecting the front-door to the street. It is common in Devon towns for house to be painted in different colour. Dartmouth is no exception: There are blue houses, pink house, yellow house. Some have slate fronts, some wooden, some granite or limestone.

If you want to sample a traditional devon pub, there are too many to lst here, but check out this page. Almost all will serve good food (frequently fish and seafood, freshly caught) as well as a range of local ales.

On the subject of pubs-Devon has a host of local breweries, some large, some tiny. Apart from making very good beer, they also seem to be in competition to come up with weird names for their beverages. Here is a list of some them along with the breweries that make them. They are not all available everywhere, although Jail (personal favourite) and Otter are most common

Jail Ale (Dartmoor brewery, Princetown)

Pandit (New Lion Brewery, Totnes)

Cor bugga! ( Teignworthy Brewery, Newton Abbot)

Devon Dumpling (Bays Brewery, Paignton)

Otter Ale (Otter Brewery, near Honiton)

Pheasant Plucker (Hunters Brewery, Ipplepen)

Black Ops (Taw Valley Brewery,  North Tawton)

Pandemonium (South Hams Brewery, Kingsbridge)

Repeat Offender (Stannary Brewery, Tavistock)

Tuckermarsh Pale (Bere Brewery, Bere Alston)

If you are from outside the UK you can relax and  forget the myth of warm beer.The British have not drunk warm beer since the 1970's (except of course  when they do... at  beer festivals, where it is more or less compulsory)

Stage 1 : Dartmouth to Dittisham (4.5 Miles, 7.2 km)

The walk starts at the south west corner of the little square harbour near the waterfront. You will see a kiosk that sells boat-trip tickets, and on the lampost next to it a blue sign, which shows in white two castles with some wavy lines below. This is the first sign for the trail. You will see it frequently. Often it will be accompanied by a white arrow on a blue background showing the direction to walk. The trail is part of a much longer trail The John Musgrave Heritage Trail (this is 32 miles long) so the signs for this can also be followed (yellow and brown circles, with an image of aboot print inside).

Follow the road past the little harbour and past the white and blue painted Royal Castle Hotel until you come to a car park on you right. At one corner you will see a small street called Zion Place walk along this to the end, turn right and almost immediately there is a long flight of stone steps called Coxs Steps. Climb these til you come to a narrow road called Clarence Hill.

Cox’s Steps

Turn left onto Clarence Hill and follow it along. It eventually becomes Townstal Hill and the Church Hill. Towards the end in bears right and comes to the main road out of Dartmouth (The A379, College way at sx870515)

The trail goes the the end of Old Mill Lane, Down a flight of steps and into Old Mill Lane This is a pleasant walk on a country road that descend gradually to Old Mill Bridge (sx861519), situated, unsurprisingly on Old Mill Creek. Old Mill Creek always seems to be at low tide. It is pleasant to sit on the wall at the end of the bridge across it and watch the water fowl hopping around in the mud. The Old Mill  sir on one side of the bridge. One can only imagine that the stream to the bridge was once more lively, as it’s current sedately flow would not be enough to drive a mill wheel.

‘Old Mill’ is a self-explanatory place name. But not all the names on the map are. Here is a list of some names that are not. They are all on or close by this trail. I can guess at the origins of some of them, about others I can only wonder.. 

Tippity Van

Dinah’s Side

Blackness Point

Bozomzeal

Sprat Lane End

Poor Bridge

Corkscrew Hill

Higher (and Lower) Yetson

Hothole ( I kid you not)

Lower (and Higher) Gribble Plantation

From Old Mill Bridge turn right and follow the road. It soon becomes a country footpath, called Lapthorne Lane, which quickly brings you to the edge of Hole Copse. Here you have two choices. Both are signed to dittisham. You can either follow straight ahead along the lane or right into the woods. The fist is 2 miles to Dittisham, the second is 2 3/4. The longer way is more pleasant and takes you through Hole Copse and Great Copse. It will also give you some nice views of the Dart, where you can see to the edge of Dartmouth, with the Higher Ferry, laden with cars going back and forth.

Either way will bring you to the road just past Bozomzeal (sx861539). This is Fire Beacon Hill. This is so named as it is the site of one of the beacons that were lit to warn of the SPanish Armada. You can see the beacon across the fields, a tall pole with an iron basket on top. It has a grim look, like a gibbet. The fire beacons were lined along the whole South West. More information on these can be found here.

Dartmoor in the distance, from Fire Beacon Hill

Take the footpath that appears on the right, down through fields of grass and sheep. This eventually joins a farmers road. Here you will be glad if you have good waterproof boots. The farmer here must use a lot of heavy machinery, since the road is always deep in mud and churned up by giant tyres. You can walk on the banks of the road with some care. It is not a long stretch, and after a couple of turns you find yourself in Dittisham (sx861550)

Dittisham

Thatched cottage in Dittisham

If you talk to any of the residents and don’t want to look like a Grockle,  Dittisham should be pronounced Ditsum, or even better Dits’m. (This is a mild reduction of a place name for Devon- There is a village named ‘Woolfhardisworthy’ on maps, but which the locals pronounce ‘Woolsery’)

The trail only skirts the top of the village, which is a shame, as this is one of the best places to visit on the river. It is quite ancient, having been founded in about 660 ad by Saxons, who had found the Dart to be a good trading route inland.So take a detour into town if you have time.It has steep lanes to the water, clustered with old cottages. There are two good pubs, a shop and a good coffee house. A guide to the village can be found here.

stage 2 : dittisham to asphsprington (4.6 Miles, 7.4 km)

The trail passes along the top of Dittisham, following the road until it passes the hamlet of East Cornworthy, after which is cuts through a wooded area on a track to the right. This little country path must once have been a more important way, as there is a small but substantial bridge over the ltlle river. It is odd to find it in this quiet lane, on a dirt track. It has the curious name of ‘Poor Bridge’

Cottage near East Cornworthy

Woods and small river near Poor Bridge

The track becomea a road and leads through the  village of Cornworthy, another small ancient setlement. Agin it has a nice pub, the Hunter’s Lodge. At the far side of the village standing in a field is the remains of a priory, where Nuns lived from about 1200 to the mid 1550′s. It is marked Gatehouse on the map. (sx821555)

From cornworthy the trail turns right off the road and paases downhil towars Bow Creek, another tribuatry of the Dart. It passes through the small Charleycombe Woods, which are full of oak and ash trees.The path turns left. On the right is bow creek, where if you are lucky you can see herons flying low o ver the mud-flats. To your left is Corkscrew Hill. A lot of water flows off the hill after rains and the trail here is often VERY muddy. But there has been a lot of tree planting done recently, so as sapling grow into a new wood, it should they should contain the wet: At the monent though, take care not to get wet feet.

The trail rejoinns the road from Tuckenhay to Bow Bridge. Ther is a good pub in each of these places, The Maltsters and the Watermans Arms. Both have seating with river views.: In summer both are likely to be busy.

Cross Bow Bridge and head up hill to Ashprington.

The Waterman’s Arms, Bow

Ashprington

Ashprington has been in existence since at least the time of the Norman conquest, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book, in 1086, (where it is called Aisbertone). It had about 22 people living there. It has a church which dates back to this time, although the only remaining Norman part is the font. The current church dates from the fifteenth century. There isn’t much happening in Ashprington. It is a quiet, peaceful and secluded place. It has a pub, though, the Durant Arms. There is a bench by the churchyard, so if you need a nice long sit down, having walked just over 9 miles, with still another 3 to go, this is a good place to watch the world slowly moving by.

Stage 3 : Ashprington to Totnes (2.9 Miles, 4.7 km)

Asphrington Church Graveyard at sundown

This is the easiest part of the route as it is almost entirely in the Sharpham Estate until it reaches Totnes. The estate keeps the path well signed, neatly gravelled and clear. 

From the bench by the church head towards Sharpham (i.e. uphill) following the road until you get to the estate gate. Here you leave the road and take the footpath to the left.

Sharpham Estate

Sharpham Estate dates from around 1260, but it’s current form dates from the 18th century, when Captain Philemon Pownoll, who was something of an adventurer, made his fortune capturing a Spanish treasure galleon. (He had an adventurers death, too. He was hit by a cannonball in a fight with the French in the North Sea.) If  Philemon Pownoll seems a crazy name, consider that his grandson was named John Bastard.

Today the estate is managed by the Sharpham Trust. The mansion house is now a center for events and courses. Being close to Totnes ( see below) these are often New Age type events. The Trust supports many conservation schemes. It also has a vineyard, producing a range of wines, and makes it’s own cheeses. If you have time it is worth diverging from the trail and visiting the restaurant/cafe by the river front, and trying the wine and cheese. If it is summer, you may even have time for a guided tour of the vineyard.

Evening in a mirror in a hedge

On arriving it rhe end of the Sharpham footpath, turn right on the road and at the bottom of the little hill you will find the Steam Packet Inn, by the river. Reward  yourself with a nice pint and rest your feet, before going into town.

Totnes

Totnes is chefly famous as being a center for alternative lifestyles. It calls itself a transistion town, and ven has it’s own (not freuently used) currency. There are crystal shops, and mindfulness courses, and always buskers. But there is more to the town. It has a Norman Castlt, a museum, a medieval guildhall and the narrow streets at the tiop of town, still on the medieval layout. (With good Devon Common-snse, these are called ‘The Narrows’). There are lots of coffee shops, cafes and resturants: To many to list, but see here

Totnes High Street

https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/totnes-town/devon/

[roboticsappreciationsociety]

The SB Met, built by Norwegian company Offshore Sensing AS, reached the finish line of the Microtransat Challenge for robotic boats on Aug. 26, two and a half months after setting off from Newfoundland, according to preliminary data.

It's a milestone that shows the technology for unmanned boats is robust enough to carry out extended missions that can dramatically cut costs for ocean research, border security, and surveillance in rough or remote waters. They're part of wider efforts to develop autonomous marine vessels such as robotic ferries and cargo and container ships that could be operating by the end of the decade, outpacing attempts to commercialize self-driving cars.

"We've proved that it's possible to do," said David Peddie, CEO of Offshore Sensing , which created the oceangoing drones, known as Sailbuoys. "The North Atlantic is one of the toughest areas to cross" and completing the challenge "really proves that it's a long endurance vehicle for pretty much any condition the sea can throw at you," he said.

Under the Microtransat's rules, boats up to 2.4 meters (2.6 yards) long can sail between Europe and the Caribbean or North America and Ireland. They must regularly transmit location data.

The Sailbuoy competed in the "unmanned" class, which allows operators to change its course along the way. There's a separate "autonomous" class that prohibits any such communication.

While self-driving cars have to contend with pedestrians and other traffic, autonomous boats face storms that bring fierce gales and high waves as well as numerous seaborne hazards.

More than 20 previous attempts by various teams to complete the Microtransat since it began in 2010 have ended in failure, with robot boats caught in fishing nets, retrieved by ships, or lost, according to the race website. Peddie said his biggest fear was that a passing boat would pick up the two-meter, 60 kilogram (130 pound) vessel as it neared the finish.

The company is in a niche field with few other players. U.S. startup Saildrone is building a fleet of seven-meter "unmanned surface vehicles" that can spend up to 12 months gathering ocean data. Liquid Robotics , owned by Boeing, makes the Wave Glider, a research platform that uses wave rather than wind power for propulsion.

Bigger unmanned ships are coming, too, and the International Maritime Organization is reviewing the safety, security and environmental implications.

Offshore Sensing has built 14 Sailbuoys, which have a surfboard-shaped deck covered in solar panels that power the onboard technology and a rigid trapezoidal sail mounted near the bow that propels the vessel. In company videos, it looks like a toy tossed about by waves and passing ships, making its achievement all the more unlikely.

Peddie says robotic sailboats offer important advantages. Unlike drifting buoys, they can loiter in one place, and they're nimbler and cheaper than research vessels.

A team from France's ENSTA Bretagne graduate engineering research institute dominated the first challenge, a race around a triangle-shaped course, with their sleek, angular fluorescent-green carbon fiber boat. Servo winches controlled the two transparent plastic sails and the rudder as wind, GPS and compass sensors fed readings to an onboard computer.

Others didn't fare so well. One of the two Chinese teams couldn't stop their boat from being pushed way off course by the strong tide.

"Other ships are thin and long. Ours is too wide and fat," said Hou Chunxiao of the Shanghai Jiaotong University team, a joint collaboration between students and staff from a maritime company run by their thesis supervisor.

Smaller and lighter electronics, better solar panels, 3D printing and other technological advances are making it easier to build self-sailing boats, competitors said.

"We talk more about autonomous cars or drones, but sailboats are also a big thing," said Ulysse Vautier, of the Plymouth University team. "There's so much to discover on the ocean. With the environmental and ecological problems we face today," autonomous sailing boats are an energy-efficient way to do ocean research, Vautier said, adding that future uses could include swarms of sailing drones scanning the sea floor for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

Until Sailbuoy's achievement, the only unmanned watercraft to cross the Atlantic previously was a battery-powered underwater glider in 2009. Now, more milestones are quickly looming on the horizon line after its feat, said Colin Sauze, the Microtransat's coordinator. A team from Canada's Dalhousie University is making progress in achieving a trans-Atlantic crossing under the "autonomous" rules, when the boat's direction is not adjusted remotely during the trip.

...

Until Sailbuoy's achievement, the only unmanned watercraft to cross the Atlantic previously was a battery-powered underwater glider in 2009. Now, more milestones are quickly looming on the horizon line after its feat, said Colin Sauze, the Microtransat's coordinator. A team from Canada's Dalhousie University is making progress in achieving a trans-Atlantic crossing under the "autonomous" rules, when the boat's direction is not adjusted remotely during the trip.

[rcmclachlan]

I’m going to Boston for my birthday in May. I’ve never been before. Do you know any cool places or must sees to visit while there?

Hey there, fellow Mayby! There are plenty of things to do in Boston—it all depends on what kinds of things you like to do. Most of it’s outdoors, but don’t let that stop you! With a pub every six feet and more historically-themed gift shops than you can shake a Patriots shirt at, you’ll find something! 

Outdoors

May can still be kinda chilly, so these are all weather-depending, buuuut:

+ Whale watch: Depart from Gloucester or Boston and head on down to Stellwagen Bank to see humpback and right whales! Last time I went with @nanoochka and @neenya and it was awesome. If you leave from Gloucester, make sure to try the clam chowder that some rando will be selling outside the marina for $5. It’s dubious in nature and the guy dishing it out will probably look like a just-escaped serial killer, but for $5 it’s the bomb.

+ Public Gardens: Stroll through the newly blooming Gardens for a glimpse of several species of waterfowl that will cut you for a piece of bread, and about 75 different wedding photo shoots happening simultaneously. But the squirrels will literally sit in your lap if you let them and people are walking all sorts of friendly doggos, so it all evens out.

+ Arboretum: If you love trees, then boy howdy, do I have a place for you. And since you’re going in May, chances are it’ll be, as all the flamboyant space radio hosts say, SUPER GREEN. It’s also free, so there’s that.

+ Freedom Trail: If you have approximately 4 days and the historical boner of a 67-year old who’s never cracked a textbook or watched The Patriot, then check out the 16 sites on the Freedom Trail! 

+ Duck Boat Tour: I think the Duck Boat Tours were started by someone who, like the rest of us Massholes, was 1000% done with all the potholes and dreamt of just driving straight into the Charles River. Sit with a whole bunch of strangers on a weird semi-aquatic Hummer and, when the guide invites all the little kids on board to drive the thing, secretly root for them to run over someone in a kayak.

+ Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market: It’s a big, outdoor mall. The restaurant Cheers is there (it’s not that great, lbr) and so is this bakery that makes frosted sugar cookies the size of your head. Also, visit the Newbury Comics there—it’s the best one.

+ Newbury Street: Come one, come all, to the most overpriced string of boutiques, shops, and restaurants this side of Jupiter. But it’s a great place to people watch. 

+ Harvard Square: Just to be able to say that you tripped over the uneven sidewalk outside of the Garage.

+ Skywalk: Schlep your way to the top of the city! It’s a guided walking tour and a reminder that Boston’s city grid is a fucking mess of old horse trails and terrible drivers. You can also see every Dunkin Donuts within 100 miles in every direction.

+ Plymouth Rock: It’s a rock. A small one. I’ve just saved you a lot of time and disappointment. You’re welcome.

+ The Middle East: I don’t drink, but it’s a great place to meet up, get some apps, and listen to some awesome live music. Check to see who’s playing. I’ve never seen a terrible music act there.

Indoors

+ Museums: Science, Aquarium (it’s a fish museum, don’t fight me on this), Gardner, Fine Arts, JFK Library, MIT, etc, etc. You want museums? We got museums. There are more. It’s just... how many museums do you really need to visit in one stop? 

+ Legoland: Not sure if they’re letting in the whole public or if you still need a kid under the age of 14 to get in, but take a chance and grab a child off the street if you must. Legoland is worth it.

+ Boston Public Library: Half library, half Mr. Darcy’s foyer from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice, it’s actually pretty awesome. I did a photoshoot there once. 

Restaurants

+ Fogo de Chao: Make sure you’re hungry, and don’t make the rookie mistake of going to the salad bar and filling up on balsamic cocktail onions before Go Time. Also, don’t try to crawl into their literal oil drum full of parmesan shards. Which I’ve definitely never done.

+ Yume Wo Katare: Have you ever wondered what hopes and dreams taste like, or ever wanted someone to force you to say yours out loud? Then get ready for some delicious and uncomfortable ramen!

+ Hei La Moon: So much dim sum. So much. Eat an entire tray of sticky BBQ pork buns for me, please. Best if you go with a group of 5 or more so you can order a stupid amount of food and not feel bad about yourself (or the bill).

+ Causeway: This is north of Boston, in the lovely sea shanty town of Gloucester. If you’re already up there for the whale watch, then DEFINITELY make sure you go here. Best seafood, and the BEST clam chowder you will ever have. Ever. I am a clam chowder connoisseur and I have never found a better white fluid to put in one’s body. Also highly recommend the haddock au gratin. You’ll have enough leftovers to see you through like the next two weeks.

+ Legal Seafood: I’m kidding. If you go here, I will personally kick the shit out of you.

Any of my fellow Masshats want to chime in? Did I miss anything? 

[cuzcharters]

Follow the source link to know more!

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