Easter 2009 - Devon and Cornwall roady with the flatties (Sandra, Katy and Aileen)
So to make the most of the bank holiday weekend, we decided to head to the ‘British Riviera’. We expected the traffic to be bad on Thursday night so we decided to bus to Exeter. It took us an hour just to get out of London but once we on the M5 it wasn’t too bad. We arrived about 11pm, walked along the high street passed all the drunken teenagers then into the welcoming arms of the old White Hart Inn. Had an interesting situation with the bedding (2 double beds) but the nice guy behind reception gave us an extra room. Katy got locked in her room and hassled by some drunkards outside her hotel room. Cooked breakfast, then wandered around Exeter, the gardens and Rougemont Castle. Then we went on the underground tunnels of Exeter which were used to house the old city’s water pipes built to bring water to the townspeople in the Middle Ages. Then we walked to pick up the rental after a having typical English brunch at Dens diner – eggs, beans and chips. With Katy driving and me chief navigator we charged down to Torquay. Checked into Papillion and then walked into town, along the foreshore picking up icecreams on the way. Then we went straight into a pub crawl, great night, ended up at the infamous Applebys. Grabbed drunken Chinese on the way home. Bypassed Plymouth on the way to St Austall, where the Eden project was the main attraction. I think it is claimed to be the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world. The project is located in a reclaimed Clay pit. Amazing gardens and the weather was picture perfect. On the road again and we crossed into Cornwall. Penzance was our destinantion. We were staying at the YMCA, dropped the car off and wandered into town. A lot off places were booked up, so we settled into a classic pirate pub, Captain Ben Bo. Then we hit the town, the longboat inn which was where Penzances ‘finest talent’ came out to let their hair down. Up early Easter Sunday, Easter bunny did manage to find us (thanks Katy!), cloudless morning so I went for a run along the promenade. Caught up with the others then we back-tracked up the coast to St Michaels mount. A tiny, tidal rocky island with an impressive castle perched on it. It is home to the St Aubyn family but has had a rich history. Quick bite to eat at the mainland then off to the Minark Theatre. Overlooking ruggard coastline and a golden sandy beach, it was almost single handedly built by Rowena Cade, a lady with a love for theatre. Next stop was Lands End, more cliffs a couple of lighthouses and a few token shops for the tourists. I did have my first Cornish pasty their, which was the highlight. Up to St Ives, took forever to find a park, but eventually found something and rolled down through the graveyard to the beach. I hired a wetsuit and a surfboard for a fiver and the girls had a few wines on the beach. Walked over the hill for a feed at another old pub, sloop inn (1310). We shared our meal with two massive dogs, pretty classic. On the road again up to St Agnes, stayed at a B+B with a nice family, sussed out a surf for the next morning before heading over the road to the tap house for a night cap. Massive day. Early morning surf with Morgan, 2 ft offshore, good fun, but bloody cold. Back to B+B for a brekkie fit for a king. Weather turned and we headed up to Newquay. Had a hot chocolate and talked to the guy who made the world largest surfboard (36ft). Newquay was a student/surfie town with a laid back vibe. Heading home to Exeter, got caught in heavy traffic which was a result of a burnt out car. Just made the bus but Katy had to drop the car off and catch a later bus. Great long weekend, good to get out of London with the flatties.
So to make the most of the bank holiday weekend, we decided to head to the ‘British Riviera’. We expected the traffic to be bad on Thursday night so we decided to bus to Exeter. It took us an hour just to get out of London but once we on the M5 it wasn’t too bad. We arrived about 11pm, walked along the high street passed all the drunken teenagers then into the welcoming arms of the old White Hart Inn. Had an interesting situation with the bedding (2 double beds) but the nice guy behind reception gave us an extra room. Katy got locked in her room and hassled by some drunkards outside her hotel room. Cooked breakfast, then wandered around Exeter, the gardens and Rougemont Castle. Then we went on the underground tunnels of Exeter which were used to house the old city’s water pipes built to bring water to the townspeople in the Middle Ages. Then we walked to pick up the rental after a having typical English brunch at Dens diner – eggs, beans and chips. With Katy driving and me chief navigator we charged down to Torquay. Checked into Papillion and then walked into town, along the foreshore picking up icecreams on the way. Then we went straight into a pub crawl, great night, ended up at the infamous Applebys. Grabbed drunken Chinese on the way home. Bypassed Plymouth on the way to St Austall, where the Eden project was the main attraction. I think it is claimed to be the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world. The project is located in a reclaimed Clay pit. Amazing gardens and the weather was picture perfect. On the road again and we crossed into Cornwall. Penzance was our destinantion. We were staying at the YMCA, dropped the car off and wandered into town. A lot off places were booked up, so we settled into a classic pirate pub, Captain Ben Bo. Then we hit the town, the longboat inn which was where Penzances ‘finest talent’ came out to let their hair down. Up early Easter Sunday, Easter bunny did manage to find us (thanks Katy!), cloudless morning so I went for a run along the promenade. Caught up with the others then we back-tracked up the coast to St Michaels mount. A tiny, tidal rocky island with an impressive castle perched on it. It is home to the St Aubyn family but has had a rich history. Quick bite to eat at the mainland then off to the Minark Theatre. Overlooking ruggard coastline and a golden sandy beach, it was almost single handedly built by Rowena Cade, a lady with a love for theatre. Next stop was Lands End, more cliffs a couple of lighthouses and a few token shops for the tourists. I did have my first Cornish pasty their, which was the highlight. Up to St Ives, took forever to find a park, but eventually found something and rolled down through the graveyard to the beach. I hired a wetsuit and a surfboard for a fiver and the girls had a few wines on the beach. Walked over the hill for a feed at another old pub, sloop inn (1310). We shared our meal with two massive dogs, pretty classic. On the road again up to St Agnes, stayed at a B+B with a nice family, sussed out a surf for the next morning before heading over the road to the tap house for a night cap. Massive day. Early morning surf with Morgan, 2 ft offshore, good fun, but bloody cold. Back to B+B for a brekkie fit for a king. Weather turned and we headed up to Newquay. Had a hot chocolate and talked to the guy who made the world largest surfboard (36ft). Newquay was a student/surfie town with a laid back vibe. Heading home to Exeter, got caught in heavy traffic which was a result of a burnt out car. Just made the bus but Katy had to drop the car off and catch a later bus. Great long weekend, good to get out of London with the flatties.
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