T had a long and trying, eve-of-Bank-Holiday, drive down to Exeter in order to meet K who had been working in Plymouth. The nearest food to Exeter, St David's station was a Pizza Hut on a nearby retail park. We couldn't believe that they had 'sold out of everything' by 8pm at the start of a Bank Holiday. Carried on - T in a black mood (well greyish anyway, because he was pleased to see K) - to Teignmouth which seemed to be in 'ghost town' mode. The only place which had any lights on was what looked like a little corner cafe. Pushing open the door we entered what seemed like a parallel dimension - a beautiful Greek restaurant, bustling, noisy with a great welcome from the owner Nick (what else could his name be!). The food was great and plentiful and we left with our faith in the world restored. We headed back up the hill to Holcombe Down and soon found an ideal, silent lay-by where we slept the sleep of the contented.
Friday 10th - Good Friday
We awoke to the sound of silence - we'd only noticed one car pass during the night. We decided to head down to Shaldon for a fly-by before our brekkie stop high above the coast at Labrador Bay. After a little leg-stretcher we carried on to Dartmouth, where we'd arranged to meet T's sister. The ferry was, as usual, scary - just what would happen if the little shunting boat missed the raft with the cars? Parking in Dartmouth on Good Friday is a nightmare. We eventually found a spot in a car park and had no change for the machine - we were beyond caring by then so just left The Rosabella to the whim of the traffic wardens, reckoning that she would be able to charm herself out of trouble! Had a couple of beers and and an hours chinwagging with Gayle and her daughters before continuing towards Salcombe. We drove through Hope Cove before finding an excellent site at Bolberrow Farm, where we esconsed ourselves before returning to Salcombe for a mooch and fish and chips on the harbour. The place seemed to be full of 'okay yah' twelve year olds squealing and giggling and talking about boys being 'soooo immature'. Were we really like that once (without the okay yah bit)?
We had another peaceful night, this time on The Rosabella's first ever, proper camp site, and awoke to a beautiful, clear, frosty morning. As we brekkied outside we were told by a very enthusiastic site owner about a walk down to Hope Cove via a coastal path. We decided to stick to our original plan of heading back to Salcombe for a further mooch in the sun. We had coffee on the harbour and bought a prezzie for The Rosabella - a 'Live Life In The Slow Lane' sticker, hoping it may raise a smile in those stuck behind us on the road, or, if not, annoy them even more! Returning to the site after lunch we went on the recommended walk along the coast and in to Hope. T couldn't resist the temptation to help a couple of blokes who were struggling to load a dinghy on to a trailer and then spent half an hour regailing K with the story of how he managed to cut off the electricity supply to a whole French village by driving a dinghy on a trailer, with the mast up, through the HT line. A quick pint in the Hope Cove pub and a walk back to the site in the gathering dusk, after watching a gorgeous sunset over the sea. As we walked stars appeared, twinkling in a deep blue sky. A tractor was still ploughing although it was after 10pm - it was an idyllic night, another deep, peaceful sleep in The Rosabella's care.
Sunday 12th - Easter Day
Another beautiful morning, warm and sunny. K awoke to see a giant rabbit emerging from the tent on the next pitch - well, a man with pink bunny-ears anyway! A leisurely breakfast outdoors and then T dozing whilst pretending to do yesterday's crossword. He was wearing his new shorts for the first time - they had been his favourite trousers yesterday but he managed to set fire to them by standing too close to a candle the previous night, burning his knee in the process. He had been looking for shorts in Salcombe yesterday - no need now. It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and all that! We decided to stay put at Bolberrow and pottered about fettling The Rosabella and listening to our Van Morrison albums. Very chilled out! We walked again in to Hope Cove and saw our first swallows of the year, bluebells, butterflys and, on the way back in the dusk again, bats. Another beautiful sunset and we decided to eat al fresco, complete with duvet jackets and woolly hats to fend off the frost!
Time to leave came early as T drove to a cliff-top car park for brekkie, with K still in bed. We took in the spectacular views before heading for home. traffic was heavy - we lunched in a jam and swapped drivers at Exeter. We enjoyed a leisurely drive home, T completely relaxed with his feet on the dashboard, listening to the countdown of the 'most played records of all time' (Everley Bros, 'Dream' in 3rd; Queen, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in 2nd; and yes, Procul Harum, 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' in 1st place, just in case you're interested!). Stopped off to see K's parents in Bristol, taking the route over the suspension bridge and avoiding the traffic, and then on to K's for a good sleep before work on Tuesday. 529 miles covered and, all in all, an excellent, relaxing Bank Holiday trip.
