Goodrington, Devon

Tuesday

We left Whitsand Bay behind us and drove to Torpoint Ferry to take us over to Plymouth - quite a small 'chain ferry' - fun watching the SatNav going over the water. Took a while to get through Plymouth road works but then on our way to Goodrington (Paignton) to meet up with our very old friends (well, we've known them a long time!) Wendy and Lionel. They had arranged for us to park the van at their Methodist Church car park - a bit more space than in ours at home - and Lionel would meet us there. He did, and then took us and our stuff in his car to their home as we were staying until today (Thursday). After lunch we went to Cockington and after looking at the pretty thatched cottages in the village, had a look round the craft centre and country park at Cockington Court.

Wednesday

Sunny again this morning, so out for a walk to look for 3 local geocaches. Wendy and Lionel live high up on a hillside overlooking the Clennon Valley, so we could virtually pin-point the start of the trail from their living room window! Once down there, we had to give up on the first one because a tree had fallen down beside the path and made it too difficult for us to search. After a short sharp shower the sun came out again and we headed towards the cliff and a cache called 'Optometrist'. This was great fun because in the cache were several pairs of comic glasses for you to try on and take a photo. We had to climb up a bank and onto fallen branches for this, but at least we were sheltering from another one of those showers. We watched the Dart Valley train go by, with a burst of steam for our photos then carried on downhill to 'A walk on the wild side' through a fairly new conservation area. Back home, we hopped into the car to drive to a local National Trust house and garden, Coleton Fishacre, which was the holiday home of the D'Oyly Carte family from the mid-1920s to 1982. We began with lunch in the delightful cafe, looked around the beautifully furnished Art Deco style house and then joined a guided walk in the garden at 2.30. The young gardener was really enthusiastic and so she should be - the flower gardens, borders, ponds, river running through the combe down to a rocky cove - all so lovely, especially on this sunny day. Another visit to the cafe for afternoon tea - cakes and ice cream very scrummy.
What a lot of Devon fresh air! A brilliant day.

Thursday

Wendy and Lionel had to be up rather early today as they were looking after their little grandson, Daniel (2 last Sunday) for the day - from 7.30. What a dear little lad he is - this was the first time we had met him. We played for a while and had a walk around the garden where he picked up his bucket and spade because we were going to go to the beach. Goodrington has a a lovely sandy beach for paddling and splashing in - great fun for us all. Back home, we had to say our goodbyes and then go back to the church to pick up our van.

Thank you so much Wendy and Lionel for a memorable couple of days with you. It was good to have plenty of time to chat and catch up with so much news. Look forward to the next time!

Camping tonight at Hunter's Moon Caravan Club Site near Wareham.