ROSCOFF TO PLYMOUTH

We decided to take the ferry to Plymouth as foot passengers in order to visit Aunty Joan and cousin Cathy as we didn't expect to be able to fit them in between July 18th and Aug 8th when we are next in the UK. The round trip cost 54 Euros a head and as the hotel, The Drake, was to cost 64 GBP per night B&B a double it seemed like a nice comfortable trip for a couple of days.

The alarm clocks went off at 5AM in order to make the 8.30AM sailing. This was a bit of a shock to the system as we do not start the day until about 8.30AM normally (Too chilly before then!)

Perfect 6 hour crossing aboard the "Armorique" a purpose built ferry launched last year.

Plymouth has aquired a magic roundabout since we were last here.

and started to tidy up the harbour side near the ferry terminl which has been pretty scruffy up til now.

Aunty Joan was in good form and Cathy took us for a drive to Kingsbridge.

It was market day.

and other special events taking place.

We passed by Slapton scene of a disaster for the Americans while practising for D-day. A U-boat surprised them and did a lot of damage.

and arrived at Dartmouth, famous for the Naval Academy and very quaint.

My first chance to get up close to one of those three wheeled motor bikes which we saw many of around Paris. I wondered how stable they would be around corners. The owner told me it has a hydraulic suspension and handles better than a conventional 2 wheeler.

This is "The Drake" hotel we stayed at.

The breakfast room and lounge with its high ceilings. It was once a shipping merchants house.

Now to the 12.30PM return crossing aboard the "Pont Aven", which is a converted cruise liner. More fun to be on but without the high backed tilting seats.

The weather lived up to the weather forcast of gale force winds and rain.

But we hardly noticed. Even had very good live entertainment which the other one didn't have.

FRANCE AFTER THREE WEEKS

We took a trip to Port Louis for our first time, with Gail. It's just across the estuary from Lorient. Port Louis was the home of the "East India Company" which traded with the Orient in the 16th Century.

There is a beach against the old city walls and the locals are out taking advantage of the perfect spring weather.

Note the old changing sheds along the wall - 110 of them! Not used much today I wouldn't think.

Back to the house for another stint at rendering the bedroom wall in what was once the roof space.

POUL - FETAN (The pool of the spring)

We met a French couple Gerrard and Muriel at a Paella function in Guemene. They invited us out for a day and took us to this restored village about 40km away. It has been very well done and re-enactments were taking place.

Grinding of plants (Don't know what for). Watch out kids! It looks lethal to me. The horse was going round and round attached to a big harness which is directly linked to the grinding mechanism.

Then the kids were given a go without the horse.

The wash pool where the women were doing a wash and spreading gossip at the same time much to the amusement of the crowd.

Cathy and Gerrard studying old photo.

Apex now fully rendered. Our old neighbour Norbert told us the stone jutting out was to rest your cider tankard on. So we have followed custom.

Very interesting I'm sure! This is a picture up a chimney which has just been brushed. We are getting ready to install a wood burning stove in case any hardy souls fancy coming here in the winter! Actually we could have used it for quite a few days this visit as it was down around 14 deg C.

A view up the Northern side of the back house. It has been necessary this trip to remove more of the cliff to allow person access for drainage. The wall was not in a good state when we bought the house as the trench was backfilled with crushed material up to the threshhold of the door seen at the top. The material had turned into soil and retained moisture so the wall was green with mould on the inside.

THE MAYOR

Cathy waylays the Mayor, Christian Perron, and the local newspaper photographer, our friend Patrick Zappa. She saw them dissapear into our garden. Apparently there are plans afoot to upgrade our end of town. We are guardians of a 16th century wall in the garden.