English Riviera

Torquay

Not what you would expect coming from the states. If I were try to describe the English Rivera using state side locations it would be a combination of Santa Cruz board walk, Disneyland Jungle Cruise and Florida's tourist shops without the oranges, all squeezed into one peninsula called Devon, or the English Rivera .

We arrived in Totnes after a hair raising ride through what looks like a one way road with high hedges and sharp turns that is actually a two way road. Enough to grow hair on your chest.

In Totnes we had time for a spot of tea and clouted cream with jam on scones. Now it is very important to eat this correctly because it tells everyone where you are from, whether you put jam on clouted cream or vice versa. You ask where? Cambridge and Oxford of course.  This is the same with punting style also. Standing on the platform at one end or standing on the slats on the other end. I really do not think there is a front and back in a punt, but if there was both universities would claim the other is driving backwards.

Oxford Style Punting

We caught the noon river ferry just in time, no more ferries today because the tide was going out on the River Dart. We head for the coast and past many harbors in the river with large sail and power boats. There are large 30 foot sail boats anchored in Totnes and it has to be an hour to get to the English Channel.  Beautiful scenic cruise passing Agatha Christies home that sits up on top of a hill over looking the river. Lots of river activity in the wide spots, enough to have yacht clubs with sail boat racing. Fun target practice for the ferry boat. 

We arrived at Dartsmouth and had lunch in the park, very tricky finding place with no dogs around. Many art galleries and shops, fudgy city. Did I say the dogs came too. We are training them in social graces, that means using choke collar every time we see a dog. Needless to say they were gagging a lot. Lots of dogs here. Beatings will continue until attitude improves, hopeless!

Kirk, Jelly and Izzy at Dartmouth

We caught the ferry across the river to the train station in Kingswear for the ride to Paignton. Then the wild bus ride back to Totnes.

We stayed in Totnes at The Great Grubb B&B, it was perfect, no problem with dogs and a delicious english breakfast. The next day we drove up to Torque for the day which was another Mr. Toads Wild Ride through the brambles on one way roads?  Nope here comes a car. Time to back up. This is how they drive here, 1 step forward 10 steps back. The English are very good at backing up. We were on the top of a double decker.

Beaches at Torquay and Paignton are covered with the little cabanas and people everywhere. The sand has a reddish hue and no breakers, but it does look like there is a rather large tide.  We walked along the boardwalk and saw a midway and a large ferris wheel. 

From Torquay we caught a ferry boat with a short stop in Brixham then out into the English Channel to Dartsmouth. The Brixham Bay Hotel is quite popular among the Brits. It overlooks the bay and English Channel.









On the way into Dartmouth harbor is a small castle that is available for vacation stays. Not sure you could get there but by boat. The perfect mother in law addition..

Castle at the entrance of the Dart River

This time in Dartmouth we found a ice cream store for dogs. The dogs were not sure what to do with it. Licking was the technique, this will take forever, since they wanted my ice cream and not theirs.

Back on the train to Paignton the bus to Torquay and home. Long day touring, tired puppies. 

These adventures only inspire other adventures like a trip to Penzance on the Cornish Rivera Express, yes there is more to the English Rivera than we thought.