Racing for a butterfly - South Devon Railway

About 1 hour's drive away is the South Devon Railway.  We decided to go for the second train of the day and arrived just as the first was being cleared to leave.  Just a few minutes earlier ...

Nevermind.  The smell of coal burning met us as we exited the car park, I am immediately in steam train mode.  Over the bridge, down the platform almost off the end we went to look in the museum.  Not as I remember when it was the Dart Valley Railway, but they have lost some space to the A38. We then went to look at the workshop and finally along the river path.  On the path we spotted a butterfly, and stopped to try to get a photo.  I can't get close enough.  In the bushes was a Sooty Copper.  No chance of getting a picture, because the running man demanded passage.  Where was he going in such a hurry? The path is now blocked at the A38.  It feels quite unnecessarily closed in, and barred.  For the sake of it, the powers that be are making the world smaller.

The engine for the day was the 1369 saddle tank.  The carriage has ancient 'bouncy' sprung seats, probably with horse hair on top of the springs.  Then the dog people get on. The dogs are fine, the people talk incessantly, ignoring the train altogether, and again our peace is ruined.  I don't want to hear your conversation, just enjoy the ride.

The Dart is a wide shallow river sometimes flowing over largish stones and mud, sometimes bedrock. Every so often there are small 'rapids'.  Ideal for kingfishers, but not today, although the water looks clear and clean.

In Totnes, we walk into town passing at least 3 signs pointing to the town centre all saying 0.9km.  They can't all be true, most likely none of them are.   

On the way up Fore Street, to the High Street we buy ice cream - 2 for £15, seems a lot. In the town square we have a conversation with 2 guys trying to give away Bibles.  I pray they get some customers.  They are from the local Free church.

On the way back to the 3pm departure, we try for a shortcut and almost get lost on an industrial estate. There is just time for tea in the Rare Breeds Centre Café before we must board the train.

On the way back I see a woman in a swimsuit by the bank of the river, which is surely not deep enough to swim in.

Then it back to the cottage, via some diversions for closed roads, to watch the England vs DR Congo.

Wye - Ye Olde Ferrie Inn - Day 2 fluttering around

Day 2 (Tue 22)

The first full day of any holiday starts with breakfast.  The inn gets its meat locally, as do so many independent hotels these days.  This is an excellent breakfast:

Now we leave to investigate the local attractions.  Walking away from Symonds Yat and toward the main road, there are no signs, but turn round to come back, and there it is, "The amazing hedge puzzle" (http://www.mazes.co.uk/).  There is also a butterfly farm, which we visit first as the weather looks a bit threatening.  I took loads of pictures, but most of them were terrible.  It is hard to get pictures of moving butterflies in a large very warm, very humid greenhouse.  The first problem is my glasses, which were constantly fogging over, then there's movement of the butterflies, and the sweat that soon pours down my face.  On the other hand, sometimes they come to you.

We spent quite a while chasing butterflies, then left for the cafe across the site for water and tea. 

After this much needed refreshment we went to investigate the maze.  The man at the entrance started his introduction, it's a good story if you get the chance to hear it.  At this point the rain we had been trying to avoid started.  Fortunately, it only lasted a few minutes; then we were off, going in opposite directions as he had suggested to meet in the 'middle'.  The maze was great, partly because there were so few people in it - just us! 

The next activity was a round of the local crazy golf, which, unusually, I won.

We now left the site and headed for St. Dubricious (Dew-brish-ius) Church (http://wyereaches.org/the-churches/st-dubricius-church/), where we met the church warden and chatted about many things, including the saint, the border lands and the height of the flood water at various times.  The most recent serious flood was 2020, when the water was half way up the pulpit.

We walked back to the Olde Ferrie, and after a short break took the car and headed to Monmouth.  I suffered a lot of wheel spin as I tried to get the car up the steep ramp to the road.  A second attempt was required, and we made it, adding to the tyre marks that were already there.  So, we left England, and spent a while in the lovely country of Wales.  In Monmouth we stopped for supplies on the main road, and then moved to a longer term car park.  It's now around 4pm, and we are getting peckish, so we get fish and chips and sit near the river Monnow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Monnow).  It's a lovely bright afternoon.  Walking around town we visit St Mary's Priory Church and find the Savoy Theatre, and check out what's on.  Just as we are about to book for a 7:30pm performance, I remember the 10pm curfew at the Inn.  They have the Bohemians later in the week (Thursday), but it's sold out. 

Eventually we head back, and spend the later part of the evening in front of the 'smart' telly. There are no problems with the Wi-Fi.