PLYMOUTH

We woke ready a raring to go for a day in Plymouth. Paul has planned lots for us to see and do while here and again local knowledge is very beneficial. I’m thinking we’re going to have a few hiccups when travelling through Europe, armed with all our recommendations and suggestions but relying on our own direction and decision making to get us there.

Paul is a stamp collector and showed us his room crowded with albums, boxes and envelopes crammed full of stamps from all over. He will sort all of these stamps into albums eventually. He must be very dedicated and have a fantastic memory to put them all in the right place.

Mum drove us to Plymouth in Vincent under the guidance of Paul (I got to relax in the back) and we took a tour around some of the major landmarks. Trying to avoid hills as much as possible, although we did have to stop and start again in first gear on a couple. We know Vincent will get us most places, albeit slowly.

Again the view from the roads was beautiful and we could see Drake Island, originally St Michael’s island as the chapel was dedicated to Saint Michael in 1135. In 1549 the chapel was demolished and the first bulwark was built under King Edward VI. In 1583 Sir Francis Drake was made Governor of the island by petition and ownership was passed from Plymouth to the state.

For about 25 years it was used as a prison then after 25 years this changed dramatically when it became the Royal Navy dockyard. During the two world wars officers, sergeants, trumpeters, and men were based here. And afterward it was declared that the island was no longer needed for defense purposes. A local businessman bought it in 1995 and up to now he hasn’t done anything with it.

We parked with a sea view, making sure we bought a ticket. Very important to make sure that you buy a ticket anywhere you park because most car parks are checked frequently and it’s not worth risking a fine.

We learned a new word today, Barbican. We hadn’t heard this word before. They say, “you learn something new everyday”, and in our case we are learning several new things each day and are realizing how history illiterate we really are. Barbican is the place at the entrance to a castle where all the weapons and defense would be kept.

Down from the car we walked past a pub on the water front that has plaques on the outside wall to commemorate the fishermen and women who have died at sea. Down here on the docks are the Mayflower steps. It was from here that the Pilgrim ship The Mayflower left to discover America.

I’m thinking our next visit was to one of Paul’s favourite places, an Emporium of antiques and collectables. This place had everything. There were old military uniforms and weapons, golly wog memorabilia, movie figurines, and heaps of china and silver. Paul promised to visit again soon as he had promised not to come home with any new purchases!

Up the road we came across an art gallery and shop with paintings and prints by Beryl Cook for sale. Paul had told us about Beryl Cooks paintings previously, she paints social situations featuring buxom characters. They also had paintings by Robert Lenkiewicz, a local character who paints himself into his pictures. He painted a huge mural on a building right near the art gallery, that though faded is still a landmark in the town.

Another aim of this trip was yet another visit to Mountain Warehouse. We had called ahead to get them to hold a double sized mosquito net to sleep under, in Vincent, that is on sale right now. Now we are completely organized. We even have a couple of walking poles to try out!

Next thing was lunch so down to the harbor we went, past the old fish market that has now been converted into what looks like a souvenir shop, to Cap’n Jaspers right by the water. Paul’s favourite meal from here is a bacon butty, so that’s what Mum had too. Mikayla had the same with pineapple added and I had a fish burger. A must visit, rain hail or shine.

Paul pointed out the oldest pub in Plymouth to us. Since the 1950s people who visited used to sign their names on the ceiling. A few years ago the department of occupational health and safety had the owners paint over all these names with flame retardant paint. All that history gone because of a power trip and the chance of a fire that wouldn’t be stopped by flame proof paint.

After lunch we visited another of the oldest pubs, The Dolphin, for a drink before heading home. Later that day we met Paul and Jan’s son Martin, His wife Teo and their 14-month-old daughter Gabriella. More lovely family.

Gabriella is very entertaining and just beautiful. She seems to not like things to stay on a table or stay upright, typical for her age, and had us in fits as she rearranged the everything she could. She liked a puzzle we had given her, the same one that was one of our favourites when we were little and still have packed away in Gidgegannup. Hopefully we will get to spend a little more time with them.