To Tavistock via Princetown

Flurries of snow, a stiff breeze and brewing gale made for an atmospheric drive today in the Morgan with hood down and both of us dressed in warm woolies. From Ashburton we headed towards the high moor under threatening skies and some light snow showers before entering Tavistock for lunch.
Best pasties by miles

But for the very best we have found in all of Devon are  those to be had at the Riverford Farm Shop near Dartington, (Totnes). 

Link:  Riverford farm-shop/pies-pasties  For pasties by post.

The return trip was once again under a dramatic sky-scape but the Lumix old battered camera was not able to do justice to the Moor today.

Geevor-Zennor-Sennen : Magical Cornwall

 A clue to the appeal of Cornwall lies in the evocative place names.

It is here that St Just and Pendeen, Botallack and Morvah, Geevor tin mine, old engine houses, granite tors, sea cliffs and ancient farmsteads on medieval fields meet the Atlantic. No wind or solar energy farms to blot the landscape; planners well aware how detrimental that would be.

To reach these little gems  I join the A30 near Exeter. Its an early start, 6.00 with an ETA of 8.30 at Zennor where I want to be in the 4/4. Oil checked, tyre pressures checked, screen washed, GPS set. Skirting north of Dartmoor and Oakhampton, past Launceston, across Bodmin Moor, by-passing  St Ives;  I now follow the coast and breathe the lovely sea fresh air. This is the  B3306. running through an area of outstanding natural beauty. 

The sea state and light is forever changing but even on a foggy day the shades of grey just add to the magic. At other times the clouds may cover 9/10th of the sky and the sun tracks over the landscape in spotlights viz the images above.

The back-packers hostel at Zennor is good for a coffee break with off road parking.

Happy memories at Porthmeor beach-café (St Ives) of our children wave riding the surf all day long and serving them bacon butties and coffee.

St Just is one of those places all too easily passed by;  I seek out a couple of narrow lanes that head towards the sea and discover Ballowall Barrow. A century ago this area was as devastated as any of the smokey grey industrial wastelands of the north. I dare say many of the locals from these parts never dream of wandering abroad, why choose Italian Pasta over Cornish Pasty.

Necessity is the mother of invention it is said and invention certainly happened here in abundance. Pioneers of mining, engineering, navigation, fishing and agriculture all flourished.

There is no doubt the Morgan will endure but how I would love to add my two penneth of minor modifications - a guide rail to the rack and pinion such that it is no longer subjected to twisting loads from the track rod ends.  Linkage of the rear leaf springs using bronze trunnions instead of primitive shackles. Recall the fold flat windscreen, a feature so very much enjoyed on every one of my old MGs. Also an exposed exhaust manifold in stainless flexitube would add great charisma as exemplified in this Mercedes.

Pasties, chocolate cake and Coke at Beer.

A brief pootle up the A30 to Honiton, then down the Fairmile Straight towards Beer for a morning snack. Nobody told us it is Carnival Week at Beer but the park is not too full and Hurricane Bertha has blown out its rain overnight.

We find a hole and witness a car being bumped in the car park, then leave a note while the culprits drive off without stopping!

Bacon butties, or a hot pasty, flap jack and tea or coffee at Keno’s’ beach-hut café and a relaxing hour in the hot sun; later a stroll through the craft market and a gander in Beer Gallery. Pricey artwork here for sale with small pictures £500, larger ones upwards of £1,500!  To raid or not to raid my pension pot next April, that is the question!

Methinks Helen would prefer an Aran knitwear jumper for her birthday. Lovely hand knitted garments at the craft fair; 1/3 the price of the equivalent shop article.

We carry home a nice fillet of Plaice from the beachside fish shop for tea. 
This seaside gem remains our favourite watering hole of all those in Devon. Wooden fishing boats to be seen hauled up the pebble beach across slippery poles drenched in cooking oil. Beach huts for hire and deck chairs if you prefers not to sit on pebbles.
The cove is sheltered beneath the cream coloured cliffs of Beer stone. 

A few miles further along begins the Jurassic fossil coastline.