A leisurely morning for once . . . relatively cloudy with intermittent drizzle and showers. Our adventure today, after a typical biggy English breakfast, is to explore Newton Abbott and Topsham with Nina. Our mission is to poke around antique shops and restoration salvage yards in search of treasurers!
Our first stop heading south on the A382, however, was in Bovey Tracey to visit the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, which organizes the upcoming Contemporary Craft Festival, which we have tickets to attend on our last day here. The work at the Guild is of the highest caliber and there was much to tempt us . . . however, with firm resolve to wait until the Craft Festival we walked out without purchases. Pretty amazing, huh?
Continuing on the A382, we reach Newton Abbott to rummage around a reclamation yard. Amidst laughter, inspiration and general tomfoolery, we found all kinds of wonderful treaurers . . . if only we had a property here to decorate.
Our first stop heading south on the A382, however, was in Bovey Tracey to visit the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, which organizes the upcoming Contemporary Craft Festival, which we have tickets to attend on our last day here. The work at the Guild is of the highest caliber and there was much to tempt us . . . however, with firm resolve to wait until the Craft Festival we walked out without purchases. Pretty amazing, huh?
Continuing on the A382, we reach Newton Abbott to rummage around a reclamation yard. Amidst laughter, inspiration and general tomfoolery, we found all kinds of wonderful treaurers . . . if only we had a property here to decorate.
Feeling peckish after our morning rummage, we headed to Topsham for lunch at Darts Farm, which was awarded the "Best Large Farm Shop in the UK" in 2015. It is like Whole Foods, but smaller and better — more "homey" with sections devoted to food, home and interiors, outdoors, as well as a café. Ronald Dart started Darts Farm, in the '70s, in a small hut at the bottom of his field. From those humble beginnings it has evolved into a nationally regarded local food hub that sells produce and drink products that are regionally made by hundreds of producers. They even offer family camping experiences and on-going wine events for adults. After a cursory look around, we bee-line to the café where I order fish and chips made with fresh caught cod that is cooked to order. Yum-scrum!
Our next stop is the Quay Antique Centre, which is four stories of treasurers situated along the River Exe in an older and picturesque part of town.
Fun, but tiring day, we head back to Lustleigh for naps, reading and since the late afternoon light is so fantastic, some photographing of the Highfield House property with its formidable boulders and views. Feeling a bit under the weather, Gypsy opts to stay in tonight, while Petunia and I head off through the wood to the local pub — The Cleve — for delicious tomato soup and baked baby-back ribs (drenched in a tangy sauce) . . . yummy!
Funnily, it was quiz night at the pub. The bar was relatively empty tonight, tho' all through our meal we'd hear outbreaks of laughter. Peeking into a larger room, we saw scores of folks — all ages — posing questions and noisily shouting out answers. We soon discovered it was the community's version of Trivial Pursuit . . . though at The Cleve, patrons make up their own questions.
Funnily, it was quiz night at the pub. The bar was relatively empty tonight, tho' all through our meal we'd hear outbreaks of laughter. Peeking into a larger room, we saw scores of folks — all ages — posing questions and noisily shouting out answers. We soon discovered it was the community's version of Trivial Pursuit . . . though at The Cleve, patrons make up their own questions.
Using our trusty iPhone flashlights, we made our way back through the wood to Highfield House and a good night sleep in anticipation of tomorrow's adventure!