Plymouth

Monday 16th July

Since we have been our travels in ‘Campy’, we have been sleeping very well indeed. Not sure if it’s the release from the responsibilities of work for Petra or the relief from getting all our possessions safely packed away into storage for Kev but, we now sleep almost through the night and don’t wake till near 8am. This really is unheard of for us and a welcome change indeed.

Anyway, following the hard work of cleaning the van yesterday, we were both on our knees had an early night and when we woke in the morning .......yes you guessed it RAIN! We are so glad we decided to pack up the awning yesterday, can't think of anything worse than wrestling with a wet awning and muddy tent pegs. It was still raining when we set off from the site at about 10.00am. We were seriously worried if we would be able to drive off the site as the ground was sodden and on a slope leading out of the Campsite. We needn’t have worried as ‘Campy’ took it in her stride and we drifted out of the site onto the narrow road that lead on to the main road and our next stop Plymouth.

On route we stopped off at Sainsbury’s for urgent supplies The wine box is nearly empty and there is no way we are going without a drop (or two) of wine with our dinner, so needs must. We also got some non-essentials you know bread, butter, fruit etc.  After that we went to the Camper’s Nevana, ‘Go Outdoors’ it’s a camping ‘SUPERSTORE’ bursting at the seams with all manner of essentials for virgin campers ‘such as what we are’! We obviously went a bit mad and bought all manner of things, all absolutely essential of course and returned to the van wondering where on earth we were doing to put it all? ‘Campy’ of course rises to the challenge  and gobbles it all up. In reality it’s actually Petra’s miracle packing that does it, something to do with the ward linen cupboard we believe.

After lunch in the Go Outdoors car park (coronation chicken sarnie) we drove the 10 mins or so to Saltram House - a National Trust property. We went around the house which was very interesting and would have loved to have walked around the garden but the weather........well you get the message. Here a few pics of the house. Unfortunately, the exterior of the house is having a bit of  a makeover so Kev couldn’t get a decent picture of the front of the house.

This is what Saltram looks like on a a perfect summer day without the scaffolding. Not bad really! The Ground floor was very dark and it was difficult to see any of the plentiful masterpieces on show. A shame really as it was so dull outside they could have opened the blinds without causing damage. The Kitchens were magnificent and we spent ages admiring a lll the things on show.

This is the side view that Kev took on the day-

For the benefit of Peter and a previous discussion, here is a hay box and instructions on its use. Dib, dib dib.

A rare writing desk once belonging to French King Louis XIV which required 14 months of painstaking conservation work.

Made in about 1700, the Boulle desk at the National Trust's Georgian property Saltram House in Plympton, Plymouth, is thought to be from the workshop of renowned French cabinetmaker Andre-Charles Boulle.

Absolutely stunning and the key exhibit in the house for us.

5pm we arrived at our next campsite, a very pretty site and exactly what we expected for a CL site. Only drawback no site loo’s so it’s the ‘Portapoti’ at the ready.