Is it just my impression or are many tourists quite superficial? Witnessing the typical tourist behaviour of seeing something like the Naval Academy, pointing it out to partner or friend, taking a picture and then moving on. What's the point? I take pictures myself, as you know, but mostly for things I've seen from the inside as well and read about the building, who built it or why it's famous e.g. what makes it really special. I understand if people take pictures to give others an idea about the atmosphere of a place or to remember the time they've been there. But when I think how they might show others their pictures and go "And this is the Naval Academy." And the reply "Uh, huh." Useless information in my eyes.
Anyway. Did some window shopping, but couldn't stay out of the nice food shops... We are food lovers. Especially of the handmade local kind. So the first cheese and delicatessen shop was ours. Tasted some cheeses and got away with only buying three and a nice chilli salami and a huge scotch egg which we shared while walking on.
Rich had his go in an old-school sweet shop getting all excited about the countless jars with different sweets. Had a cheeky afternoon pint at the oldes pub of Dartmouth which is in one of those beautiful old white houses with the wooden beams. Heading for the toilet upstairs I felt like I was on a moving ship or drunk... or both. No wall was straight and no floor even. Almost did a Jack Sparrow waddle there.
Hunting for a wee snack Rich had a nice pasty and I found a fish & chips shop which was a bit tucked away and at the very end of high street. Had salt & pepper calamari and it was gorgeous. Fist time I ate tentacles, haha.
Stopped by the butcher to get some steaks for the BBQ later. Seeing the rump steak he cut off, we politely asked if he could cut it in two and that was pretty much all for us. We still ended up with about 600g each.
Back home we put the steak onto the BBQ and pretty much filled all the available space. Squeezed two corn on the cob on. Wow. It was a meat fest!!!
Today we were a bit lazy again in the morning and set off later than intended. But hey, we're on holiday, right. I had quickly come up with a circular walk in the Southern part of Dartmoor, starting and ending the walk in South Brent.
Again the weather was simply fantastic. Started our 13 mile loop at 11:30am and were back at 5pm. Out of South Brent along the river Avon on some public foot paths and very quiet minor roads, then into Dartmoor proper on a small path and through high grass later as the path on the map was non existent. We headed for some old tin works and again pathless to a disused tram way before we hit the well defined Two-Moors Way.
We could see all the way to the Plymouth Estuary at some point and saw two Hercules planes roaring past us above. Quite impressive.
Otherwise we quite enjoyed the silence and utter bleakness that is Dartmoor as well as the views of Devon's green fields in the distance.
Quite exhausted after the fine walk we drove over to Totnes, where we had booked a table at the Good Pub Guide recommended Steam Packet pub. Had a pint in a proper local first, watching the rest of the rugby on telly. Then headed over to the Steam Packet for another absolutely fantastic meal. British cuisine is certainly much better as its reputation. The smoked mackerel with pickled cucumber and leafy salad was a dream. As well as my duck on sweet chilli veg stir-fry and Rich's Moroccan minted lamb burger with Harrissa mayo and cucumber mint sauce. Food heaven for sure.
Just chilled back a the house, packing tomorrow, then off to have a look at Exeter before we head home in time for the England game.
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