Thursday 18th August 2022

I went to Dartmouth today and got a bus to Paignton from outside the diner.  We were a bit late as someone's caravan had unhitched from their car and jackknifed. I was told that we would get there by 10.45 but it was 11.00 by the time we got to Torquay harbour because too many people boarded the bus at Marychurch.  It's a disaster waiting to happen, the driver only had to slam on the break and everyone will go flying.

Got to Paighton, the normal trains are on strike today so I queued up to get a ticket to Dartmouth, the train had just pulled in and we left at 11.15.  I was in carriage B and we passed some very spectacular scenery including Goodrington Sands, which is like a bucket and spade type place.

Got the ferry to Dartmouth and the Greenaway ferry which takes about 30 mins to get to Greenaway house.  There's a courtesy car which goes up to the house as it's a windy road to walk, because of the time I went to the house first, the upstairs was open this year.  It was very interesting, especially the picture of the Mississippi steamboat, I'm reading a book about haunted St Lewis and Alton which talks about the steamboat era.

I had a cream tea (naughty me) and had to sit indoors because the wasps were out in force early, I did some of the gardens and then got the car back to the quay.  Annoyingly it started to drizzle in Dartmouth, grabbed a latte in a cafe called Mad Hatters.  They do lovely cakes, but probably fattening too.

I got the ferry back to Dittisham and then waited for the train.  I met a bloke at Paignton bus station who is an aspie like me, I thought he was a girl at first as he had long hair.  We got chatting on the bus, he said he was 16yrs and came from Plymouth and was gay; seemed like a nice chap.  I got off at Orchard Gardens, he went up the hill so he must come from them flats.

I went to Weatherspoons and had a chicken Korma. I asked the security guard if it was safe to walk along Teignmouth seafront, and she said it was.  It was very drafty along the prom, years ago they used to have colourful lights hanging along the seafront.  But they have long gone into the past, now it's union Jacks hanging at half-mast from lamposts; make it look like someone's died.

The lights were shining against the red sand of the cliff face of the Ness, I could also see the distant lights of Oddicomb beach near Torquay.  When I was younger the fishing boats used to go out on the next tide and stay out on the horizon all night until dawn, their lights could be seen in the distance the night.

Saw a woman being arrested by the pier, two policemen were holding her and she was screeching loudly.  Probably drinking or drugs, they took her towards the road and away.  I thought the pier would be closed, but surprisingly it was still open.

Now I'm back I can hear roadworks outside, who would be drilling at this time of the night?  Barbara goes to bed at 8 pm, I might have to close the windows!

Hoping to go to Sheldon tomorrow and Dawlish afterwards is fine.  Dawlish has its carnival and apparently, the roads are being closed at 7 pm.  I hope I can get back.