Roemin abit

  After another Toby breakfast I headed to the south coast for a few hours in Sidmouth before driving home. It was a rather grey day as forecast so I headed for the big car park on the cliffs near Connaught Gardens where we have parked our motorhome on previous visits. We had a wander round the very nice free gardens and then down Jacobs ladder to the beach and promenade below. We had coffee and a plate of finger sandwiches in the sunny courtyard of the Riviera Hotel , the most expensive regency hotel on the front. Rosemary reported a chaise lounge and Rituals toiletries in the ladies, so it was posh. We shared a rum and raison ice cream on the promenade, mission accomplished we set off for home via the M5 . Roseamary spotted a place we had not stopped before for a comfort break so we diverted off the motorway to Clevedon to find the last remaining victorian pier in the UK. We arrived just before it was due to close at 4:00pm but enough time to walk the length of the pier and ...

  After breakfast at Toby (more waste) we drove over to Barbara's flat in Okehampton in order to take her out for Lunch. She is 86 today and not so good on her feet so she chose to go to the local Wetherspoons on the main road. Bit of a disaster with poor service and food and staff overrun. Maybe a Monday problem as many restaurants close on Monday. We had a good chat with Barbara and John and left around tea time. Went into Exeter on way back to the hotel to find the Cosy Club but it was closed so we continued down to Topsham on the Exe estuary and had a wander round the old lanes. It was after 6pm and the shops and most restaurants were closed. We decided to have a 'catch of the day' fishy meal at the Globe Inn. I had mackerel and Rosemary had plaice, both were OK but far too many potatoes and al dente vegetables. We were going to book another night away on the south coast but  couldnt find anywhere at a good price and the weather forecast was not ideal.

  Just a short break in Devon to visit my cousin on her birthday. We drove down M5 on Sunday afternoon to stay at a Toby Inn (its part of the Innkeepers Collection group) and had an all you can eat buffet carvery. We were astonished at the amount of food people could pile on their plates and then leave half of it.  What a waste, I think we were the only people to clear our plates.