Checking out the neighbourhood

Despite the lullaby of the steam roller a couple nights ago, I was able to get some sleep and felt much better in the morning. We decided to take a drive through Dartmoor National Park followed by a game of golf in Teignmouth (pronounced "Tin-muth"). The driving was at times harrowing (having to quickly speed up and squeeze to the left of the single-lane roads so a tour bus could pass on the other side mere inches away from the rear-view mirror) but the scenery was amazing. We took a wrong turn and ended up on a motorway instead of a country road, but that was actually a relief! After a pub lunch of cod, chips, and peas in the seaside town of Teignmouth (see photo below), we returned to Dawlish to rest up for our 3 p.m. tee off.

This course started on a cliff overlooking the English Channel. It's a private course but the pro took pity on us and let us play! I lost a few balls in the gorse bushes, but found a few so I think I broke even.

After golf, we bought a couple of steak and kidney pies and headed back to our hotel. Don popped the pies in the microwave oven and I made a salad. We plopped down on the easy chairs, stuffed our faces and watched tv--World Championship Snooker followed by Coronation Street (where episodes are 3 months ahead of Canada) and a quick chaser of American Idol. Here's photo of the Blenheim Hotel, AKA THE BIG PINK PLACE. You can't see the road in front of our building, but rest assured that it's brand spankin' new and stinking of fresh asphalt. Can't wait for tonight when they paint the lines on.

Today it's off to Plymouth. Tomorrow we'll head to Bideford and the house we've rented for three weeks. Can't wait to be able to settle in and get to know the area where my ancestors lived.