The weather is pleasant for our drive through Dartmoor National park.  Our route will take us through Princeton the site of a prison constructed during the Napoleonic wars and still in use to this day. One of its guests brought attention to the area in June of 1921, although not the type of attention you would expect.  Dr. Helbey, medical officer for the prison was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle, two small children riding in the sidecar survived.  The locals were convinced it was the Legend of the Hairy hands that caused the accident.  Two weeks later, a coach driver lost control on the same stretch of road. Then in August of that year, an Army Captain reported that a pair of invisible hands had taken hold of him and forced him off the road.  The story received national attention.  

 Most of the incidents happened near the 13 century clapper bridge found in Postbridge (see below).  There are many other reports with the same theme.  A journalist described fighting for control of his car with a pair of hairy hands that magically appeared.  The fight lasted several minutes then the hands disappeared.  On another occasion, a man and woman were camping in the area when suddenly, she saw a large pair of hairy hands trying to open the caravan door, only retreating when she made a religious sign.

We didn't see any hairy hands during our drive through or during the stop for pictures.  Although,I did see an old spinster that needed a shave when we popped into the pub beside the clapper bridge.  Maybe they are related!!!

The park would be familiar to movie goers.  Some scences of "The War Horse" produced by David Spielberg were shot here as well as the fictional 1994 Quidditch World cup final between Ireland and Bulgaria from the Harry Potter movie.

A little further down the road, we made a pit stop at the Bovey Castle hotel.  This place was luxury defined.  Built by William Henry Smith, owner of WHSmith bookstores among other things, it has 64  rooms, 22 lodges and 18 hole golf course. Spa, hunting fishing etc, etc.  I parked the rental right in front.  You can see it in the picture (except ours is white).

Single malt room! Nice!!!

A short time after leaving the castle, we arrived at Ashbury Hotel for two days of golf.  This place has it all. 7 golf courses, shooting range, billiards, bowling alley, spa, arts and crafts. Best of all, it is all included in the hotel fee. Johanne and I dropped our luggage and headed out for 18 on the Pines. The card measured the course st 6400.  It played longer.  Wind elevation change and a damp course all added to the challenge. 78 for me 109 for Johanne.  We played again the following morning on the Kigbeare course. More trees, big elevation changes and 6600 yards on the card. Played shorter.  76 for me 108 for Johanne.  Quick lunch and I went out again. Johanne passed.  I played the short Oakwood course.  5800 yard par 68. Three holes and the skys opened up. I bailed. We had a nice dinner, not fancy, very much family style.  We shot some pool, bowled a few games and called it a night.  I played again early the next day on Kigbeare again. I was first off and played in 2.5 hours.  78.  This place offers amazing value, we really enjoyed it.

You can see why they called the course the Pines.

We made a few friends out there. The only downside, the lack of stable internet service.  We are in the country so it is to be expected.  Bags packed, we headed towards the sea for Plymouth, traveling along the Jurassic Coast. Bangs !To get there we travel the A30, not an M class motorway, but definitely a motorway.  About 30 minutes into our trip, we see a road sign with a Canadian flag on it.  It felt strange at first and immediately inviting to see our flag after so many months away.  We did the only thing a true canuck can do, we took the exit and followed the flag.  Below is what we found....a little piece of home in England.  The chapel is the burial place of Ontario's first Lieutenant Governor, John Graves Simcoe.  The land and the chapel were given to the province of Ontario in 1966. Imagine that a piece of Canada is in England! Interesting.  We visited the site, we could not find the customs area, so are we now in England illegally? Where is the duty free?

Back on the A30, we arrived at the coast and the village of Lyme Regis.  The town is known as the Pearl of Dorset and part of the Jurassic region.  Fossils can be found on the cliffs and along the beaches.  The area stretches 153km populated with evidence of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous rock formations spanning 185 million years.  For the record, I looked that info up, it isn't something you just know.

This area played a big part in Jane Austen's literary career.  She wrote "Persuasion" there and John Fowles wrote "The French Lieutenant's Woman" in this area.  The movie version with Meryll Streep was also filmed there.

Just before we arrived in Plymouth, the navigator screams STOP!!!  Full brakes , hand brake too....we do a nice little turn skid coming to a halt right under the sign for Abbotsbury.  Our ten minute diversion was worth evey minute.  A beautiful little village.

 Upon arrival in Portland, we went directly to the quarry.  Portland stone has been  the preferred building material for domes of England's most treasured landmarks, St Paul's cathedral and Buckingham palace to name a few.  We went yo visit the old quarry now used as an art park.  Local artists are free to pick a stone and carve away.  The location is special, the view over the cliff edge is fantastic.

Our last stop for the night is the Burley Manor. This home was built in 1852 and served as the center of operations for a vast agricultural empire.  In the  early 1930's, it became a hotel except for a very brief time where it served military purposes during WWII. It is back to being a hotel again.....  They are feeding us too.  

Delicious country duck pate, smoked salmon and smoked haddock to start, and a simple but flavourful beef bourguignon for me.  Johanne had a shrimp salad and Dover sole in lemon butter. Perfectly cooked. We had a nice light house red from burgundy to help with digestion.  We passed on dessert.

The end to a long satisfying day. Tomorrow we go deep in history to Stonehenge.

Be well

Cheerio.