Time, Tide and Visa Wait for No Man

Falling Tide at Totnes

Having heard about the 'Round Robin' Tickets on the Dart, we did some online research. However, trying to decipher a complicated leaflet using a flakey phone hotspot, drove us round the bend. We decided to head off to Totnes to investigate further.

I had a vague recollection of catching a steam train not far from the mainline station, so we began there. Alas, we couldn't find any sight of a boat, nor any information about robins of any kind, and concluded that we were probably in the wrong place.

We decided to head over to Steamer Quay, where sure enough a ferry was loading up with daytrippers. Unfortunately, by the time we had parked the car and located the ticket office, the ferry had departed. We understood that the tides influenced when the ferries ran, but what we had not appreciated was that there would not be another ferry until late afternoon! The 'Round Robin' had flown the nest - for that day, anyway!

As we had already paid for parking for the day, we decided to walk back across town to where we had originally parked, and catch the steam train to Buckfast Abbey. It was a good walk, but we consoled ourselves by remembering that exercise is good for you!






We purchased our train tickets and settled down in first-class. The seats were covered in garish cloth. The KHT's interesting combination of clothing colours added to the visual discord. However, we couldn't complain about the comfort of these generously proportioned seats.

When the Ticket Collector appeared to punch our tickets he delivered the following important piece of information
"And of course you do realise that these are 'all day' tickets and you can go up and down the track as often as you like?"




Buckfast is a regular destination for us, so we decided to enjoy two trips up and down the line, just because we could, and so that I would avoid the temptations of the bookshop at Buckfast Abbey...

Heading up the Dart Valley, the best views were on the other side of the train. The KHT took some convincing that she was allowed to stand in the corridor, and everytime anyone came, she darted back into the carriage before she spotted.














There was about 45 minute turn around at Buckfast. Plenty of time to watch the train have its water tank refilled, witness the engine to move to the other end of the train and go and get an ice cream.



We reboarded the train in an ordinary carriage and enjoyed the return trip to Totnes.

For the second trip back to Buckfast we ventured into the buffet car. It was really weird sitting on dining chairs on a train... We decided to indulge ourselves with a coffee. Alas, the lack of refrigeration available on a vintage train meant it came with UHT milk. I honestly would not have bothered if I had known. I drank a few sips and that was more than enough! Yuk! <understatement>

Having completed our train trips we walked back along by the river into Totnes town centre, and up the main shopping street. Fortunately, we found a coffee shop that was still open,  and serving decent coffee, as by now it was nearly 5pm.  DH's card was refused. He thought this was odd and used a different card, which went through without a hitch.

We headed over to Newton Abbot, where we had booked a table at a very good fish and chip restaurant, which also serves lemon sole - yum! DH had his fish served in rice crumb.

Checking the news we discovered that there were widespread problems with the VISA network that were affecting many retailers. Whilst we were relieved to know that it wasn't DH's card that was the problem, we hoped that whatever the issue was, would soon be sorted, for everyone's benefit.

We popped into Asda, who were taking cash payments only. Fortunately, we only wanted one item and that cost under a £1. DH had the excitement of inserting money into a self-serve checkout for the first time ever!

We make plans, but bigger forces are at work - some natural, some caused by man - albeit inadvertently.

We adapt. We change. Life goes on.