Day 96

Wednesday 3rd August 2016

Paul and I were up and walking Jazz. We had visited this marina last year and had found a lovely walk in Mount Wise Park wherew there is a Signaling Station at the top



where you get a lovely view of Plymouth Sound



Exploring Plymouth was what we decided to do today. We took Mia and Devon to Royal William Yard in Plymouth the Grade 1 former Royal Naval victualling buildings are now cafes, bars, restaurants, museum, art galleries, offices and residential spaces.





Then it was down to Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican. On the way we passed the docks where there is a sculpture of gold bullion



The inscription says "In the 1930's gold bullion was often seenstacked on Millbay Quay ready for shipment to the USA guarded by one policeman"

A visit to Plymouth is not complete without a visit to Captian Jaspers! A small hut on the harbour edge that sells burger type food. We lunched there and all enjoyed it.

The Mayflower Steps are close to the site in the Barbican area of Plymouth, from which the Pilgrim Fathers are believed to have finally left England aboard the Mayflower, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to settle in North America on 6 September 1620.

The passengers who came predominantly from East Anglia sought religious and other freedoms. They had no links with Plymouth, but because of bad weather in the English Channel they were forced to put in at Plymouth seeking shelter and essential repairs.

The 'Steps' today consist of a commemorative portico with Doric columns of Portland stone that was built in 1934, and a small platform over the water with a brushed steel rail and a shelf with some nautical bronze artwork and historical information. It is on a small pier that was built about a century ago when some very old houses that were blocking construction of a road around the seaward side of the Citadel leading to the Hoe were cleared together with the significant Watch House.

Fish sculpture at the Barbican