Sailing Terrapin

Plymouth, a city at the mouth of the river Plym, in Devon, England is our new home. With it's cobblestone streets and historic landmarks like the Barbican, the Mayflower Steps, The Hoe, The Royal Citadel and the Royal William Yard - there is plenty to learn and do to keep us busy for a while. The best part is it was all walking distance from the marina.

Like Falmouth, and as mentioned before, so many landmark voyages and sailors have departed from Plymouth, such as the first colonization voyage to New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Expeditions including those with Sir Frances Drake, James Cook, Darwin, Shackleton, and so many others. Captain Bligh (Mutiny on the Bounty) was baptized right down the street at St Andrews.

Another notable mention is the strong military presence in Plymouth, with the Royal Citadel (still active military) and the Royal William Yard (no longer MOD). These strongholds may seem like an advantage, but during WWII, they were the detriment of the city, becoming a target of German aggression.

Less than 75 years ago, planes dropped bombs flattening the city of Plymouth. To put this in perspective, Germany is about 700 miles from Plymouth (450 from London). That would be like Idaho attacking Utah, Ohio bombing Michigan, Alabama bombing Georgia. Never having an international war on US soil, it is difficult to imagine the devastation right out your front door but it was real. There are still scars from the bombs and some of the half-shelled buildings have been left in place as a reminder. Other landmarks were left in rubble and dust. But consider this, there are no grudges held over from the war. Germans come and go, cross borders, buy houses, become neighbors, just as much as any other European. We should all take a lesson in letting the past go.

So, we walked around Plymouth, learning as we went about history and about...beaches and where doggies can run. Kala doesn't really care about the Mayflower or WWII so off we were in the dinghy to find fun places to run and swim (she also doesn't care that the water is about 55 degrees). It is fortunate that Plymouth is just as, if not more, dog friendly than Falmouth and we are lovin' it! Kala goes with us to lunch and lays at our feet just like she does at home on the boat. It makes life so much easier for us to explore when we can take her along.

There was a lot to see and we were just beginning to scratch the surface.

The Hoe overlooking the Plymouth Harbor

A view of The Hoe (left) and the corner of the Royal Citadel (concrete structure on right) from the channel into Sutton Harbour. You can see the light house on The Hoe, just left of center in the background.

The last place the people aboard the Mayflower ever stepped in England. They never returned after colonizing America.

The Mayflower steps from the water - it is in the center, below the white house in the center - you can see the "balcony" as it stretches over the water.