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Tuesday – September 9, 2008:

We caught an early train to Newton Abbot where his stepdad picked us up and took us to his and Jack's mom's home in Paignton Devon.  I had a wonderful time with them, Jack's mom made us sandwiches and tea when we first arrived, then we all piled into the car and they took us to Oldway Mansion (built by the Singer family), Cockington (a very old village with a glass blower and blacksmith still in residence), and then to Torbay and the Carvery for dinner (the carvery is much like our idea of a buffet, except it's basically the items they have for a proper Sunday dinner ... roast, turkey, pork, veges, potatoes, leeks, gravy, yorkshire pudding, etc). 

After that we digested at their home while Jack set up his mom's internet. As the sun set Jack and I began walking down to Paignton Pier where we had the mechanical gypsy read our aura's (strangely accurate). Then we went to a pub called the Spinning Wheel to have a drink and listen to live music for a bit before walking back and curling up in a nice soft guest bed with clean soft sheets.

Wednesday – September 10, 2008:

I woke up and took a nice shower (Jack's flat doesn't have a shower, I enjoy baths, but I prefer to shower before I take one since bathing seems like you are just washing in your filth and I have to take extra measures to rinse off afterwards as the water goes down the drain). We had a breakfast of tea and toast then headed back to the pier – first stopping at a juice shop where we hoped might sell carrot juice. As she gave me the strangest look she kindly offered fresh squeezed OJ instead. Seriously, I don't think carrot juice exists here.

Back at the Pier we picked up souvenirs (during my whole trip this was the only town that had the traditional ticky tacky souvenir shops) for the kids.  Then to a nice coffee shop right on the pier before his mom and stepdad picked us up and took us to Brixham where we enjoyed the sites and ate fish and chips.  Then they took us to the train station around 5.  The train ride was really nice, about 2 hours long. Jack slept most of the way, but stuck one of his headphones in my ear when Forever and Blue Jeans began to play.

Thursday – September 11, 2008:

Thursday we were up early again to hit the road and head to Stonehenge then Portsmouth to catch the overnight ferry/cruise ship to La Havre, France. The drive was beautiful and the road literally runs into Stonehenge, we came up a hill, and as we hit the peak there it was below us - my breath was taken away. I joke that it is just a bunch of rocks, but really there is something about being so close to something that is so ancient. Admission isn't very expensive and it includes an audio tour, I'd like to go back again for an evening tour where they take you into the circle at sunset (that was booked solid). After an hour or so walking around the rocks we began the rest of our journey to Portsmouth. We arrived a few hours before we had to board the ferry so we enjoyed a full dinner at a nearby pub and made use of the free internet access. Around 8:30 we headed to the ferry port, qued, and were boarded around 10:00. 

All of the cabins and flat sleeper seats were booked, so we had club class tickets - like train seats in a room they darken. Many people were prepared, they'd brought air mattresses to sleep on the floor. The light near us was by the door and had to remain on, the boat was also rocking a bit so there was a little metal bearing rolling back and forth in the door track. I have slept better on airplanes! After an hour or so of trying to sleep in the chair I grumbled that I was going to sleep on the floor. Jack joined me, we covered our heads with our coats, pulled our blanket over us, shared my travel pillow, and finally got about 4 or 5 solid hours of sleep.