Last Friday Chris and I took our guests for a ride (both ways) on the oldest continuous running ferry in the country, which just so happens to be the ferry that runs between Shaldon and the river beach at our neighbouring town of Teignmouth; apparently there is a Royal Charter decreeing that there must be a ferry service to connect the two towns, although there is also a bridge – Shaldon Bridge – which links them farther up the river.

After lunch in “The Ferry Boat” pub garden we walked up to Smugglers Tunnel, looked out from the top of the steps over the nudist beach (no nudists in sight, thank Heaven), and we finished our afternoon by walking leisurely through the botanical gardens; I looked wistfully at the bamboo circles, which all the locals of my age will remember as the favourite place for teenagers with canoodling on their minds (my school friend Sally will remember if nobody else does!).

Some photo’s of the afternoon…