The Matador 3

This enormous floating crane, with the tug which moves it, is currently lying alongside the timber wharf in Millbay Docks, at the western end of the waterfront in Plymouth. It can be used for an enormous range marine activities, including the construction of giant offshore windmills, for power generation.

You can see the full details of her specifications and massive lifting power here

This view gives a idea of her true size.

Smeaton's Tower

The refurbishment nears completion and the iconic lighthouse, which once stood on the Eddystone Rock, will shortly be reopening to the public. 

This series started in mid February, with the Tower clearly in need of some TLC, and the last one was taken on Friday. 

The one that didn't get away.

but it is clearly going to feature on his Facebook page.

The Seagull War takes a turn for the worse.

Following the change to "Seagull Proof" litter bins throughout the city centre, the gulls have concentrated their activities on the take away food shops. 

They have taken to posting scouts on the roofs of parked cars, to spot customers who start eating their purchases as they walk down the street. Within seconds many unsuspecting diners have been attacked.

Country Roads

Like most towns and cities in the UK, after no more than a few minutes of driving beyond the suburbs of Plymouth,  you are enter some beautiful countryside.

If you are not in any hurry and can leave the main trunk routes, then within a few yards you are in a world that is largely unseen by tourists or travellers speeding about their business.

These narrow country lanes, running through the Tamar Valley, 

are within within eight miles of the city centre.

The only other vehicles I encountered were tractors.

A Quiet Place

Every city needs secluded places where people can be quiet, where the traffic noise doesn't drown the birdsong, and crowds don't drive off the foraging squirrels.

This is the Memorial Garden in Devonport Park.

A quarter of the bones of the body are in the foot.

" The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art. 

Leonardo da Vinci

I'm late, I'm late,

For a very important date.
No time to say hello, goodbye,
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.

                                             The White Rabbit
                                             Alice in Wonderland

Hooe Lake and The Shamrock

Yesterday's post showed  the restored Tamar Barge, Shamrock, being spruced up for the summer season. She was rescued from total decay and eventual disappearance into the mud by the National Trust in 1974.

She was rediscovered in Hooe Lake, a tidal inlet off the River Plym, in the Plymouth suburb of Plymstock.
Other vessels have been less lucky than Shamrock.
The stock of abandoned craft has clearly had some recent additions.

Plymouth, with its long maritime history, is rich in important marine archaeology, and the University of Plymouth plays an important local, national and international role in research in the field.


This short article by Martin Read from Plymouth University gives an insight into the work he and his students have done at Hooe Lake.

Cothele Quay (3)

I was delighted to see that the regular refit of the famous old Tamar Barge SHAMROCK is going along well and she looks as if she will be once again ready to sail on the river that she was built for.

Built in Plymouth in 1899, SHAMROCK is a sailing ketch built for cargo work on the River Tamar and estuary in South West England. Her construction was of pitch pine and oak.

From 1899 to 1962 she worked as a barge plying her trade though with several changes of ownership. In the late 1930s she moved from Plymouth to the Truro River where she operated in several Cornish ports. In 1962 she was sold as a diving support vessel and later became a salvage vessel between 1966 and 1970 when she fell into disrepair.

The National Trust acquired her in 1974 and she was towed up the River Tamar to Cotehele Quay for restoration. This was a major joint project between the National Trust and the National Maritime Museum. SHAMROCK is the centrepiece of a display at Cotehele from where she makes occasional voyages on the River Tamar.

Cothele Quay (2)

On Sunday the weather was quite cold but at least it was dry, 

so it was good day for a stroll by the Tamar at Cothele.

Sitting on the dock at Cothele (1)

Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come
Watching the canoes paddle in
Then I watch them paddled out again.
                                                              with apologies to Otis Redding and Steve Cropper

Cothele Quay, a fascinating National Trust property attached the beautiful Cothele House. It is very close to the riverside village of Calstock, which is about twelve miles up the River Tamar from Plymouth Sound.

It lies just about half a mile further up river (to the left) of this stretch of the Tamar.

"We are all in this together." David Cameron, UK Prime Minister.

This is the Plymouth branch of The Royal Bank of Scotland, which recently confirmed that it is paying out £785m in executive bonuses despite recording another loss – of £2bn – last year.

The bank announced the fourth consecutive year of losses since its October 2008 bailout to the tune of £45 billion by UK taxpayers. 
The state currently owns 82% of the shares in RBS for which it paid, on average 50.53 pence per share. The share price is currently standing at 28.02 pence, so getting our money back looks a long way off. 


Are we really all in this together?

The gathering storm.

Saturday went out with a bang not a whimper.

After a bright morning the clouds rolled in and we had the first thunder storm for quite some time.

The lightning did some damage to the railway signalling system in the Plymouth area, so there was some disruption to services to and from the city.

The waterfront at Mountbatten

Friday was the last day of the Half Term Holiday for most Plymouth schools, 

so there were several families at Mountbatten making the most of it.

April in Devonport Park (2)

Looking in and looking out.

April in Devonport Park (1)

Devonport Park is beginning to fill with colour and interest after the winter.

Thanks to the tremendous work of the regeneration agencies and the tireless efforts of the volunteers, this marvellous urban space has been reclaimed for the people of the community by the people of the community.

April Showers

After the fantastic, but prematurely warm, dry days of a week or so ago, we are now firmly back in the grip of our normal seasonal weather pattern, cold and blustery April showers.

Traditional Boats

It is good to see that the lovely lines of traditional sailing boats can still be seen in Plymouth's marinas.

Here are a group of them at the Mayflower Marina in Stonehouse last week.