Cygnus Squadron .......

...... you are cleared for take off.

Is it just me, or is there a similarity to Concord about swans in flight?

One lonely craft on a dreary day.

This intrepid paddler is rounding Devil's Point and entering Plymouth Sound 

from the The River Tamar.

He seems to have the Sound completely to himself as he makes his way 

in front of Drake's Island, heading across towards Mt Batten, on the far side. 

September Sunrise

The jetty at the Ernesettle Naval Depot, on the River Tamar, emerging from the dawn mist.

This "early bird" is making his way up river to his moored yacht,

to make it ready to sail down river with the  falling tide.

Plymouth Seafood Festival

The very successful 2013 Seafood Festival

finished a few days ago.

But the success of a Seafood Festival depends on skilled fishermen as well as skilled chefs.

This vessel is sailing out of Plymouth Sound on the evening tide.

Jogging the dog.

Jogging along the waterfront at sunset, 

after a beautiful, warm and clear, Tuesday afternoon.

Early one morning .......

just as the tide was rising,

I heard the curlew calling

from the valley below.

The Lady in the Rainbow Hat.

Summer is not quite over.

Every so often the sun breaks through and the temperature rises.

Walking the dog

A Game of Two Halves.

Friday night saw the first home game of the new season 

for Plymouth Albion, the city's professional rugby team,

when they played Moseley Rugby Club, from Birmingham.

In the first half Albion (in white and red) dominated and the half-time score was

Plymouth Albion 31 pts - Moseley 13 pts

However, Moseley (blue and white) came out fighting and took the honours for the second half.

Full Time Score

Plymouth Albion 34 pts - Moseley 34 pts 

A great game if you had no partisan interest, but a nail biting last five minutes for home supporters.

Cockles and Mussels.

But definitely not alive, alive-O.

Did the Peloton pass this way?

Stage 6 of The Tour of Britain cycle race is here in Devon today.

There is no chance that the current leader, Sir Bradley Wiggins, will get lost, is there?

They are racing 137 kms from Sidmouth and finishing on Dartmoor, after a day of punishing climbs.

A little bit of Thailand ....

..... brightened up the street food available on the waterfront recently,

by cooking locally caught fish with a "Thai Twist".

If video killed the radio star .....

....... then the road and rail bridges across the Tamar, 

between Plymouth and Saltash, put paid to the ferryman.

This sculpture commemorates the ferry service, dating back over 900 years, 

which finally ceased in October 1961 when the Tamar Road Bridge opened.

The Ferryman is looking across the river to the Plymouth shore, from the slipway in Cornwall  to the slipway in Devon, which was in front of the blue building on the right of the picture. 

Hollywood has its Walk of Fame ....

.........  but Plymouth has its Star Wall.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame contains over 2,500 brass stars embedded in the pavement.

Plymouth's Star Wall contains 16 metal stars fixed to the wall at the gate of Millbay Docks, 

where these stars stepped ashore from the iconic Trans-Atlantic liners that sailed from 

New York to Europe during the 20s, 30s, 40s and into the early 50s, before air travel killed the trade.

These ships didn't dock in Plymouth, the passengers where picked up outside Plymouth Sound and brought ashore by Tender, they then boarded connecting trains direct to London. 

Apparently it was quicker than sailing on to Southampton and catching the London train from there.

Their relationship with Plymouth was obviously fleeting, to say the least. 

But none the less, their footsteps from tender to train are commemorated with a plaque.

Here are six of the plaques, chosen at random.

The others were
Judi Garland, Duke Ellington, Boris Karloff, Lena Horne, Jack Warner,
Walt Disney, Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Gloria Swanson, Robert Taylor.

All 16 also have stars  embedded on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Is Summer Over?

I fear it is.

Yesterday it thrashed with rain and blew a gale.

There seems little chance of returning to the high temperatures of a week or so ago.

I don't think we will see these fine legs again in 2013

Very few "dreaming spires" .....

 ...... but a tremendous amount of glass and right angles.

The University Quarter, in the centre of the city, was gridlocked yesterday afternoon 

as hundreds of new students arrived and started moving their stuff into the Halls of Residence.

Make the most of it lads.

Because there are not too many warm, windless and calm days left in this year. 

Sunflowers

It was at about this time, the end of August the beginning of September, 125 years ago in 1888, 

that Vincent Van Gogh painted his famous series of sunflower pictures.

From a flower stall in the city centre yesterday, I bought this bunch, took them home and made this picture.

The Coastal Path.

A new link from the 630 mile long, South West Coast National Trail, has recently been opened.

A stainless steel stairway, carries you directly from the Path, over the boundary walls,
 and down onto the Promenade along the River Tamar, within the Royal William Yard development.

The Royal William Yard was once the main victualling facility for the Royal Navy,
but is now a large complex of expensive apartments and fashionable lofts, with a varied selection of restaurants, bars, boutiques, and galleries.

Shortly work will begin on a 60 bed, "Boutique" hotel, with extensive spa facilities, including a 25 metre swimming pool, within one of the last remaining undeveloped buildings (under the clock), facing onto the little harbour.

But the most exciting new development is to be the creation of a number of "affordable" studios and workplaces for use by the growing number of young artists attracted to the area.

A week ago in Weymouth

Last week we visited friends in Weymouth, Dorset, about 100 miles eastward along the coast.

The weather was marvellous. 

Judging from the weather since we got back home,

I think we might have enjoyed the last truly hot summer day for this year. 

The Regeneration of Devonport (6)

The creators of the "new" Devonport are trying to integrate some of "old" Devonport's 

iconic buildings into the regeneration scheme.

The Guildhall is a good example of that integration.

On a bright, clear, autumn day I hope to climb the 137 steps to the viewing area at the top of the Tower, from which there should be a full panoramic view of the "new" Devonport.

The old "Egyptian House" fits in quite well with the new blocks.

The builders are busy preparing the initial ground works for the next phase, 

which will shortly be rising on the land in front of the church.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel checks the progress .....

.... of the major refurbishment of his famous, 

154 year old bridge across the River Tamar.

From his vantage point on the river bank, in front of the Union Inn, he can see exactly what is going on.

The two year project is getting close to completion.

 It will not be too long before the scaffolding and the army of workmen in their red suits are gone, and the bridge can gleam like new in the sun.

F 215 entering Plymouth Sound

At around noon on Friday F 215, the German Frigate Brandenburg,

sailed into Plymouth Sound and into the River Tamar, making her way up river

 to a berth in the Devonport Naval Base.

September Sea Swimmers

The water temperature in Plymouth Sound is usually at its highest in September,

but after the very hot weather we have had this Summer, 

September swimming is much better than normal.

The Rock Dancer.