Excellent May Day Exeter Expedition

Yesterday we went on a trip to Exeter to sort out the Probate.  Both now having bus passes, to avoid parking charges, we travelled by bus, from Paignton via Torquay to Exeter. It's one of those journeys with the bus going via nearly every little street in the town before finally getting onto the dual carriageway, when it takes very little time to actually reach our destination.
The journey was not without incident as on the way there a passenger fell down the stairs.  The bus was delayed whilst the driver checked that she was OK which luckily she was, if not, we were fortunate as it happened right outside the local hospital. 
We had a super day, the weather was kind and sunny, unlike the previous few days which had been gale-force winds and rain.


Firstly, we went to the Court for the legal business which only took five minutes so we had a free afternoon, wandering around the town, then down to the Quay (http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2820) where we had a lovely lunch in a riverside pub: well, it was nearly in the river as the river had burst its banks.  The swans didn't think much of this and were sheltering on dry land, ditto the pleasure boats, as the river was flowing so fast - presumably water making its way down from the Moors.  So much for their being a drought at the moment!

We had a look around the antique and collectible shops and the craft shops, not daring to buy anything as we're at present trying to dispose of stuff, ready for the move.  It'll be something to look forward to ... eventually.
  

Chudleigh
On the return journey, our bus would terminate at Torquay, so we would need to then catch a local bus back to Paignton.  As we reached Exeter bus station early we caught the bus for Newton Abbot, via small towns, such as Chudleigh and Bovey Tracey (http://www.boveytracey.gov.uk/).  

 Bovey Tracey

Then changed to the local Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton, Brixham bus which runs about every ten minutes. Whilst on the dual carriageway we came across a burning car and, although we were diverted into the outside lane, we felt the heat through the window of the bus, so it must have been burning pretty fiercely.