From 4 to 11 September 2019 Fishburn tours made a "Study tour to Exeter" where they stayed in the smart modern Holland Hall on the University campus. There were sixteen in the party, including Anne, so Jill and Ian were not able to accommodate them all, even if they cleared out their garage and garden shed, but they were able to accommodate Sylvia, who joined us all on the Friday.
On Wednesday after a long and tiring journey we all had an evening meal in the historic White Hart Inn in central Exeter.
Thursday was dedicated to seeing Exeter with a redcoat guided tour in the morning and a tour of the Cathedral in the afternoon. After that Ian showed them the bits the other guides had left out, ending up at the quayside around dinner time.
Friday was a visit on the top of a double-decker bus to Sidmouth where they learned the ghastly secret of the 62 metre long fatberg that had lurked beneath the elegant Esplanade until discovered and removed earlier in the year.
Saturday took the group to Exmouth by bus for a cruise along the Jurassic coast while Sylvia, Jill and Ian visited the unusual sixteen-sided house A La Ronde on the outskirts of Exeter. We joined up with the main group at the attractive riverside suburb of Topsham where a fair with street food was in full swing.
Sunday was a free day and it was clear that the group, many of whom were old hands with Fishburn Tours, could sort themselves out. Most went to visit Powderham Castle but one intrepid soul took a train from Exeter to Salisbury, like his Russian fellow travellers attracted there by the Cathedral, but also manged to take in Old Sarum and Stonehenge, getting safely back late the same day. Anne, Sylvia, Ian and Jill were less ambitious, visiting the Donkey Sanctuary at Salcombe Regis.
Sylvia and Anne with friends at the Donkey Sanctuary
Monday was the only day that public transport was not used as there was none that went from Exeter to Dartmoor, so Anne had hired a sixteen-seater minibus. We managed to keep up with them all in Modestine. It was also the only day that it rained, and it did that to a feline and canine extent. At one point they decided to set out in the mist towards an invisible tor that had wonderful panoramic views on a fine day. The coach driver warned those of us who stayed behind that just as we could not see them, they could not see us from the tor and could well take the wrong route down. Nevertheless we arrived in time at Princetown for lunch in the shadow of Dartmoor Prison followed by a return journey across the moors for a cream tea in Moretonhampstead. Much to Anne's chagrin we did not see a single Dartmoor pony.
Lunch at the Plume of Feathers in Princetown
Anne (in red) on the clapper bridge at Postbridge, Dartmoor
Tuesday, the final day, took us to Totnes, once described as the most eccentric town in England, reached by a spectacular train ride along the coast. Then back for the Last Supper in Holland Hall with a panoramic view of a wonderful sunset.
Here's to you all - the last supper at Holland Hall
Just a hint of the splendours of the sun going down on our tour
The group seem to have thoroughly enjoyed their tour and the great variety of things they had seen. They were avid followers of the unfolding events surrounding Br-x-t and reassured to find at least four Brits who were as bemused as they were by the disastrous course that the nation seemed hell-bent on pursuing. Our Devon for Europe badges were much photographed. They were also a friendly and closely-knit group, full of concern for each other and for Anne and also very appreciative of all that had been done to make their tour as interesting as possible.
But the star of the day was Anne. This was her 33rd tour and some of the group had been with her almost from the start back in the 1990s. Some other Supsliskans have also met up on earlier tours. How she manages all the organisation and survives all the crises we don't know. Long may she continue - and thanks, Anne, for involving us all in this latest tour.
