Day 42 Arrive in Plymouth then to Paginton for International Alvis Weekend (IAW)

Day 42  Arrive in Plymouth then to Paginton for International Alvis Weekend (IAW)

We were awoken (gently at 5.15 am) and deciding not to have breakfast on the boat the night before we felt at liberty to linger in bed for a few more minutes.  Left the ferry at 6.15 am after docking in Plymouth (UK). 

It did feel a little strange without our tour leader Mike and able navigator Ruth but we were now two and had to manage.  At the petrol station we were advised the the best local breakfast was at Wetherspoons pub in Barbicon – but it didn’t open until 7 am after battling to find parking we decided to wait the 10 minutes until it opened but wouldn't linger as the peak hour traffic would be awful in the older cars.  This was the first real tea (hot) in 4 weeks and it tasted great!

We  discussed the route we would take to Paginton which was only around 25 miles down the road.  

Navigating the increasingly busy roads to Paginton.

Even the small roads are quite congested with traffic.

Arrived in Paginton via the long route – but it was busy! at 10.30 am and once we found the hotel we were advised that check in (at the earliest) was 12.30 pm and as any self respecting tourist with time on their hands we went shopping in nearby Torquay. Being the home of the cornish pastie we all decided to have one for early lunch back at the hotel before check in.

Lunch on the foreshore - Paginton

At checked in we caught up with many faminliar faces from 2 years ago plus Clare and Norman who had come to the National rally in Australia just 2 months earlier and David and Kaye who had also stayed with us mid last year.

I was struggling once again to deail with mounting washing and needed a laundrette - which  Alan located a couple of streets away - true to form we found the longest way there!

The car park quickly filled up with Alvis's and Alan and Dale were "in car heaven".  Noeline and I went to have our nails done in the "Salon de Beaut" ...as you do at these events.

Fortunately we were early enough to get a space in the carpark.  It filled quickly

It was terrific to catch up with so many people who had come over for the JNBC and travelled on the Nick Walker two years ago.

Dinner was meant to be a casual affair – but not really.  The hotel is quite nice and given there are about 150 – 170 people the wait staff did a marvelous job – very professional group.