Day 33: Oct. 6, 2018 - On to Exeter

We rise to rain. No running for Amy this morning! We are moving to Exeter today, about 2 hours up the road. We have our last breakfast in Penzance, check out of the Hotel, pack the car, and are on our way to Exeter via St. Austell.

What calls us to this town is The Eden Project. The original idea was to imagine what the future of food production would be. It has become more of an educational mission to foster awareness of planetary issues, including Climate Change and habitat loss. It's all about learning how food is made, kids love this place.

But for us, it is really hard to find. MapMe is sending us around and around a wide area. The signage is pretty bad. Perhaps it is because this is more of a summer outing than a fall one? Finally, we find a sign to the Eden Project Entrance and another 10 minutes finds us parking the car.

We take the long walk to the bottom of a basin (and old clay pit) and there we see the grounds of the project including the Biodomes.

Rain Forest Biodome

Mediterranean Biodome

This is a very interesting place! The Rain Forest Biodome has different trees and other plants from every major Rain Forest. There are projects going on to study how the plants get along with one another. The Project has also provided plants to the British Museum’s Africa Garden.

Interior of the Rain Forest Biodome

Olives in the Med. Biodome

Interesting historical/media notes: The defunct Clay Pit on which the project was built was the location of the Planet Magrathea for filming of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The Project also provided location filming for the Die Another Day Bond movie.

I offer no judgements about this place with regard to its purpose/mission. Whether it appears to be working or not is not for me to say. I do find it interesting. After walking through the Rain Forest, we have lunch in the warmth of the Café just next to the Biodome. We then visit the Meditterranean Biodome, We then get back on the road heading to Exeter, We happily have no further navigation issues.

We find the …

... Hotel Mercure Rougemont.

We look for a pub to watch the Man U v. Newcastle match. After a challenge, we find the Exonian. The first half is over with Newcastle enjoying a 0 – 2 lead.

We order dinner. Amy has Chicken Goujons and I have a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. The match goes completely south as Man U score 3 goals, one in stoppage time, to take all 3 points and save Jose Mourinho’s job (for now). We head back to the Hotel and retire for the night.