Sailing Away on the river Exe

Outside the Turf hotel the boat with red sails was grounded temporarily but got moving with the aid of paddles and the engine. We walked on and crossed the river at Topsham. In a narrow access point leading to the river I had to give way to a jolly lady wheeling her sailing boat down to the shore. For the first time in my life I was able to paraphrase a famous rule and say, ‘pedestrian gives way to sail’ ’Everything gives way to sail’, she said, as I pressed myself into the wall to let her go by.
The Museum had interesting displays about women in Topsham, including the magnificently named Tryphena Sparks, a friend of Thomas Hardy. Her grave is in Topsham Cemetery, and that will be a future visit.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryphena_Sparks

There were sightings of a purple heron at the ferry point, confirmed by the ferryman, so we spent some time on watch on the bank with some other crackpot optimists but to no avail. Disappointed not to see this stunning version of an already stunning bird. Stopped at the Turf again on the way back to admire the boats, (extra) and saw a kingfisher