South Devon Cycle Touring Trip 2018: Brixham Battery Heritage Centre – Part One
The following photos chronicle my nine day South Devon cycle touring trip in September 2018 which was a double-first for me as I’ve never taken my bicycle on a long trip with me before and I had also not been camping for many, many years, needless to say there was a lot of planning involved! From getting a proper lightweight suitable tent and sleeping bag to fixing up my old (but trusty) hybrid mountain bike to cope with carrying the weight of my camping gear whilst on the road and traversing the trains.
The journey started by taking a train from Surbiton to Totnes via Woking, which took about roughly 6 hours (including an hour’s delay at Exeter St. Davids), then it took a good couple of hours to ride from Totnes to Ashbourne Woods in the rain, the misty stuff which actually helped because of the crazy hills I was sweating like a pig! And once I arrived it was dark, raining and I had to set up my tent…
The lengths some people go to decorate an otherwise plain looking seaside bungalow! I think it's really great (as long as it's not too tacky that is!)Information sign about World War II coast and defence batteries in BrixhamBattery Observation Post from World War II that looks out to the sea of Torbay, South DevonSearch Light Shelter with a vast view of...The Brixham Battery Heritage Centre - a real gem!One of the 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns that were mounted in the batterys - huge!As you can read here the Battery defenses go way back to the times of the Spanish Armada of 1588!Once you enter the building (which is free and run by volunteers) you are greeted with a wealth of military equpiment from both World WarsJust looking at the length of some of these knives is enough to send chills down your spine - how anyone had to deal with this kind of attack day after day is unfathomableThe vicious 'Push Dagger'The World War II Coastal Defence Batterys in BrixhamWorld War II Mine Detector BackpackOne of my most favourite things about this museum - hands on! you can actually hold some of the guns!!! brilliant, where else could you do just that?About the 'Spy Set'A World War II Spy Set (with luggage case disguise)American WW2 Pedal Driven Electric Charging Set Backpack GeneratorAbout the legendary 'Vickers Machine Gun'The Vickers Machine Gun - used even before the first World War, a formidable gun if I've ever seen one!Original patriotic sign from World War IIAbout the Maschinengewehr 42 German machine gunThe Maschinengewehr 42 German Machine Gun - Trust me, this thing weighed a ton, how they carried that around I'll never knowBritish WW2 Sub Machine gun - like the two handles of this beast of a gun
