Travels with Ted and Gretchen: Of Docs and Doors and Mysterious Visitors from the Sea

It’s amusing to address the affect the Doc Martin series, seen locally on PBS, has on Port Isaac, or Port Wenn if you prefer. Up and down the steep streets march our fellow tourists, often with a dog in tow, and every few minutes we catch a phrase containing the words ‘Doc Martin’ or another reference to the content of the shows. We haven’t yet identified Louisa’s cottage, but Ted ~~swears~~ THINKS he has seen Joe Absolom, in sunglasses.

PIlgrim's Progress

Sitting under the ‘marqee’ at our favorite haunt, the Slipway, situated at the foot of the street leading to Fern Cottage/Doc Martin’s surgery, we see a constant stream of pilgrims puffing up the steep slope to have a photo in front of the famous cottage. It’s difficult to get an opportunity to take our own photos without those pesky folk ruining the shot!

So today’s blog pictures include those of the Doc’s brothers, and maybe a sister. Recognize the surly demeanor?

Possible Martin Brother, in front of the Port Wenn Chemist

You can wear a beard, but it's no disguise...

AAAAAAND..the third contestant

Views along the coastal path can’t really be captured in two dimensions but we can’t resist including some of our favorites from our trek up Roscarrick Hill, past the Doc's practice, and beyond.

Late in the evening we wandered down the hill and saw a sailboat on the platt, the sea rapidly retreating from it.

Squeeze-Belly Alley was our next discovery, supposedly in the Guinness Book as the narrowest street in existence – too dark for amusing photos – too bad! We had a Pim’s to recover from the tight fit.